Dendera Lightbulb: Difference between revisions
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===Uses of the Temple=== | ===Uses of the Temple=== | ||
The Hathor Temple played an important role in Egyptian religious practices and celebrations. It is at this very temple where important religious ceremonies were played out, such as the Sokar festival which consisted of a burial ritual led by the priestesses of Hathor also known as Senet.<ref name="cotton">Lesko, Barbara. The Great Goddesses of Egypt. Amsterdam, Netherlands, Amsterdam University Press, 1999. Google Books, books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Mb3F7roWPvsC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=hathor+temple+significance&ots=09QHA6q84x&sig=V8rPdlSoiXXapWOmCtnf_am5P-Q#v=onepage&q=hathor%20temple%20significance&f=false.</ref> Understanding the ritualistic and intended purposes for the temple is essential in understanding the contextual evidence that debunks the concept of the Dendera lightbulb. Many of the festivals and rituals that took place at Hathor temple revolve around the concept of death and rebirth, harkening to the temples patron the goddess Hathor and her representation as mother of the deceased.<ref name="cotton" /> | The Hathor Temple played an important role in Egyptian religious practices and celebrations. It is at this very temple where important religious ceremonies were played out, such as the Sokar festival which consisted of a burial ritual led by the priestesses of Hathor also known as Senet.<ref name="cotton">Lesko, Barbara. The Great Goddesses of Egypt. Amsterdam, Netherlands, Amsterdam University Press, 1999. Google Books, books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Mb3F7roWPvsC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=hathor+temple+significance&ots=09QHA6q84x&sig=V8rPdlSoiXXapWOmCtnf_am5P-Q#v=onepage&q=hathor%20temple%20significance&f=false.</ref> Understanding the ritualistic and intended purposes for the temple is essential in understanding the contextual evidence that debunks the concept of the Dendera lightbulb. Many of the festivals and rituals that took place at Hathor temple revolve around the concept of death and rebirth, harkening to the temples patron the goddess Hathor and her representation as mother of the deceased.<ref name="cotton" /> Many of the depictions that are found on the walls of the temple of Hathor represents this cycle of life and death that is so closely connected to the goddess, including the Dendera lightbulb inscriptions themselves. | ||
===Hathor Goddess=== | ===Hathor Goddess=== | ||
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==Deconstructing the Narrative== | ==Deconstructing the Narrative== | ||
While the Dendera Lightbulb interpretation makes for an interesting theory about the meaning behind the depictions, when faced with the archeological and cultural evidence associated with the site, the theory begins to rapidly fall apart. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
Revision as of 23:18, 30 November 2021
The Dendera Lightbulb
The concept of the Dendera Lightbulb comes from a set of inscriptions located on a chamber wall in the Temple of Hathor in Egypt. The depictions shows what is theorized to be an version of a lightbulb known as a "crookes tube". [1] The pseudoarcheaological interpretation of the artifact is that of an ancient lightbulb, which is seen as proof of ancient civilizations having access to advanced technologies. The depictions are seen as representing a bulb with a filament winding through the middle, with a socket that connects a cord to box underneath the bulb which is being held up by a two armed pillar.[2] But when considering the cultural and historical contexts associated with the depiction, there is a much larger story to tell.
Discovery
History of Hathor Temple
Home to the Dendera Lightbulb, Hathor temple lies within the Dandarah temple complex south of Qena along the West Nile in Egypt. This ancient Egyptian temple remains one of the most well-preserved pieces of Egyptian Architecture to date, and contains many pieces of archaeological and cultural evidence about ancient Egypt.[3] The Hathor temple plays a major role in Egyptian history, it was a prominent site for the cult of Hathor, and acted as a sanctuary for healing, rituals, and celebrations. Hathor temple has undergone several bouts of reconstruction over many different historical periods, but it's original construction can date back to the rule of Ptolemy XII, but wasn't completed until the reign of Queen Cleopatra VII between 54-20 BCE.[4]
Uses of the Temple
The Hathor Temple played an important role in Egyptian religious practices and celebrations. It is at this very temple where important religious ceremonies were played out, such as the Sokar festival which consisted of a burial ritual led by the priestesses of Hathor also known as Senet.[5] Understanding the ritualistic and intended purposes for the temple is essential in understanding the contextual evidence that debunks the concept of the Dendera lightbulb. Many of the festivals and rituals that took place at Hathor temple revolve around the concept of death and rebirth, harkening to the temples patron the goddess Hathor and her representation as mother of the deceased.[5] Many of the depictions that are found on the walls of the temple of Hathor represents this cycle of life and death that is so closely connected to the goddess, including the Dendera lightbulb inscriptions themselves.
Hathor Goddess
The goddess Hathor plays an important and multifaceted role within ancient Egyptian culture and religion. Hathor was a many faced goddess and was a deity of many crucial cultural elements in ancient Egypt. Not only was Hathor the counterpart to major God Horus, but she was also represented concepts such as beauty, love, fertility, as well as music and dancing.[4] Hathor was a feminine goddess who was represented in many forms, suiting to her dynamic nature. She is often depicted with cow horns atop her head representing her motherly nature and symbiology. Worship of Hathor took place all throughout Egypt, but the Hathor temple is the largest and most well known site dedicated to the goddess and her partner Horus.
Pseudoarcheological Interpretation
The Dendera Lightbulb has been represented in multiple popular media sources, bringing major attention to this site. Most notably, the Dendera Lightbulb made an appearance in popular History channel original, Ancient Aliens. The concept of advanced ancient technology based on the Dendera depictions can even be found in the novel Eye of the Sphinx by the world renowned ancient alien theorist Eric Van Däniken.
Deconstructing the Narrative
While the Dendera Lightbulb interpretation makes for an interesting theory about the meaning behind the depictions, when faced with the archeological and cultural evidence associated with the site, the theory begins to rapidly fall apart.
References
- ↑ https://ancientegyptonline.co.uk/denderahlightbulb/
- ↑ https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-technology/dendera-light-0081
- ↑ “Middle Kingdom Monuments Dendera Temple Complex.” Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, 2021, egyptianmuseum.org/explore/middle-kingdom-monuments-dendera-temple-complex.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ugc. “Hathor Temple.” Atlas Obscura, 27 Nov. 2021, www.atlasobscura.com/places/hathor-temple.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lesko, Barbara. The Great Goddesses of Egypt. Amsterdam, Netherlands, Amsterdam University Press, 1999. Google Books, books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Mb3F7roWPvsC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=hathor+temple+significance&ots=09QHA6q84x&sig=V8rPdlSoiXXapWOmCtnf_am5P-Q#v=onepage&q=hathor%20temple%20significance&f=false.