The Morning Sun

The Temple (part 2)

As they made their way through the majestic golden gates. Khepri couldn't help but be astounded at the beauty of the place, beautiful columns stretched up towards Ra each one masterly engraved with inscriptions. They passed a wide lake that seemed to stretch into the distance, its surface as smooth as glass in the fast disappearing light. The water a dark black like the underworld, reflecting the light of the rising khonsu and the stars.

 Following the path of  decorated columns they ended up in front of a huge entrance to a temple, Khepri gasped as the horses stopped outside the huge wooden doors. In the torch light, she could see six towering pillars standing to greet them, each one depicting the goddess Hathor's enchanting face. 

Her facial expression was serene and full of kindness, a captivating beauty, Khepri found she couldn't look away as the goddess seemed to come alive in the flickering lights of the torches. Asim was watching her, a grin spread on his face as he approached her.

 "I can see you will be happy here my Lady" he chuckled " now follow me, if you please" with that the small party made their way into the temple.

 The walls were richly adorned with hieroglyphs of the goddess, dancers and musicians that seemed to sway in the trick of the light, joy seemed to radiate out of the walls. It felt almost alive, the atmosphere of the place instantly blowing away her homesickness.

 They walked further and further into the temple down corridors of never-ending pillars, Khepri looked around trying to take it all in, feeling a little overwhelmed, suddenly the cool night air hit her as they found themselves in a courtyard with a huge Sycamore tree. A statue of Hathor stood in her slender human form, her headdress had golden horns with a sun disk and the uraeus on it. Around her neck was the menat necklace and she held in her delicate hands a sistra adorned with a cow on. 

Asim suddenly halted and turned to her "wait here for a moment" with that he walked across to the opposite side of the courtyard and disappeared through a wooden door.

Authors note

-The Sistra was a musical instrument of the percussion family, chiefly associated with ancient Iraq and Egypt.To make it work you would shake it -like a modern day  tambourine.

- The Menat Necklace - is a heavily beaded collar with a crescent front piece. It was primarily used for ceremonies and associated with Hathor. The priestesses of Hathor were often depicted holding the necklace or emblem. Queens and ladies in waiting, when officiating as priestesses also wore or carried it. On rare occasions it was also worn by men, particularly by priests of the Hathor cult, and it could also be worn by the god khonsu.

- The God Khonsu was the god of the time and the moon.His cult center was in Thebes. His name derives from the root, "khens" which means to travel, to move about, to run.

- Uraeus - a representation of a sacred serpent as an emblem of supreme power, worn on the headdresses of ancient Egyptian deities and sovereigns.

Thanks for reading! 

Till next time. Love you all XX