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salshep — Upuaut

Published: 2007-12-21 08:50:41 +0000 UTC; Views: 3148; Favourites: 29; Downloads: 0
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Description Upuaut.

from an article by Taylor Ray Elison

It was not unusual in ancient Egypt for more then one god to take the same form, with similar functions as another god. Wepwawet (Ophios, Upuaut), called the son of Isis, was one of several Egyptian deities to take the form of a canine, today often incorrectly identified as a wolf. Egyptologists now believe that he was more likely associated with the jackal, though he is often depicted with a gray or white head.
Like Anubis, Wepwawet was also a funerary deity, and was one of the earliest of the gods worshipped at Abydos. Early on, Wepwawet's worship paralleled that of Khentyamentiu, but when Osiris absorbed that god's attributes, Anubis filled his funerary role. However, with the rise of the solar cult, particularly during the 12th Dynasty, Osiris was limited to the underworld and the local god and lord of the cemetery at Abydos was filled by Wepwawet, who gained the titles, "Lord of Abydos" and Lord of the Necropolis".

Other cult centers for Wepwawet included Quban, el-Hargarsa, Memphis, Sais and particularly the thirteenth ancient nome of Upper Egypt. This is the location of modern Asyut, which the Greeks called Lycopolis. This may be the origin of the misinterpretation of Wepwawet as a wolf, for Lycopolis can be interpreted as the "Town of the Wolf".

Wepwawet's name means "the opener of the ways (or Roads)". We believe this refers to his role in leading the deceased through the underworld as a protector. This attribute of the god is well established in New Kingdom funerary texts such as the Book of Going Forth by Day (Book of the Dead), and the Book of That Which Is in the Underworld (Amduat). Wepwawet was also thought of as the messenger and champion of royalty. Like Shu, he was also referred to as the "one who has separated the sky from the earth.

Wepwawet's image is generally portrayed with a uraeus and a hieroglyph that has been described as representing the king's placenta, surmounting a standard known as a shedshed. The famous mace of Narmer shows such a standard in use as early as the 1st Dynasty. It is possible, given this context, that early on Wepwawet was a warlike deity and that in war, he also "opened the way" for the Egyptian army. Wepwawet's standard was carried preceding the king from the palace or temple during processions, and during the New Kingdom, Wepwawet's standard even preceded that of Osiris. In fact, Wepwawet's standard symbolized Upper Egypt in royal processions, while Lower Egypt's counterpart was the Apis bull of Memphis. However, one inscription provides that he was born in the sanctuary of the goddess Wadjet at Buto in the Nile Delta, though this was most likely politically inspired, considering that all evidence points to his Upper Egyptian origins.




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This is NOT an "anthro" picture. It's a representation of an Egyptian deity and belongs in Trad Art, Paintings. I didn't even know "anthro" existed 'til I got here. :\
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Comments: 30

AsetNuit [2011-07-02 13:47:28 +0000 UTC]

This is beautiful! Very well one, and great information given!

x

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salshep In reply to AsetNuit [2011-08-09 00:27:06 +0000 UTC]

Late reply (sorry!) : Thank you!

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jesslynxatticus [2008-05-02 14:29:01 +0000 UTC]

You did this?! It's absolutely wonderful! I'm so glad you put an exert with the image, as I would have thought it Anubis or something. I enjoyed learning about Upuaut (though I can't imagine how to pronounce it, unless Wepwawet is how?).

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DarkRegrets [2008-04-12 23:08:25 +0000 UTC]

Gorgeous depiction of my favorite ancient Egyptian god. ^_^

I'm glad you did this piece- more people can learn interesting things about this fascinating Egyptian deity.

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salshep In reply to DarkRegrets [2008-04-15 13:19:07 +0000 UTC]

Thankyou! He's one of mine, too. I actually did a whole series, the rest being made to look like papyrus, with metallic paints and stuff. They were all sold, though, and I never scanned them. I might take them up again, once NaPo is over, they're one of my favourite subjects.

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DarkRegrets In reply to salshep [2008-04-15 13:45:40 +0000 UTC]

Always great to talk with someone who has a similar interest! I would love to see them is you attempted that series again.^^

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The-Lionhearted [2008-03-21 20:06:43 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for such interesting info! That's so great you're into Egyptian mythology!

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salshep In reply to The-Lionhearted [2008-03-23 05:14:35 +0000 UTC]

I think it's very interesting, and hope to do some more pieces on it. Thanks!

