![]() ![]() The flesh of Trionyx was eaten from Predynastic times to as late as the Old Kingdom later the flesh of turtles began to be considered an "abomination of Ra" and the animals were thought of as evil. Parts of turtles were used to grind eye paint, which was applied both as a cosmetic and to protect eyes from infection and over-exposure to sun, dust, wind, and insects. An ointment made from the brain of a turtle was the treatment for squinting. The Medical Ebers Papyrus cites the use of turtle carapaces and organs in some formulas, including one formula for the removal of hair. The carapace may symbolize the "way in which the owner used to move slowly like a tortoise," or sitting in the carapace may have been a very useful way for the owner to move around. In an Early Dynastic tomb at Helwan a man was buried beneath the carapace of a tortoise who had lost his feet in an accident. The famous Hunters Palette shows most of the hunters carrying a kind of shield interpreted as a turtle-carapace shield. ![]() Since the XIXth Dynasty, and particularly in the Late and Greco-Roman periods, turtles were ritually speared by kings and nobles as evil creatures. The turtle was associated with Set, and so with the enemies of Ra who tried to stop the solar barque as it traveled through the underworld. Īs an aquatic animal, the turtle was associated with the Underworld. Sacrifices of turtles may have served some ritual or liturgical purpose within the ancient Egyptian ceremonial system. Though excluded from lists of animal offerings to the deities, there are nevertheless great quantities of turtle bones at the great ceremonial complex at Heirakonpolis in Upper Egypt. Īmong Ptah's many creatures, Shetyw was neither especially remarkable nor esteemed. Many relics from the Middle Kingdom such as magical knives depicted turtles and were inscribed to protect the women and children of the house. Amulets and objects depicting the turtles represent them as a force to defend health and life. The earliest representations of the Nile turtle are from pre-dynastic times they had magical significance and were meant to ward off evil. A stone vase in the form of a turtle was found in Naqada. Zoomorphic palettes were commonly made in the shapes of turtles. Predynastic slate palettes represent freshwater (soft carapace, Trionyx triunguis) turtles, as does the hieroglyph for "turtle", in which the animal is always represented from above. Turtle fossils are the most common reptiles found in the Fayoum, including Gigantochersina ammon, a tortoise as large as those living on the Galapagos Islands today. The turtle Shetyw (also Shetw, Sheta, or Shtyw) was common in Ancient Egyptian Art (especially Predynastic and Old Kingdom art). It can be regarded as personifying water, the moon, the Earth, time, immortality, and fertility.Ī zoomorphic palette in the form of a Nile soft-shell turtle. The myth of a World Tortoise, along with that of a world-bearing elephant, was discussed comparatively by Edward Burnett Tylor (1878:341).Īround the world the tortoise and/or turtle can be seen as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge, and is able to defend itself on its own. In the cosmological myths of several cultures a World Turtle carries the world upon its back or supports the heavens. A tortoise's longevity is suggested by its long lifespan and its shell, which to some symbolizes protection from any foe. The turtle has a prominent position as a symbol of important concepts in religion, mythology, and folklore from around the world, including steadfastness and tranquility. Īs a result of its role as a slow, peaceful creature in culture, the turtle can be misconceived as a sedentary animal however, many types of turtle, especially sea turtles, frequently migrate over large distances in oceans. Sea turtles are a charismatic megafauna and are used as symbols of the marine environment and environmentalism. ![]() They have an important role in mythologies around the world, and are often implicated in creation myths regarding the origin of the Earth. Turtles are regularly incorporated into human culture, with painters, photographers, poets, songwriters, and sculptors using them as subjects. Due to their long lifespan, slow movement, sturdiness, and wrinkled appearance, they are an emblem of longevity and stability in many cultures around the world. Turtles are frequently depicted in popular culture as easygoing, patient, and wise creatures. The Turtle House by the German architect and designer Kurt Völtzke (Atelier Color, Chemnitz) at El Gouna (Red Sea, Egypt) ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |