Hedvig Győry: Mélanges offerts a Edith Varga „Le lotus qui sort de terre” (Bulletin du Musée Hongrois des Beaux-Arts Supplément 1. Budapest, 2001)
HANS GOEDICKE: Anthropological Problems - Gynecological Questions
"Pleased is Amunl" which actually does not tell her much. She must have gotten the message, since the next scene shows her supported by Khnum and Heqat. It is curious to meet Khnum here, because he does not participate in the ensuing delivery. While he supports the pregnant one, he assures her, "I will always extend protection around my daughter (i.e., Hatshepsut)! Great will he the one who is going to open your womb! She will be " This is the last time we meet Khnum in connection with Hatshepsut, because the male role is occupied by Amun in the remaining scenes. Before turning to this section of the account, let us briefly reflect on the role of Khnum. It is quite clear that he has not fathered the expected child. At the same time Khnum makes repeated statements about his care for the future child, once it is born. 23 It would seem that at this point the role of the father is split, with Khnum acting as the sustainer of the child. In this role he is not creator, but performs the same role as he did at the Rudjedet delivery, namely that of supporter. To return to the Hatshepsut cycle - the delivery takes place in a totally female setting. 24 The delivering woman is aided by two women, with several others also being present. The males, however, are on another level, and seem to be trying to lend their support from afar. Although Amun is not shown there, he cannot have been far away. In the next scene 25 Hathor, probably in the place of Meskhenet, presents the child to Amun, who is standing. While "stretching her arm out towards" Amun, she tells him, "The fledgling looks very much alike]" It appears to be an attempt by the woman's mother, or what other elderly lady participated in the delivery, to assure the new father that the infant looks completely like him - something fathers are supposed to be sometimes uncertain about. After this assurance there is not much else for him to do but to greet the newborn "nini (welcome!) my child my beloved one" and by doing so to accept her. This critical moment having passed, everybody can relax except the woman in childbed. Her mother and the proud new father compete in kissing and hugging the baby. In the meantime the mother stays in her confinement. Since she is in this case a lady of rank, she is assisted by numerous wet nurses. : ' Sethe, Urk. IV, pp. 223,9-16; pp. 225,13-14; p. 234,2-4. J See Brunner, op. cit. (note 12), pp. 90-106; pi. 9. s "Hathor, lady of Dendera" also occupies the same role in the Amenophis III version (Brunner, op. cit. (note 12), p. 10). She represents here the "realm of Horus" where the child will eventually occupy a dominating role, as if she were the child's grandmother.
