tAwy The Two Lands: The North and the South or the East and the West?

Ahmed Sleim

tAwy The Two Lands: The North and the South or the East and the West?

Ahmed Sleim

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Abstract

This article suggests that tAwy, the “two lands,” be understood as referring to east and west rather than north and south.

Key takeaways

AI generated

tAwy represents an east-west division of Egypt, challenging traditional north-south interpretations.
The term tAwy, a masculine dual noun, implies a broader geographic unity within Egypt.
Hieroglyphic depictions of tAwy show equal-sized lands, disputing north-south divisions.
Ancient texts connect the two banks of the Nile to fertility, underscoring their unified identity.
The article advocates for re-evaluating Egypt's geographic and cultural divisions in historical contexts.

FAQ's

AI generated

What evidence supports tAwy as an east-west rather than north-south division?add

The research indicates that the hieroglyphic representation of tAwy depicts two lands of equal size, contradicting traditional interpretations. Additionally, ancient Egyptian texts align with the concept of the two banks of the Nile, emphasizing east and west connections.

How does the topography of the Nile Valley impact interpretations of tAwy?add

The study suggests that the Nile Valley's symmetry and consistent geography influenced ancient Egyptians’ conceptualization of tAwy. The natural scenery fostered ideas of balance and stability, reflecting in their art and thought.

What role did the sema sign play in unifying Egyptian lands?add

The sema sign, symbolizing the union of two lands, is commonly associated with the phrase smA tAwy. In depictions from King Khasekhem(wy)'s reign, the sign illustrates the connection between eastern and western regions rather than merely Lower and Upper Egypt.

When did the perception of tAwy shift in scholarly discourse?add

The notion of tAwy as representing only Lower and Upper Egypt has dominated scholarship for generations, but recent interpretations argue for an east-west understanding. This reevaluation is gaining traction as researchers examine additional linguistic and textual evidence.

What does the term Ta-Mehu and Ta-Shemau suggest about ancient Egypt’s geography?add

Ta-Mehu traditionally refers to cultivated lands in the Delta, while Ta-Shemau relates to the eastern desert areas. The study highlights that these terms reflect local geography instead of strict political boundaries between north and south.

Figures

Fig. 2. Thoth (right) and Horus (left) performing the ritual o sema-tawy. After Hughes 1963, pl. 471 Other scenes with the sema sign include captives from the north and south and use the lotus and papyrus plants to invoke the symmetry and connection between these two areas. For example, an image on a throne of King Tutankhamun (Fig. 3; Wilkinson 1992, 18, no. 3) shows two captives, one Nubian and the other Syrian, with their hands and necks tied with ropes resembling the plants that wrap around the sema sign: the Syrian is tied with a papyrus while the Nubian is tied with a lotus, emphasizing the king’s power over these areas. Fig. 1.A vulture performs the unification, before the name of King Khasekhem(wy). After Quibell 1900, pl. 38

Fig. 3. Captives tied to the sema sign with lotus and papyrus plants on the footstool of Tutakhamun. After Wilknson 1992, 18, NO. 3 However, further study of these scenes might support the idea of unifying the black land represented by Horus and the red land represented by Seth. The myth of the contendings of Horus and Seth ended with the decision of the divine court to give the black land to Horus and the red land to Seth. Rather han Lower and Upper Egypt, the black land here refers to the fertile land of Egypt—the cultivated and in the Nile Valley and the rivers and pastures of the Delta—while the red land represents the desert and the land to the east of the Delta, which still today maintains a red color. Both lands represent he Delta kingdoms in the Predynastic era, which was the stage for the famous myth of the conflict between Horus and Seth.

Fig. 5. A sema-tawy scene from the reign of Tahargo. Baines 1985, 260, fig. 153 The terms Za-mehu and Ta-shemau could be applied to low Delta, areas that are considered a key source for food, as described by the Greek historian Herodotus in the 5" century B.C. as follows:

Fig. 6. The god Thoth on a sema-tawy symbol Baines 1985, 256, fig. 151

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Art Director: Hussein el-Chahat, Cairo Type-setting and Layout: Khaled el-Naka Print: Tiskárny Havlíčkův Brod, a.s., Husova 1881, 580 01 Havlíčkův Brod; www.thb.cz ISBN: 978-80-7308-978-8 (Set) ISBN: 978-80-7308-979-5 (Vol. 1) ISBN: 978-80-7308-980-1 (Vol. 2) ISBN: 978-80-7308-981-8 (Vol.