[Hieroglyphics] =Ant=(Esneh)
[Hieroglyphics] =An =the southern 'On' (now Hermonthis)
[Hieroglyphics] =Denderah, the traditional birthplace of Isis
[Hieroglyphics] = A town also called 'On' in the name of Tinis
[Hieroglyphics] =The town called the northern 'On', the renowned city of Heliopolis
The common ancestor of the Annu settled along the Nile was Ani or An, a name determined by the word [hieroglyphics] (khet) and which, dating from the earliest versions of the "Book of the Dead" onwards, is given to the god Orisis.
The wife of [hieroglyphics] the god Ani is the goddess Anet [hieroglyphics] who is also his sister, just as Isis is the sister of Osiris.
The identity of the god An with Osiris has been demonstrated by Pleyte;10 we should, indeed recall that is also surnamed by (?) the Anou; 'Osiris Ani'. The god Anu is represented alternately by the symbol [hieroglyphics] and the symbol [hieroglyphics]. Are the Aunak tribes now inhabiting the upper Nile related to the ancient Annu? Future research will provide the answer to this question.
Petrie thinks it possible to make a distinction between the predynastic people represented by Tera Neter and the Scorpion King (who is himself a Pharaoh even at that date as his head-dress shows) and a dynastic people worshipping the falcion and probably represented by the Pharaoh's Narmer,14 Khasekhem, Sanekhei and Zoser.12 By reference to the faces reproduced in the figure it is easily perceived that there is no ethnic difference between the two lots, and both belong to the black race.
The mural in tomb SD 63 (Sequence Date 63) of Hierakonopolis shows the native-born blacks subjugating the foreign intruders into the valley if we accept Petrie's interpretation: 'Below is the black ship at Hierakonpolis belonging to the black men who are shown as conquering the red men.'13
The Gebel-el-Arak knife haft shows similar scenes: 'There are also combats of black men overcoming red men.'13 However, the archaeological value of this object, which was not found in situ but in the possession of a merchant, is less than that of the preceding items.
Posted By: DAVID JOHNSON
Thursday, December 16th 2010 at 10:21PM
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