Wikipedia

Kemetism

Kemetism(alsoKemeticism;sometimes referred to asNeterismfromnetjer"god" ), orKemetic paganism,is aneopagan religionand revival of theancient Egyptian religion,emerging during the 1970s. AKemeticorKemetic paganis one who follows Kemetism.[1]

A Kemetic shrine, with statues ofBastet,Sekhmet,Anubis,Nephthys,Thoth,andSerket

There are several main groups, each of which takes a different approach to its beliefs, ranging fromeclectictoreconstructionist.These can be divided intro three types: reconstructed Kemetism, asyncreticapproach, and the more monotheisticKemetic Orthodoxy.[2]

Etymology

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Hieroglyphic writing "Kemet"

The movement's name is based on anendonymofEgypt,[3][4]Kemet(theconventionalvocalization ofhieroglyphicnotationkm.t). The word is also sometimes written as Takemet, from the fullertꜣ km.t.[5]In translation fromEgyptian,it means "black" (or in longer form "black land" ), which is derived from the black colour of the fertile mud brought by theNileduring the annual floods (currently no longer occurring due to the existence of theAswan Dam).

Kemetics refer to theancient Egyptian deitiesas the Netjeru, also referred to as the Neteru or the Netjer.[6]Kemetics may prefer to refer to the Netjeru with their ancient Egyptian name: for example, they would refer toHorusas Heru,Thothas Djehuty, andAnubisas Anpu.

Reconstruction

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The traditional ancient idea of asolar godin a barque; his daily voyage across the sky (𓇯)
Ancient Isis (ancient EgyptianIsis) in modern imagery; she holds asistrumin her hand

Kemetics do not consider themselves direct descendants of the ancient Egyptian religion but consistently speak of its recreation or restoration.[7][8]Some Kemetics orhermeticistsclaim direct continuity with secret societies allegedly continuously existing since the prohibition ofPaganismbyRomanemperorTheodosius Iin 392 CE, or since the closing of the last functionalEgyptian temple(of the goddessIsison the island ofPhilae) by EmperorJustinianaround 535.[9][10]However, these claims are historically unprovable.[11]

Since theHellenistic period,ancient Egyptian religion has influenced many belief systems.[12]For example,Hermeticismis based on the teachings ofHermes Trismegistus(a combination of the Greek godHermesand the Egyptian godThoth). Early and medievalChristianityalso incorporated ancient Egyptian thought, including in extra-biblical legends of the stay ofJesusinEgypt,the recognition of the authority ofHermes Trismegistosby theChurch FathersandMedieval philosophers,or the adaptation of myths associated with the goddessIsis.[13][14]These mythologies usually interpret ancient Egyptian culture, religion, and gods symbolically.[15]In contrast, the goal of Kemetic groups is a more or less rigorous restoration of the religious system in its historical form, although Kemetists generally admit that a completely accurate imitation of ancient practices is not always possible or even advisable.[16]

Ancient Egyptian religion underwent complex transformations across time and was worshipped differently in different locations.[17][18]One god could have different mythological associations and forms of worship in individualnomesor even individual temples. It is difficult to seek a purely original form of Egyptian religion that can be easily pointed to and reconstructed (seeReconstructionism).

Later reinterpretations of Egyptian religious ideas fundamentally transformed them.[19][20]For example, some question whether the gods should be strictly worshipped by their Egyptian names or whether they can also be addressed by theGreekversions.[21]This question holds special significance for Kemetics due to the ancient Egyptian idea of the importance ofnameto existence. It has been questioned whether Hellenestic and Christian reimaginings should be included in Kemetic reconstruction, or whether they should instead be excluded as traditions of antiquity.[22]The answer to this question is one of the fundamental differences between various Kemetic groups.

Principles of Kemetism

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The idea of god/gods

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Huneferkneels in adoration before a company of deities.[23]

Different interpretations of the ancient Egyptian religion have different understandings of themonotheisticorpolytheisticEgyptian pantheon. The ancientEgyptian religionwas apolytheisticreligion and Kemetists do not deny thispolytheism,but different practitioners may elevate one deity to different levels. In traditionalist practice, each deity is their own individual being, although one may be more powerful.[24]Others may practicehenotheism,where practitioners revere many gods but chose to worship one, as manifested, for example, in the cults ofSerapisandIsis.Inmonolatry,practitioners acknowledge many gods but only revere and worship one. Still others may conceptualize the Egyptian pantheon as a single universal divine force manifesting itself in various forms.

Regardless of whether the sun is worshipped as a god by a particular Kemetist or not, as inAncient Egypt[25][26]the sun is considered to be an image of divine power and the source of every existence. The sun is deified asRaor, during theNew Kingdom,Amun-Ra.

