Mekes – Creating an Imagery of Kingship and Transmission of power in Ancient Egypt.

The present study examines the mekes, an important element of the royal ceremonial regalia in ancient Egypt. The mekes was often depicted in reliefs, on which the pharaoh holds it in his raised left hand and carries the nX# X# whip in the other hand. It is argued that the mekes has political and socio-religious connotations that are conveyed through its iconography. The investigation is limited to the inscriptions of the Edfu Temple as an example of Ptolemaic and Roman temples. It is mentioned that the mekes document was issued in the name of Re, Amun-Re, Thoth, and Osiris. The inscriptions confirm that the mekes document transfers the rule over heaven, earth, water, and everything that is on them to Horus. It is also mentioned that Thoth acted as the secretary and advisor of the sun god Re and handed over the mekes document to Horus. Osiris is also mentioned as the deliverer of the mekes document to Horus. This text is about the transfer of the mekes, a royal insignia, to the god Horus Beḥedety. It is mentioned that the creator god Horus Xnty-xty hands over the mekes to Horus Beḥedety to unite the double crown and pass on his father's testament. It is also noted that Horus receives the mekes through a divine process and emphasizes it in his representations and titles to confirm his legitimacy to access the Egyptian throne. It is also mentioned that Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II offers the mekes as a ritual sacrifice to Horus. The article is about the ritual offering of the "mekes" to Horus by the Egyptian kings Ptolemy VIII and Ptolemy X. The "mekes" is a symbolic gift that represents the rule and legitimacy of the king. The offering of the "mekes" is done by Horus or sometimes by Thoth. The depiction of these rituals on the walls of the Edfu Temple serves to emphasize the divine legitimacy of the Ptolemaic kings. It is emphasized that the Egyptian state was not created by humans, but given by the gods, and that the pharaohs rule strictly by their divine right. The article describes the representations of Thoth handing over the "mekes" and the "jmy(t)-pr" to the pharaoh Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II. The mekes and the jmy(t)-pr are symbols of royal rule and are handed over to the pharaoh by Thoth. The pharaoh integrates the mekes into his own iconography to demonstrate his legitimacy. The handing over of the mekes to the pharaoh is mentioned in the inscriptions on the reliefs. It is also noted that the mekes was used in ceremonies and festivals to confirm the pharaoh's rule. The text describes the mekes ritual in ancient Egypt, which had political and religious significance. The ritual likely took place annually or at longer intervals in Edfu and commemorated Horus' victory over Seth, his coronation, and the transfer of power from one generation to the next. It also served the political legitimation of the pharaoh and his divine authority. The mekes ritual was considered a means of legitimizing the king's accession to the throne. The text includes a list of books and articles on various topics related to ancient Egypt. [Extracted from the article]