Middle Kingdom

 

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First intermediate period

This period spreads from the downfall of the Old Kingdom (toward -2140) to the reunification of Egypt during the reign of Montouhotep II (-2022).  It is characterized by the dismemberment of Egypt with, to the departure, the development of the local separatism. Then the antagonisms polarize themselves between a monarchy in Heracleopolis and an ambitious Theban dynasty

The region of This and Abydos, that the two parts argued constituted the zone border. It is related in the famous "Teaching for Merikare", written by a king from Heracleopolis for his son. 

Vois, un acte vil s'est produit de mon temps                                Le district de This fut ravagé...                                                       On a combattu contre l'Egypte dans la nécropole                  En détruisant les monuments anciens au gré des circonstances...(traduction P. Vernus)

The Middle Kingdom

At the time of this period, took place an expansion  without precedent of the cult of Osiris and of the personal piety. Thousands of steles celebrate in Abydos the memory of the deceased and the glory of Osiris. 

 

You can see in the right a detail of the stele of the Abkaou livestock chief, saved in Louvre (11th dynasty, C15 stele) : the deceased and his  wife receive the funeral offerings. Above this scene, is sculpted one rituals representation  celebrated at the time of the Osiris festival.

For the reign of Montouhotep III, Vandersleyen notes architectural activities in Abydos and indicate the fact that one allocates to this king the first Osirislike statuaries , that to be-to-say enveloped in a shroud.

For the following parts of the Middle kingdom, please use the navigation bar.

[Senwosret I][Senwosret III]

 

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