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On
the eastern ridge of El Bawiti in
the Bahariya Oasis
we find the Tomb of Bannantiu located next to his somewhat
smaller father's tomb. Bannantiu, who's name literally means,
"the soul of
those who have not", was in fact not a "have not". In the great
days when Bahariya's wine was well known throughout ancient
Egypt, particularly during and around the 26th Dynasty
prior to the Persian occupation, many businessmen in the Oasis
gained considerable wealth. Bannantiu was probably either a
trader or wealthy land owner, judging by his elaborate and large
tomb.
The layout of his tomb is somewhat interesting, with a square
shaft cut into the sandstone leading vertically down about
eighteen feet to a hall constructed very near the style of a
Roman basilica, with two rows of columns dividing the long hall
into three equal parts. Three small burial chambers communicate
with the main hall.
This tomb is undergoing conservation measures in order to
save its still vibrantly colored decorations. Entering the tomb,
now by way of a metal stairway, directly to the right of the
entrance is a painted image of the tomb owner. He has a shaved
head and stands behind Anubis,
who is introducing him to
Amun, in the form of Kamutef, the "bull of (Amun's) mother",
and Horus.
Three hieroglyphic lines for this scene translate as "words
spoken by Anubis, Lord of the Cemetery, the great god Lord of
Hetret.
Amun
is shown leaning against a column in the shape of a tree with
palm fronds and holding a stick with three animal skins. In
front of that god, the inscription reads, "words spoken by the
god Amun-Ra, the bull of his mother". Next to Horus are depicted
statues of six gods standing on pillars, including the ancient
funerary god,
Wepwawet.
On the western wall is depicted the Feast of Nefertem,
six symbols of gods, including Khonsu,
are mounted on stands. At either end of a mummification table
are shown the goddesses Isis and Nephthys,
who are morning, while Anubis holds a vessel over the face of
the deceased. Bannantiu, depicted as the mummy, holds symbols
that signify his rebirth.
On the other side of the entrance we find a depiction of
Osiris represented as the living king, along with his wife and
sister, Isis, who hold an ankh, the sign of life, in her left
hand.
On the south wall, Shu, the
god of air and sunlight, is depicted as he holds the sun disk
above his head. Within the sun disk, Khonsu is shown placing a
finger into his mouth and holding a scepter, a symbol of
rebirth, in his right hand. Khonsu is rather of an interesting
god in the Oasis. As god of the moon, he must have been
important to these desert dwellers, who often traveled by night
to avoid the heat and doubtless used the moon for navigation.
The eight Ashmonein (Hermopolis)
gods from Middle Egypt are depicted with the heads of snakes and
frogs.
Around
the burial chamber we find scenes representing the Hours of the
underworld from the Book
of the Dead and the night solar boat of the sun-god, in
which the deceased is carried through the underworld. In the bow
of the boat, Nefertem, son of Atem,
sits with a finger in his mouth. This is symbolic of Bannantiu
as a child entering life. In Nefertem's other hand are two
scepters which symbolize both life, and sovereignty. Also
present in the boat are Horakhty
and
Sekhmet, as well as a baboon holding an offering. Three
jackals pull the solar boat with ropes, while more goddesses
follow along behind the boat.
On the north wall, a scene depicts the deceased Bannantiu
worshipping Horus. Nearby stands Khepri,
Heka and Sekhmet, and above them is the sun disk on which Aten
is shown wearing a double crown.
The
columns in this room are also decorated with scenes of Geb the
god of earth, and Nut, the
goddess of the sky.
The smaller western room is actually the original burial
chamber and is filled with beautiful scenes painted on polished
plaster. One scene shows him standing before the gods in the
hall of Judgement, having already been accepted for eternal
life. Here, Osiris
in his mummified form with arms crossed sits in judgement before
an offering table. Isis, Thoth,
Horus, Seth
and
Taweret are all present to witness the weighing of
Bannantiu's heart against the feather of Ma'at.
Next, we find Osiris receiving Bannantiu for his passage into
the underworld, as witnessed by Isis, Hathor,
Anubis, Horus, Nephthys and Anubis, so now his acceptance by the
gods is final, perhaps because of his financial status, as it
appears that Bannantiu lacks either political or religious
credentials. Bahariya Oasis Antiquities ,Bahariya Oasis
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