Dustsceawung
Reflection on the remains of the past as a way of emphasising the transience of life was such a common theme in Old English literature that they had a special word for this motif: Dustsceawung, 'contemplation of the dust.'

I blog history things. I am particularly interested in medieval, maritime, medical, and scientific history, as well as osteoarchaeology and palaeopathology. So you will probably see a lot of those topics here. My ask is always open for questions, suggestions, requests, or anything else you feel compelled to say.

Note: all images belong to me unless a source is listed. If material is incorrectly sourced or if you own the rights to material which you wish to be removed, please let me know.
Statue of SekhmetRamesseum, ThebesEighteenth Dynasty, reign of Amenhotep III (1390-1353 B.C.E.)University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Associated with war and protection, Sekhmet was believed to have the power to send plagues against her enemies by means of flaming arrows. As such, images of the goddess were often carried into battle to protect the pharaoh and bring him victory, and she was also frequently invoked to prevent or cure disease. It has been suggested that a plague during the reign of Amenhotem III may have led him to have numerous statues built of Sekhmet, in the hope of securing her aid against the disease.

Statue of Sekhmet
Ramesseum, Thebes
Eighteenth Dynasty, reign of Amenhotep III (1390-1353 B.C.E.)
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

Associated with war and protection, Sekhmet was believed to have the power to send plagues against her enemies by means of flaming arrows. As such, images of the goddess were often carried into battle to protect the pharaoh and bring him victory, and she was also frequently invoked to prevent or cure disease. It has been suggested that a plague during the reign of Amenhotem III may have led him to have numerous statues built of Sekhmet, in the hope of securing her aid against the disease.

22 September 2011
7:09 AM
117 notes
#Penn Museum
#Pensylvania
#Egypt
#history
#Sekhmet
#statues
#religion
#art
#warfare
#disease
#photography
#personal collection
  1. blindanditx23 reblogged this from gunhilde
  2. justsekhmet reblogged this from dwellerinthelibrary
  3. theaunties reblogged this from gunhilde
  4. priestessofsekhmet reblogged this from dwellerinthelibrary
  5. soylenth reblogged this from stuffsandnonsenses
  6. chasing-isis reblogged this from dwellerinthelibrary
  7. exploretharabbithole reblogged this from gunhilde
  8. powerfulpills reblogged this from stuffsandnonsenses
  9. stuffsandnonsenses reblogged this from glitchinthematrixx
  10. upperhell reblogged this from immortalbloodline
  11. maddogchica reblogged this from gunhilde
  12. ahetaton reblogged this from dwellerinthelibrary
  13. This was featured in #History
  14. gunhilde posted this