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Web En Djed (The raising of the Djed Pillar); an historical look into Christmas!

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BY DAVE RANKIN

Most of us are now coming off the high of celebrating two important dates on the calendar: Christmas and New Year’s Day. For most people, both days were filled with joyous moments between family members and friends alike. From gift exchanges, to lavish meals, to the spread of good will, traditions are observed. New ones have been formed and will be passed down through generation to generation. Thus, adding to the moniker as,” …the most wonderful time of the year!”

In ancient Kemet, they also had numerous important dates that were celebrated across the land. Like Christmas and New Year’s. These dates also centered on the phenomena that took place in nature.

While Christmas is usually synonymous with the birth of Jesus the Christ, what is sometimes missed is what is actually going on in nature. One thing I have to make clear is that I will not be debating on the actual birth date of Jesus. That is neither here nor there for the purpose of this article. We are simply looking at what transpires in nature in relation to the holiday. With that being said, let us begin.

Just prior to Christmas Day is an astrological occurrence called the Hiemal or Hibernal Solstice, also known as the Winter Solstice, that takes place around December 22nd-24th. In laymen’s terms, it is when the sun reaches its furthest point away from the northern hemisphere of the earth. Thus, producing very short days of sunlight and longer nights. For us as children of the sun, it could be really depressing. On so many levels, we could see this as darkness infringing on our very existence with little hope for light.

This is why Christmas Day, or December 25th was so revered. That was the day that the sun begins to make its way back to us, thus slowly producing longer days and eventually shorter nights. It was called the Birth of the New Sun. This new sun lifts the veil of darkness and brings the necessary hope in the world that is needed. One name that was associated with the New Sun was the Redeemer. Simply put, the New Sun was to “redeem” the sin of winter, where very little in nature grows.

Being devoutly in tune with nature, our Kemetian fore-parents celebrated what was called the Web en Djed or the Raising of the Djed Pillar during this very same time frame. The Djed Pillar was associated with the backbone of the deity Asar, in Greece he was known as Osiris. As a symbol of strength and stability, the Djed Pillar reminds us to make all areas of our health a priority through a disciplined approach and to guard against what was called Isfet or chaos around us.

We could infer it as this, since the darkness of winter is able to bring about Isfet (chaos) through depression, overindulging, and in some cases emotional instability or a feeling of hopelessness. It was only fitting to guard against these feelings by renewing oneself through ceremonial customs to create a place of harmony, balance, and joy. One custom that is still in operation today is the religious cleaning that takes place in the Caribbean home to prepare for Christmas Day. Like many of us, it was a custom to clean the whole house to ring in the festival season. Taking household items like plates, dishes, and wall hung pictures to make sure that each item was as spotless as the first time they came into the home. It was a time where families were brought together as a unit to assist with the preparations and have fun while doing it.

Our ancient fore-parents also participated in religious cleansing of themselves, internally and externally to prepare themselves for the coming of the New Sun. It was the only way to allow the joy and harmony that the sun would bring. By ridding themselves of some of that dirt, or unnecessary thoughts, it left them with a lighter feel and a renewed strength, thus being able to receive the blessings of the season.

Like the days of ancient, the observation of nature (which was then transformed into culture and custom) helped us prepare for the coming of the New Sun. This is the same way we as Caribbean people have looked at culture as a reminder to remain steadfast for the light soon come.

David “Rankin” Lindsay is an enthusiastic, self-motivated and determined individual with a passion for learning, teaching and playing an active role within his community. He believes that the sky’s the limit, and that people can accomplish anything they set their minds too. The most rewarding experiences for Dave is when he is able to use his skills and educational background to help others and make a difference. He is a certified Phase 1 Sports and Nutrition Specialist, a African History Teacher, and a certified ESL teacher.

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African History

Seti the 1st war correspondents etched along the north wall of the Hypostyle hall; more of his great achievements

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BY DAVE RANKIN

Seti the 1st returned home from battle against the “vile” Kheta with captives and “the choicest items their country has to offer.” Reliefs from the exterior wall of the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak provide us with some details. It depicts Seti the 1st “crowned by a solar disk, standing upon his chariot firing arrows.”