Order

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Sungod as "Lord of Order"

Another important principle of Kemeticism ismaat,order.This concept was one of the cornerstones of religious thought of theAncient Egyptians– its observance was supposed to ensure the stability of the world and its orderly running. Its importance is evident from the fact that even thepharaoh,who was understood as a divine being, was primarily tasked with bearing responsibility for and contributing tomaat.The epitome of the concept inAncient Egyptianreligion was the eponymousgoddessMaatand her symbol the ostrich feather.

As a result, the respect of rules of all kinds by each individual was synonymous with support and maintenance of the cosmic order, while their non-observance could lead to its disruption. The collapse ofmaatwould lead to the demise of the world and the victory of chaos. In pursuit ofmaat,Kemetic practitioners may follow prevailing ethical ideas and good manners. However, there is no explicitly binding text codifying moral norms.

Religious practice

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A Kemetic altar with a small offering
Household Kemetic shrine

Ancient Egyptian practice veneratedmaat,a concept encompassing truth and honor. Ritual worship of the gods in pursuit of maat is thus considered holy. Commonly worshippedOld Egyptian godsincludeRa,Amun,IsisandOsiris,Thoth,Sekhmet,Bastet,Hathor,and others.

This worship generally takes the form ofprayer,offerings,and setting upaltars.[27]Altars are most often constructed using a statue or two-dimensional representation of one or more given deities, as they serve as the focal point of worship.[28]Most commonly, Kemetism understands the representation symbolically, understanding it as a means to better focus on the divine power.[29][30]A smaller subset of Kemetists may understand the idol as a real representation of the divine being in the human world. Therefore, in accordance with ancient Egyptian tradition, the idol is stored in a special sacred container (nau) from which it is to be removed only in the course of a religious ritual,[citation needed]of which the presentation of sacrifices is the most essential part.

Additional altar items include candles, votive offerings, prayer beads, incense burners, and one or more dishes for food offerings.[31]Most Kemetic offerings try to keep to tradition, offering the same or similar items the ancient Egyptians would have offered.

It is common during worship for Kemetics to pray in thedua(𓀃) gesture, which models the hieroglyph meaning worship and adoration.[32][33]

Kemetic organizations

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Kemetic Orthodoxy

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See also:Kemetic Orthodoxy
Sanctuary ofKemetic Orthodoxy

TheAmericanSociety ofKemetic Orthodoxywas founded in the 1980s. It brings together members from various states and, according to its own characterization, attempts to follow the Egyptian traditions as closely as possible and to revive them.[34]

Entirely in this spirit, it is headed by an authority (currently Tamara Siuda) using some of the titles and other attributes ofancientpharaohs.She is conceived as the present incarnation of the royalka,gold embedded in the spirit ofHora,an aspect of divinity embodied in the human form of a spiritual leader of the community.[34]

On the other hand, it is in this movement that the departure from the traditionalist (i.e.,closest to Egyptian religion) conception of god/gods, expressed in the concept ofmonolatryas official doctrine, is most pronounced.[4]

Fellowship of Isis

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See also:Fellowship of Isis

Another type of Kemetic organization is theFellowship of Isis,formed inIreland.It differs from most others in that, following the model of late antiquity in thehenotheisticsense, it focuses on the cult of the goddessIsis,transposed intoancient GreekandRomansettings. Egyptian traditions are therefore heavily modified in him by their ancient interpretation, by religioussyncretism,and by modernmulticulturalism.[35]

Other Kemetist societies includeThe Living Nuhati,and the defunctFrenchTa Noutri.[36]

