Research Title: The Role of Princes in the Ritual of the Opening of the Mouth during the New Kingdom in Ancient Egypt
Keywords:
Ceremony, Princes- Opening, Mouth, Priest SemAbstract
The "Opening of the Mouth" ceremony is one of the most famous funerary rituals in ancient Egypt. This ritual was believed to help revive the senses of the deceased, enabling them to use them in the afterlife. The ceremony first appeared in prehistoric times, where it was identified through stone tools found at a site belonging to the Neolithic period, which were used in the ritual. It seems that the concept and significance of the "Opening of the Mouth" ritual were initially linked to primitive rites aimed at enabling a newborn to start breathing and eating. Over time, the ritual evolved to grant the deceased the ability to receive food and drink offerings, which were placed in the tombs daily.
The ritual itself underwent several stages of development. In its early form, it was performed on a statue of the deceased. However, by the end of the Eighth Dynasty, the ritual shifted to being performed directly on the mummy of the deceased. The priest responsible for the ceremony was known as the "Sm" priest, and he wore a leopard skin to symbolize his fierce abilities to protect the deceased. Often, princes, who were royal offspring, would perform this priestly role, as their care for their fathers' mummies was seen as a way to emulate Horus, who cared for his father Osiris. This is why many prominent princes of the New Kingdom period were depicted wearing leopard skins and sporting a side lock of hair, symbolizing their title as the king's son, while also carrying the title of "Sm priest" responsible for the "Opening of the Mouth" ritual.
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