Tutankhamun Knew the Names of the Two Great Gods: Dt and nHH as Fundamental Concepts of Pharaonic Ideology

Tutankhamun Knew the Names of the Two Great Gods offers a new interpretation of the terms Dt and nHH as fundamental concepts of Pharaonic ideology. The terms Dt and nHH were neither synonyms nor entirely temporal, but referenced a duality of ontological conditions that were fundamental to the fabric of pharaonic ideology. This reappraisal allows texts and iconographic depictions from dynastic Egypt to be considered from a new perspective, providing deeper insight into the character of pharaonic culture.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 196 pages
Publication date: 04 February 2022
Publisher: Archaeopress

Tutankhamun's Knowledge of the Two Great Gods offers a fresh perspective on the significance of the terms Dt and nHH as fundamental concepts within Pharaonic ideology. These terms have frequently been treated as synonyms, representing notions associated with the vastness of time. However, upon examining the original source material, which encompasses texts and iconography compiled over three millennia and authored by individuals with a profound understanding of their subject matter, it becomes evident that these modern interpretations may be questionable.

Clues to the connotations associated with Dt and nHH can be most clearly observed in texts and imagery from Tutankhamun's reign, a period characterized by political upheaval and the urgent need to express traditional values with clarity to reaffirm the established ideology that underpinned Pharaonic culture prior to the Amarna interlude. By testing these indications against the broader range of extant literary material, it becomes evident that Dt and nHH were not synonymous, nor were they entirely temporal in nature. Rather, they referenced a duality of ontological conditions that together formed the fundamental essence of Pharaonic ideology.

The reappraisal of this duality of conditions offers a new perspective on the many texts and iconographic depictions surviving from dynastic Egypt. It enables us to consider these artifacts from a fresh angle, providing deeper insights into the character of Pharaonic culture. Furthermore, it becomes apparent that the influences of an ideology that emerged during times preceding the pyramid builders permeated the philosophical and theological treaties of the scholars of ancient Greece and Rome, and subsequently into more recent times. It is possible that at least two great gods may exist.

Weight: 518g
Dimension: 176 x 244 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789699852