Czére Andrea szerk.: A Szépművészeti Múzeum közleményei 105. (Budapest, 2006)

ÉVA LIPTAY: Between Heaven and Earth II: The Iconography of a Funerary Papyrus from the Twenty-First Dynasty (Part II)

In this cosmological context the eye of Atum-Re is always in singular form in order to emphasize its unique character. The attribute w

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t ('Unique') following the term "eye" undoubtedly refers to the union of the universe before creation. As for the launching of the creative act itself, this is undoubtedly due to Heka, the god of Magic who was already possessed by Atum-Re in the Primaeval Ocean.

26 Therefore here the god of Magic makes its appearance as the activator of the creative power who is the only being capable of forming many beings from the Unseparated One.

27 On a Twenty-first Dynasty funerary papyrus the god of Magic can be seen in the register above the sun barque, behind Re-Harachty, while the passenger of the sun barque, i.e. the sun disc comprising the solar eye, is another manifestation of the sun-god, which is a point of major importance for us.

28 It is likely that this iconographie solution conveys exactly the same concept that w

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as referred to above: the creation of the world by Imagination and Visualisation catalysed by the creative power of Magic. 4. 3. THE TWO m í

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í-FEATHERS (FIG. 3) The solar eye personified as the daughter of Atum who usually appears in the shape of a cobra in the context of the creation and the sunrise/eastern horizon was usually identified with the goddess Maat as early as the Pyramid Texts.

29 Since in the cosmic level the eye/the daughter of Atum-Re, i.e. Maat was believed to be responsible for keeping the running of the created world in order, for maintaining the harmony of the cosmic life of the macro-world and the social life of human beings (micro-world)."

1 Consequently, the two divine eyes appearing in the context of ^oyf-creation were linked with the two uraei worn on the forehead of the creator god, or the double feather adorning his head" —thtis a pair of goddesses after all. As mentioned above, in the Underworld the Solar Eye or the goddesses representing it in the shape of fire-spitting cobras or torches used during the performance of funerary or temple rituals were considered as a tool for light at night for the god and the souls of the departed wandering their chthonic way.'

2 Therefore it is quite natural that in the mythical level the eyes of the sun-god are identical to the goddesses who serve as guides through the Netherworld, and their figures in front of the sun barque have become a frequent motif on the representations of the royal tombs from the New Kingdom.

51 In addition, of course, the meaning of the two m ^-feathers includes a reference to the Osirian judgment in the Underworld whose task was to judge the deceased on the basis of his or her behaviour during the earthly life in accordance with Maat.