Abedjou

A few hundred yards to the west of the temple of Seti I at Abydos, Ancient Egypt, and below the water table lies what was believed in the ancient days to be the tomb of Wesir (Gr: the Osireion, word invented by Petrie). A long, dark corridor leads from the northern wall of temple of Seti I and into it. This corridor was built long before Seti I´s temple and there are some archaeological indications that the structure might have been used for rites in connection with the rebirth of Wesir (Gr: Osiris). Excavations on the south side passage revealed funerary texts from 'The Book of Gates' and 'The Book of What is in the Duat', depicting the dangers of the Underworld which the deceased has to overcome on his journey to the Hall of Ma'at; the serpent Apep, lakes of pitch and fire and gates guarded by dangerous monsters.

Two chambers going crosswise follow upon a widening and a sharp left turn of the corridor. In the central, larger one of these two halls there used to sit a sarcophagus and a canopic case, which were surrounded by groundwater by means of a canal, thus symbolizing the primeval waters of creation. To the east of the central hall is a third chamber, this one is still roofed. Here are reliefs of Nut and Shu as well as astronomical motifs. At the northern and southern end of the walls are yet six smaller rooms. The whole structure was enclosed with a mudbrick wall which was integrated with storage magasines.

(Photo: Steve Beikirch)

It was Seti I who began constructing the 'Osireion' and it fell upon his grandson, Merneptah to complete it. Even though it is a complete tomb structure, prepared for the burial of a king, it seems to have been used as a cenotaph - a monument only, while the body was placed elsewhere. There are some architectural resemblances of the Valley Temple of Khafre at Giza and some royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. It was rather usual that kings made such arrangements. It is also possible that the structure played part in the annual Passion Plays of Wesir as the rites depicted on the walls are those which lead up to the 'Raising of the Djed-pillar'. This rite is known from other sources as having been the culmination of the Festival of Khoiakh, a festival which celebrated the death and resurrection of Wesir and also his ascending the throne as king of the dead. However, nothing is definite regarding the purpose of the Osireion and scholars still speculate.

(Photo: Jon Bodsworth)