On the home front, Seti the 1st began to rewrite history in his own way. To legitimize his own dynasty, Seti had himself and his son Rameses the 2nd showing adoration to the shenu or cartouche of sixty-seven previous nesew. A shenu is an oval shaped carving with a vertical line at the end of it. Usually, a name is inscribed within the shape. The word cartouche is French in origin, and was first used by soldiers who said the symbol reminded them of a ‘paper powder cartridge’ used for loading their firearms. The depiction included the list of sixty-seven names beginning with Menes and ending with Seti the 1st. It is here that I mention that the great nesew Hatshepsut was not mentioned in this list.

Around year three of his reign, Seti the 1st fought the Libyans who had encroached upon the borders. The reliefs show a number of detailed inscriptions. In one scene, Seti the 1st threatens a Libyan chieftain. In another, he restrains two other Libyan chieftains while holding a weapon similar to a javelin. Also, there is a mention of the name ‘Horthema’, loosely meaning ‘avenging Heru’ or Horus inscribed among the reliefs. Again, there is a wonderful carving of Seti victoriously returning home, standing in his chariot, adorned with the heads of his captives.

All of this seemed to be a precursor for one of his greatest battles in the city of Qadesh, sometimes spelt Kadesh. Around the 4th year of his reign, Seti set out on a major campaign to retake the city from the Hittites. Again, we have to give thanks for his war correspondents that the reliefs etched along the north wall of the Hypostyle hall in the temple of Amun located at Karnak.

There is one scene where a ‘fleeing ox driver… is begging for mercy.’ While it’s recorded that Seti was victorious, this was relinquished quickly as the Hittites retook the city. In another scene, a Hittite king, presumably king Muwatallis, stands before Seti like a ‘pylon’ as one author put it. This very important scene informs us of the peace treaty was signed between the two forces. The details are fragmented; however, they do advise that the cities of Qadesh and Amurru were retained by the Hittites as long as they did not interfere with the Kemetian interests in Canaan and other neighboring cities.

Near home, Seti the 1st held control of the turquoise mines in Sinai. There were also gold mines to the east of Edfu that were under the empire. The construction of wells in Wadi Mia and Wadi Abbad took place in his ninth year. In Nubia, Seti launched a minor campaign into Irem, which is located in Upper Nubia, to confiscate the gold mines of Wadi Allaqi.

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African History

Tremendous achievements for the 1st year nesew Seti

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BY DAVE RANKIN

From the very onset Rameses the 1st was appointed the new ruler of ancient Kemet, he had one thing in mind, to uphold the tradition of having his heir succeed him on the throne. As we have seen with the pharaohs of the late 18th Dynasty, namely King Tut, Aye, and Horemheb, a nesew without an heir leaves the nation in great peril. History would not repeat itself this time as we introduce this week’s subject, Seti the 1st.

Unlike his father, who was clearly aged at the time of his ascension. Seti the 1st was in the prime of his adult years, something that Kemet hadn’t witnessed in a while. Rameses the 1st made sure Seti was schooled in the ways of kingship. Rameses the 1st appointed his son to hold various positions of office during his short reign. The two positions that should stand out to us are the following.

The first, Seti the 1st, was acting general of foreign policy. However, the second and more important one, was a position similar to that of a vizier. As vizier, Seti the 1st would be privy to major nation building discussions while his father was alive. But as nesew, Seti the 1st displayed what he had learned during his time in office, coupled with his military experience. This laid the foundation for one of Kemet’s greatest dynasties.

With his visions set on the glorious days of Thutmosis the 3rd, Seti the 1st set out on a campaign to reclaim the empire once established in Asia. Similar to Tuthmosis the 3rd, Seti had his feats of war etched on the North Wall of the Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak, a magnificent structure that has stood the test of time. He departed from the “border fortress of Tjel” and headed straight to Raphia, a Palestinian city located somewhere along the Gaza Strip.

Along the way, he battled with the Shasu Bedouin. The semitic speaking nomads were pests along the eastern Palestinian frontier and needed to be dealt with. This inscription from the Great Wall tells us the following. “Their tribal chiefs are gathered together… They have taken to cursing and quarreling, each of them slaying his neighbor, and they disregard the laws of the palace.”

