ABSTRACT

Here is a selection of these deities from the tomb of Ramesses VI and from the Book of the Dead:

Cavern I

Resident deities include: Nine jackal-headed gods feeding on rottenness; snake guardians of the Silent Region Flame-breathing snake called Sesy; primeval gods called Nariu who have the heads of catfish Nehebu-Kau encircling seven catfishheaded gods led by Osiris

4 Great one who is on his belly 5 Nut and ithyphallic Osiris 6 Tatenen 8 Those who raise their superiors to

the sky 9 Gods of the Primeval Deep

10 Wailing goddesses brandishing axes dripping with blood

D Dedwen Anthropomorphic god presiding over Nubia and its access to resources such as incense. In the Pyramid Texts the king is honoured as Dedwen lord of Nubia. The royal aroma is that of the incense brought by Dedwen for the gods. The connection with the monarch is also seen in the fact that Dedwen burns incense at royal births. Temples in Nubia were built for Dedwen by Tuthmosis III at el-Lessiya and Uronarti but there is no evidence for a cult centre of this god north of Aswan.