Cultural Developments

Cultural Developments

From Naqada II onwards there is a highly differentiated burial practice with elite burials containing large quantities of grave goods, with exotic materials such as gold and lapis lazuli. These burials point to an increasing hierarchical society and the wish of the deceased to keep their status in the afterlife, of prime important in the funerary theology under the Pharaohs. In short, the royals had access to the sky of Re, whereas commoners were spirits unable to leave the kingdom of Osiris.

The mastaba tombs represent the primordial hill emerging out of the eternal "zep tepi", the Golden Age and can be traced back to the modest pit tombs of previous periods. This "risen land" ("ta-tenen") was the "first land" to come into being.

The mound is Solar, and refers to the first ray of Re shining on the first day after the waters receded.

Divne Kingship

During this period we see the formulation of the concept of Divine Kingship where the Two Lands are united by the incarnation of a single, re-incarnating sky-god, descending in a male body, forming a dynasty of divine kings, ruling a united state of divisions.

Writing

At the end of Naqada III, the first hieroglyphs appear. These first "mnemonic" symbols and semi-cursive hieroglyphs appear on labels of tomb goods and palettes.

Magic

Magic plays a very big part in Egyptian religion; this can be found from the Badarian Period onwards. Magic in the terms of Egyptian religion is being able to achieve a result through actions that are carried out on an object that is within your possession. Magic existed on all levels; there was state magic that could influence the outcome of state events, down to personal magic.

Wadjet
Goddess of Lower Egypt
Often shown as a cobra, or as the head of the cobra, Wadjet can be seen rearing from the forehead of the rulers. Evidence of her protection is most notable upon the funerary mask of Tutankhamen. Occasionally, she has been shown in the guise of her "eye of divine vengeance" role, as a lioness.

Examples of Naqada III Artefacts

Top: Mastaba Tomb
Middle: Early Hieroglyphs