Kemetism in the Czech Republic

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In theCzech Republicthere is only one known society claiming to be a member of the Kemetism, thecivic associationPer Djoser Achetregistered by the Ministry of the Interior.[37]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^Daugherty, Michelle (2 October 2014)."Kemetism. Ancient Religions in our Modern World".Michigan State University.USA. Archived fromthe originalon 28 February 2018.Retrieved18 January2017.
  2. ^Harrison, PM (2012).Profane Egyptologists: The Revival and Reconstruction of Ancient Egyptian Religion.UCL (University College London).
  3. ^"Khémitisme, Tradition païenne égyptienne, la religion des anciens égyptiens"(in French). Archived fromthe originalon 2008-12-19.Retrieved2008-08-21.
  4. ^ab"What is Kemetic Orthodoxy? Introduction".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-09-11.Retrieved2008-08-19.
  5. ^Verner, Miroslav;Bareš, Ladislav;Vachala, Břetislav(2007).Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt.Prague: Libri. p. 168.ISBN978-80-7277-306-0.
  6. ^"Netjer | Kemet.org".kemet.org.Retrieved2023-03-25.
  7. ^"International Network of Kemetics".Archived fromthe originalon 2008-10-05.Retrieved2008-08-21.
  8. ^Raneb, Djehutijdjedef."Egypt - the image of heaven"(in Czech).Retrieved2009-09-26.
  9. ^David(ova), Rosalie (2006).Religion and Magic of Ancient Egypt.Translated by Vymazalová, Hana. Prague: BB/art. p. 333.ISBN80-7341-698-0.
  10. ^Verner, Bareš, Vachala, p. 139
  11. ^DeTraci Regula (2002).Isis and her mysteries: understanding the universal goddess.Translated by Muková, Ivana. Prague: Book Club. p. 35.ISBN80-242-0806-7.
  12. ^Hornung, Erik(2002).Mysterious Egypt: the roots of Hermetic wisdom.Translated by Plzák, Allan. Prague: Paseka. pp. 9n, 175n.ISBN80-7185-436-0.
  13. ^Forman, Werner; Quirke, Stephen (1996).Afterlife on the Nile.Translated by Bareš, Ladislav. London: Opus Publishing. pp. 17, 177n.
  14. ^Hornung, p. 74n
  15. ^see, e.g.,Kefer, John(1991).Synthetic Magic.Prague: Trigon. pp. 136n.ISBN80-85320-18-5.
  16. ^Naydler, Jeremy (1999).Temple of the Cosmos: the Ancient Egyptian Experience of the Sacred.Translated by Krůta, Miroslav. Prague: Volvox Globator. pp. 8n.ISBN80-7207-245-5.
  17. ^David(ova), Rosalie (2006).Religion and Magic of Ancient Egypt.Translated by Vymazalová, Hana. Prague: BB/art. p. 68.ISBN80-7341-698-0.
  18. ^Assmann, Jan(2002).Egypt: theology and piety of an early civilization.Translated by Krumphanzlová, Barbora; Bareš, Ladislav. Prague: Oikuméné.ISBN80-7298-052-1.
  19. ^Janák, Jiří (2005).Gate of Heaven: Gods and Demons of Ancient Egypt.Prague: Libri. p. 57.ISBN80-7277-235-X.
  20. ^Hornung, p. 24
  21. ^Sannion."What's in a name?".Archived fromthe originalon 2007-12-06.Retrieved2009-06-15.
  22. ^Raneb Jehutijjedef."A few little tips before you decide to address the gods"(in Czech).RetrievedSeptember 26,2009.
  23. ^"papyrus | British Museum".britishmuseum.org.Retrieved2024-04-07.
  24. ^Raneb Jehutijdjedef."Cult – the way to the gods"(in Czech).Retrieved2009-09-26.
  25. ^The adoption of the sun as a central divine principle was continuously present inEgyptian religionand remained a subject of constant evolution throughout the Pharaonic period, described many times in literature. Mircea Eliade, for example, refers to it, albeit not with entirely convincing arguments, from a generalreligious studiespoint of view as the relationship between theology and the politics of solarization. SeeEliade, Mircea(1995). "History of Religious Thought 1: From the Stone Age to the Eleusinian Mysteries". Translated by Dejmalová, Kateřina. Prague: ISE: 106n.ISBN80-7298-052-1.{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal=(help)
  26. ^The development is summarized inAssmann, Jan(2002).Egypt: theology and piety of early civilization.Translated by Krumphanzlová, Barbora; Bareš, Ladislav. Prague: Oikuméné. p. 61.ISBN80-7298-052-1.
  27. ^"Kemetic Starter Guide".The Twisted Rope.2011-11-08.Retrieved2018-12-12.
  28. ^DeTraci Regula (2002). "Isis and her mysteries: the knowledge of a universal goddess". Translated by Muková, Ivana. Prague: Book Club: 17.ISBN80-242-0806-7.{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal=(help)
  29. ^Dutton, Erik."In Praise of Idols".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-10-17.Retrieved2009-06-15.
  30. ^Kallistos."On Images".Retrieved2009-06-15.
  31. ^LaBorde, Sharon (2017).Following the Sun: A Practical Guide to Egyptian Religion(New Revised ed.).ISBN978-1-365-87722-3.
  32. ^"Feeding the Ka".joanannlansberry.Retrieved2023-05-28.
  33. ^"Ancient Egypt: the Mythology - Adore".egyptianmyths.net.Retrieved2023-05-28.
  34. ^ab"Biography of Hekatawa I, our Nisut (AUS)".Archived fromthe originalon 2011-01-11.Retrieved2008-08-19.
  35. ^See the bookRegula, DeTraci (2002).Isis and her mysteries: the knowledge of a universal goddess.Translated by Muková, Ivana. Prague: Book Club.ISBN80-242-0806-7.,which is not, however, the official text of the community.
  36. ^Ta Noutri is referred to as a Kemetic organization by the websiteReligioscopeArchived2007-11-24 at theWayback Machineand the websiteUnissonArchived2008-03-27 at theWayback Machine
  37. ^"List of civic associations"(in Czech). Archived fromthe originalon 2009-06-27.Retrieved2008-08-18.

References

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  • Media related toKemetismat Wikimedia Commons
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