What the Shasu didn’t know was that there was a reason why Seti the 1st was named the “Powerful bull that give life to the Two Lands after having been crowned at Thebes.” Seti the 1st captured Raphia relatively easy. Kemetian military fortified this giving the Kemetians a strategic foothold, as it secured fresh water from the wells along the trade route through Gaza called “The Ways of Horus.”  It is here where I will insert a small passage from the chiseled reliefs at Karnak that tell us of the victory. “The destruction which the mighty sword of the Pharaoh made among the vanquished of the Shasu… his majesty marched against them like a fierce-eyed lion, making them carcasses in their valleys…”

He then went on to capture Gaza and sent the army of Ra, ‘Plentiful of Valor’ to Beth Shan and Reheb. He also sent the armies of Amen, ‘Mighty of Bows’ and Seth, ‘Strong of Bows’ to Hamath and Yenoam. Successful in their battles, they also captured Acre, and Tyre and had sights on Lebanon. The nesew beat the local Lebanese chiefs into submission, and as one author put it, ‘they were compelled to cut down valuable cedar woods as tribute.’

Tremendous achievements for the 1st year nesew who adopted the nameRepeater of Birth.’ It points us to a new beginning adding to the greatness of Kemet’s legacy.

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African History

Why would he be chosen to be the next nesew? Rameses the 1st – 19th Dynasty circa 1292 -1290 BCE

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BY DAVE RANKIN

If a pharaoh has no heir, it’s his position as leader of the nation to appoint a successor. This has to happen for a number of reasons. For starters, a nation without a leader would crumble. Second, states under the empire would rebel without consequences. As we have read, there have been numerous occasions where nation-states under the empire have rebelled as soon as the nesew passed, only to be brought in line by the succeeding pharaoh.

Stability would have been a major factor as Pharaoh Horemheb was approaching his twilight years. He knew he had to choose someone who would bring that stability to the nation. It is here where I welcome our next feature in this series, the nesew who ushered in the 19th Dynasty, Rameses the 1st.

Upon researching the life and times of Rameses the 1st, the first question that came to mind was why would he be chosen to be the next nesew? Similar to his predecessor Horemheb, Rameses the 1st was a career military man and most likely served in the army with him. As Horemheb became the nesew, Rameses was given several titles until he selected as Vizier. A likely choice since Rameses was already married. He had a son, whom we will expound upon later in the series.

Coming from a long line of soldiers, Rameses was born of non-royal blood somewhere near the Delta region. His father, Seti was a troop commander and his uncle Khaemwaset was also an army officer. So, following their footsteps he also joined the military from an early age.

When Horemheb had passed and Rameses ascended to the throne, he was advanced in years. Although no definite age was given, I’ve read reports that he was well into his fifties when he finally became the nesew. Upon coronation Rameses added the name Menpehtyre, which meant “Born of Ra, Established by the strength of Ra” to his name.

One of the first orders of business Rameses completed was to appoint his son, and future successor Seti 1, vizier and next in line to the throne. This proved to be wise since Rameses the 1st was only on the throne for about two years. The next order of business was to have an expedition sent into Palestine. Again, there are very little details pertaining to what happened during this time. What we do know is that his son Seti 1 would also lead an expedition into the same area years later.

Like all nesew before him, Rameses the 1st was able to add his mark by completing the second pylon of the Temple of Amun at Karnak. His son later finished his other piece of construction, a temple and chapel.

While there are no reports of how he died, his mummy was buried in an unfinished tomb and placed in the Valley of the Kings under KV16. The Italian archaeologist Giovanni Battista Belzoni around 1817 first discovered it. The tomb was decorated with scattered pieces of scriptures from The Book of Gates.

During political upheaval, the mummy was removed to a secret resting place until rediscovered later on in the 19th century. In a strange twist, Rameses’ mummy became part of a collection that was located in Niagara Falls, Canada at the Niagara Falls Museum and the Daredevil Hall of Fame during the mid-19th century. It wasn’t until 2003 that Rameses body was returned back home to his final resting place.

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