Tefnut was one of the most important figures in the heliopolitan theology, as goddess of sexuality, fertility and rebirth. This role, despite appearances, may have been used and adapted also under Akhenaten’s reign, when the ‘heretic’ pharaoh adopted past symbologies to continue the political-religious program of his father, Amenhotep III. As a god in the earth, Akhenaten needed a goddess by his side for the maintaining of universe status quo. Thereby, Nefertiti took connotations and functions of Tefnut, accompanying her husband in every official representations. So, in this paper, I’ll analyze some possible ways of acquisition of the heliopolitan precepts in the Amarna period, epoch in which there are the first iconographic representations of Tefnut.
Tefnut l’eliopolitana ad Amarna
Mattia Mancini
2017-01-01
Abstract
Tefnut was one of the most important figures in the heliopolitan theology, as goddess of sexuality, fertility and rebirth. This role, despite appearances, may have been used and adapted also under Akhenaten’s reign, when the ‘heretic’ pharaoh adopted past symbologies to continue the political-religious program of his father, Amenhotep III. As a god in the earth, Akhenaten needed a goddess by his side for the maintaining of universe status quo. Thereby, Nefertiti took connotations and functions of Tefnut, accompanying her husband in every official representations. So, in this paper, I’ll analyze some possible ways of acquisition of the heliopolitan precepts in the Amarna period, epoch in which there are the first iconographic representations of Tefnut.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.