Tree Goddess Scenes in the New Kingdom Private Tombs at Thebes

Document Type : Original Research Articles

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Abstract

Tree cults in the historical period began with purely local cults which at an early time became associated with nonlocal deities as their forms or attributes. Most plants other than trees played an important part only in magic, medicine, and folklore.
The ancient Egyptian glorified the sycamore nht and they adopted it as the mansion of goddess. Furthermore, they adore the broad-leafed persea iSd tree. The date palm, bnra- the word means "sweet"-a garden tree common in the dynastic period and in modern Egypt. In addition, the acacia (Snd), a tree which has always been very common. All previous trees were the most important trees in ancient Egyptian dogma. Private tombs of the New Kingdom were shown these two trees on their walls.
This paper aims to investigate the tree goddess scenes in Theban necropolis during the New Kingdom. It will be make analysis to tombs' scenes to deduct the following points: the different positions of the deceased, the place of these scenes, the shapes of goddess, the kinds of gifts which the goddess presents to the dead man, the goddesses which connected to the tree goddess and the similar and different countenances between each cemetery in Theban necropolis concerning these scenes. This paper employs a descriptive and analytical methodology. The study explains the most preserved scenes but in its analysis makes an inventory to all scenes.   
Through studying the scenes of the tree goddess in the New Kingdom private tombs at Thebes, this study concludes that there are fifty eight scenes were depicted. The tree goddess takes different shapes and there were not a specific place for it in the tomb.

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