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paradoxicalshaman [2008-01-19 10:12:58 +0000 UTC]

i don't know about all those gods - except bast!
imhotep, though, you say? hm... can you recommend any good reading on this subject?

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salshep In reply to paradoxicalshaman [2008-01-19 10:49:21 +0000 UTC]

tekhuty = thoth hetheret = Hathor. I like thier egyptian names better : )

as for reading...
Simple bio -- [link]
Other basic info -- [link]
Good books: the complete gods and goddesses of ancient egypt - Richard H Wilkinson
The gods of ancient egypt - Watterson
Wallis Budge is a right fogey but he has some ok stuff too.

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paradoxicalshaman [2008-01-18 20:27:08 +0000 UTC]

egyptian mythology is so cool
haha

i think we should go back to egyptian religions... i'd believe in anubis and wepwawet (heh heh)

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salshep In reply to paradoxicalshaman [2008-01-19 05:10:00 +0000 UTC]

It really is very cool. I'm a toss up between Tekhuty and Upuaut, myself, though Hetheret is another favourite, and so of course Bast, and .. and.. yeah. Those people had it goin' on, didn't they?

Have you read much about Imhotep? Fascinating stuff-- the Da Vinci of his day, except he had full royal sanction to do what the hell he liked.

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Synith [2008-01-18 06:20:15 +0000 UTC]

This is one heck of a painting. It pops out as if it belongs in a pulitzer-prize winning children's book. What media did you use here?

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salshep In reply to Synith [2008-01-18 06:25:16 +0000 UTC]

gosh, what a compliment. um. just kid's paints and some watercolour pencils

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Synith In reply to salshep [2008-01-18 06:28:38 +0000 UTC]

(:

I absolutely love this. Do you have others you'd share?

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salshep In reply to Synith [2008-01-18 06:44:35 +0000 UTC]

I didn't keep very many. mostly i just draw for gifts, or zine commisions back in the day. the ones i have here were either published or i didn't think them good enough to give away.

I plan to do more this year tho (:

thanks again

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Synith In reply to salshep [2008-01-18 07:54:33 +0000 UTC]

I look froward to future works!

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SRSmith [2008-01-10 05:06:03 +0000 UTC]

I'm always happy when I learn something new, so thank you, and the picture's wonderful too!

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salshep In reply to SRSmith [2008-01-19 07:06:26 +0000 UTC]



I LOVE learning new things, especially on ancient cultures. Thankyou right back.

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MahouTragicQueen [2008-01-06 17:03:50 +0000 UTC]

Nice texture on the fur.

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salshep In reply to MahouTragicQueen [2008-01-19 07:02:38 +0000 UTC]

Thankyou! I am not all that good at this type of figure, bit doing the fur was relaxing.

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MaskedVengeance [2007-12-31 01:24:56 +0000 UTC]

Nicely shaded with a good anatomy. Is the scanner a bit off, at all? The added sharpness made me think it was a colour pencil piece at first.

Anywho, nice one, Sal.

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salshep In reply to MaskedVengeance [2008-01-05 01:44:06 +0000 UTC]

Thanks And no, scanner's fine as far as I know and it is done in cheap kiddy paint and horribly expensive watercolour pencils, so maybe that's why.

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MaskedVengeance In reply to salshep [2008-01-05 10:31:08 +0000 UTC]

lol, oh right, maybe it is. No problem.

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AngelofGod87 [2007-12-21 22:04:41 +0000 UTC]

VERY very interesting Salli...

TTFN
Me

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salshep In reply to AngelofGod87 [2007-12-22 09:55:21 +0000 UTC]

: ) Glad you found it so. Poor Upuaut's one of those deities that is often overlooked, and he's older than many. Sort of an Ancient Egyptian underdog. Lol.

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AngelofGod87 In reply to salshep [2007-12-25 18:57:00 +0000 UTC]

Interesting before now... I'd never heard of him
funny since I've seen many programs on Egypt and Egyptology...

TTFN
Me

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GuBCM [2007-12-21 17:31:34 +0000 UTC]

I really enjoy reading about mythology, but my favorite's still the greek's.

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salshep In reply to GuBCM [2007-12-22 09:53:44 +0000 UTC]

Oh, I love them both. I find it fascinating how utterly different they are, in so many ways, yet they borrowed from one another quite a bit.

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GuBCM In reply to salshep [2007-12-22 20:54:11 +0000 UTC]

Yes, It's really impressive.
And it's amazing how much they've influenced other cultures, even after their civilizations "disapeared".

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