Ptah was the creator god in Memphite theology, who created the world by speaking the name of each thing.1 Ptah was the patron god of crafts and artists whose center of worship was the capital city of Memphis, along with his spouse Sekhmet and their son Nefertum. Ptah was an anthropomorphic god depicted as a mummiform human, wearing a royal beard, skull cap, broad collar, and enveloping shroud. He holds a divine scepter composed of the union of the Djed-pillar meaning “stability” and was-sign for “dominion.” The figurine stands on a platform symbolizing the hieroglyph for ma’at or universal order, relating to his role as the lord of truth.2
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Ockinga, Boyo G. 2010. “The Memphite Theology – Its Purpose and Date.” In Egyptian Culture and Society: Studies in Honor of Naguib Kanawati, vol. 2, edited by Alexandra Woods, Ann McFarlane, and Susanne Binder, 99–117. Cairo: Publications du Conseil Suprême des Antiquités de l’Égypte.; Lichtheim, Miriam. 1973. Ancient Egyptian Literature. A Book of Readings Volume 1: The Old and Middle Kingdoms. Los Angeles: University of California Press.. ↩︎
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Velde, Herman te. 1975. “Ptah.” LÄ IV: 1177–1180.. ↩︎
Bibliography
- Lichtheim 1973
- Lichtheim, Miriam. 1973. Ancient Egyptian Literature. A Book of Readings Volume 1: The Old and Middle Kingdoms. Los Angeles: University of California Press.
- Ockinga 2010
- Ockinga, Boyo G. 2010. “The Memphite Theology – Its Purpose and Date.” In Egyptian Culture and Society: Studies in Honor of Naguib Kanawati, vol. 2, edited by Alexandra Woods, Ann McFarlane, and Susanne Binder, 99–117. Cairo: Publications du Conseil Suprême des Antiquités de l’Égypte.
- Velde 1975
- Velde, Herman te. 1975. “Ptah.” LÄ IV: 1177–1180.