To enter the temples of Seti I and his son Ramesses II in Abydos is like walking into a massive picture book written in stone. Every wall is covered with reliefs depicting highly detailed scenes of gods, kings, and the cycle of life and death.
A particularly important wall is the Abydos King List, which lists the names of 76 pharaohs, stretching back to Egypt’s earliest rulers, in three rows of cartouches, each encasing a king’s name within its border. The scene opens with Seti I and a young Ramesses II making an offering to the gods on behalf of their ancestors. Interestingly, some pharaohs have been omitted either because they were illegitimate or controversial, such as Akhenaten (formerly known as Amenhotep IV), who was excluded for abandoning Egypt’s traditional gods in favour of worship of a single deity, the Aten.
Although less well preserved, Ramesses II’s temple contains some of the most dramatic and colourful reliefs, depicting him as a powerful ruler and divine provider. On one wall, kneeling figures represent the 42 regions, called nomes, making offerings. Their slightly rounded bellies symbolize abundance and plenty, while their blue and red skin and green wigs symbolize life, power and renewal.
Above the figures, only the bottom portion remains of a scene depicting Ramesses signing his name on the leaves of the sacred Ished Tree (Tree of Life), symbolizing his everlasting reign.
In another image Seti I is shown with red skin, stands before Osiris, wearing a white robe, offering gifts and prayers to secure his place in the afterlife.
The
trio of female figures each hold an ankh (symbol of life) and a was-sceptre
(symbol of power). They represent
Hathor, goddess of motherhood and the afterlife; Selket, goddess of fertility
and medicine, and Maat, goddess of truth, justice and cosmic order.
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