Menthu
Encyclopedia
In Ancient Egyptian religion, Monthu was a falcon
-god of war
. Monthu's name, shown in Egyptian hieroglyphs to the right, is technically transcribed as mntw. Because of the difficulty in transcribing Egyptian, it is often realized as Montu, Montju, or Menthu.
Monthu was an ancient god, his name meaning nomad, originally a manifestation of the scorching effect of the sun, Ra
, and as such often appeared under the epithet Monthu-Ra. The destructiveness of this characteristic led to him gaining characteristics of a warrior, and eventually becoming a war-god.
Because of the association of raging bulls with strength and war, Monthu was also said to manifest himself in a white bull with a black face, which was referred to as the Bakha
. Egypt's greatest general-kings called themselves Mighty Bulls, the sons of Monthu. In the famous narrative of the Battle of Kadesh
, Ramesses II
was said to have seen the enemy and "raged at them like Monthu, Lord of Thebes".
In Ancient Egyptian art
, he was pictured as a falcon-headed or bull-headed man who wore the sun-disc, with two plumes on his head, the falcon representing the sky, and the bull representing strength and war. He would hold various weaponry, including scimitars, bows and arrows, and knives in his hands.
The Temple of Monthu
at Medamud
was probably begun during the Old Kingdom era. During the New Kingdom
, large and impressive temples
to Monthu were constructed in Armant. In fact, the Greek name of the city of Armant was Hermonthis
, meaning the land of Monthu. Earlier temples to Monthu include one located adjacent to the Middle Kingdom
fortress of Uronarti
below the Second Cataract of the Nile, dating to the nineteenth century BCE.
Mentuhotep, a name given to several pharaohs in the Middle Kingdom
, means "Menthu is satisfied".
Falcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
-god of war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
. Monthu's name, shown in Egyptian hieroglyphs to the right, is technically transcribed as mntw. Because of the difficulty in transcribing Egyptian, it is often realized as Montu, Montju, or Menthu.
Monthu was an ancient god, his name meaning nomad, originally a manifestation of the scorching effect of the sun, Ra
Ra
Ra is the ancient Egyptian sun god. By the Fifth Dynasty he had become a major deity in ancient Egyptian religion, identified primarily with the mid-day sun...
, and as such often appeared under the epithet Monthu-Ra. The destructiveness of this characteristic led to him gaining characteristics of a warrior, and eventually becoming a war-god.
Because of the association of raging bulls with strength and war, Monthu was also said to manifest himself in a white bull with a black face, which was referred to as the Bakha
Bakha
In Egyptian mythology, Buchis was the manifestation of the a deification of Ka of the war god Menthu, worshipped in the region of Hermonthis...
. Egypt's greatest general-kings called themselves Mighty Bulls, the sons of Monthu. In the famous narrative of the Battle of Kadesh
Kadesh
This article is about Kadesh in the lands of the Amurru, bordering on Damascus Syria up to Hammath; see also Kadesh or Kedesh Kadesh was an ancient city of the Levant, located on or near the headwaters or ford of the Orontes River...
, Ramesses II
Ramesses II
Ramesses II , referred to as Ramesses the Great, was the third Egyptian pharaoh of the Nineteenth dynasty. He is often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful pharaoh of the Egyptian Empire...
was said to have seen the enemy and "raged at them like Monthu, Lord of Thebes".
In Ancient Egyptian art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
, he was pictured as a falcon-headed or bull-headed man who wore the sun-disc, with two plumes on his head, the falcon representing the sky, and the bull representing strength and war. He would hold various weaponry, including scimitars, bows and arrows, and knives in his hands.
The Temple of Monthu
Temple of Monthu (Medamud)
The Temple of Monthu is an Egyptian temple dedicated to the worship of Monthu. The site is located northeast of Karnak, which is loacted within Luxor. Medamud was excavated by French archaeologist Fernand Bisson de la Roque from 1925 to the post-war, and revealed many buildings including a temple...
at Medamud
Medamud
Medamud was a settlement in Ancient Egypt. Its present-day territory is located about 8 km east-north from Luxor. The temple was excavated by Fernand Bisson de la Roque in 1925, who identified several structures dedicated to the war-god Monthu....
was probably begun during the Old Kingdom era. During the New Kingdom
New Kingdom
The New Kingdom of Egypt, also referred to as the Egyptian Empire is the period in ancient Egyptian history between the 16th century BC and the 11th century BC, covering the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Dynasties of Egypt....
, large and impressive temples
Egyptian temple
Egyptian temples were built for the official worship of the gods and commemoration of pharaohs in Ancient Egypt and in regions under Egyptian control. These temples were seen as houses for the gods or kings to whom they were dedicated...
to Monthu were constructed in Armant. In fact, the Greek name of the city of Armant was Hermonthis
Hermonthis
The modern town of Armant , is located about 12 miles south of Thebes, in Egypt. It was an important Middle Kingdom town, which was enlarged during the Eighteenth Dynasty. It is located today in the Qena Governorate, on the west bank of the Nile...
, meaning the land of Monthu. Earlier temples to Monthu include one located adjacent to the Middle Kingdom
Middle Kingdom
Middle Kingdom may refer to:*China, traditional translation of its common name, Zhōngguó *Middle Kingdom of Egypt*Middle kingdoms of India...
fortress of Uronarti
Uronarti
Uronarti was an ancient Egyptian settlement located on an island in the Nile above the Second Cataract. It is well known for its triangular-shaped fortress, constructed between the reigns of Middle Kingdom rulers Senusret I and Senusret III, in the nineteenth century BCE...
below the Second Cataract of the Nile, dating to the nineteenth century BCE.
Mentuhotep, a name given to several pharaohs in the Middle Kingdom
Middle Kingdom of Egypt
The Middle Kingdom of Egypt is the period in the history of ancient Egypt stretching from the establishment of the Eleventh Dynasty to the end of the Fourteenth Dynasty, between 2055 BC and 1650 BC, although some writers include the Thirteenth and Fourteenth dynasties in the Second Intermediate...
, means "Menthu is satisfied".