9/3/2023 0 Comments Define adze![]() Some texts of the ceremony such as in the tomb of Rekhmire describe this and use the instruments to touch the statue in the appropriate places of its body. However, if somehow the dead body was destroyed or was unretrievable, it was believed the statues and shabti's could be used as a replacement. Statues: The ceremony was previously only done on statues, shabtis, and temples, yet transitioned through the middle and new kingdoms to be done mainly on corpses. Drinking ability was crucial for this purpose. As an symbol of rebirth, they were thought to have been given milk, saltwater, and water when entering the underworld, similar to how infants receive milk from their mothers as their initial source of nourishment. Moreover, reciting spells and asserting their innocence before the gods after completing the duat required the use of senses such as hearing, seeing, and speaking. Vital functions such as breathing, speaking, seeing, eating, and drinking were among these necessities. The opening of the mouth ceremony was believed to grant their spirits access to these senses and requirements upon death. However, it was necessary for them to possess their basic senses to navigate successfully. ![]() To prepare for these trials, individuals would have special spells and directions inscribed on their sarcophagus on how to avoid such hazards, known as coffin texts. The ancient Egyptians held the belief that to reach the afterlife, one must pass through a series of arduous trials in the duat, which involve evading perilous creatures and traps. Wall painting from the Tomb of Tutankhamun (KV 62), 18th Dynasty (c. Religious significance Īy performing the opening of the mouth for Tutankhamun. ![]() Additionally, tools like the peseshkef, which resembled the tail of a fish and were originally employed for cutting infants' umbilical cords, further emphasized the idea of "rebirth". For instance, cutting bloody meat from animals as offerings for the deceased signified the birthing process, which typically involves blood, and represented the commencement of a new life. These customs were often linked with childbirth, which denoted rebirth and new beginnings. Various practices were conducted on the corpse, including the use of specific instruments to touch body parts like the mouth and eyes. From the Old Kingdom to the Roman Period, there is ample evidence of this ceremony, which was believed to give the deceased their fundamental senses to carry out tasks in the afterlife. The opening of the mouth ceremony (or ritual) was an ancient Egyptian ritual described in funerary texts such as the Pyramid Texts. Peseshkef blade dedicated by King Senwosret to Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II MET DP311785
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