page65
64
The temple of Shenhur
Fig. 37 the temple of Shenhur (de Meyer and Minas-Nerpel 2012, 6)
Fig. 38 the temple of Shenhur
(de Meyer and Minas-Nerpel 2012, 3)
Introduction to the temple of Shenhur
The temple of Shenhur is located between two major cult sites, Koptos and Thebes, in Upper
Egypt. The temple was built during the Reign of Augustus (30 BC – 14 AD) and finished during that
of Trajan (98 – 117 AD) (De Meyer and Minas-Nerpel 2012, 1).
Temples in Koptos and Thebes
The decoration on the walls of the temple of Shenhur display the triads of both Thebes (Amun,
Mut and Khonsu) and Koptos (Min, Isis and Harpocrates). A triad was a group of gods worshipped
in one particular area associated with each each other. In Egyptian religion it was common to
envision their deities belonging to a certain small group. They were most commonly part of a
family consisting of a father, mother and child, such as Osiris, Isis and Horus. Such family groupings
were extremely common throughout Egypt. The triads could link gods and goddesses from
different precincts, such as Horus of Edfu who was linked to Hathor of Dendera. The oldest
decoration of the temple shows it was dedicated to Isis (de Meyer and Minas-Nerpel 2012, 4;
Baines et al. 1991, 41).
The Koptite region influenced the temple the most according to de Meyer and Minas-Nerpel. The
Koptite deities, including Min, Isis, Geb and Horudja, are frequently represented. Also Theban
deities, such as Mut, are depicted with certain Koptite characteristics. De Meyer and Minas-Nerpel
mention the oldest decoration in the temple shows it was dedicated to Isis, who was represented
in four facets as “Isis the Great, Mother of the Gods”. This way Isis, Mut and Nephthys Nebet-Ihy