Abtu

Abtu (Ancient Egyptian: ꜣbḏw) is the name of a sacred fish, according to Egyptian mythology, and of the city of Abydos,^[1] the place where Osiris and the early rulers of Egypt were buried.

Abtu as word

Abtu was also the ancient word for the western or west of something. This was then understood as the place where the days passage of the sun across the sky finishes so for ancient Egypt where the sun dies each day and passes into the dark underworld.^[2]

Abtu as fish

Evidence of Abtu being known as a sacred fish here is taken from “A Hymn Of Praise To Ra When He Riseth In The Eastern Part Of Heaven” as translated by Robert Guisepi (1984):^[3]

“Let me behold the Abtu Fish at his season.”

Furthermore, the goddess Isis is said to have transformed into the Abtu, perhaps therefore lending to the creature its sacred state.^[4] Isis, as 'Abtu, Great Fish of the Abyss,'^[5] was identified with the penis-swallower within the city of Oxyrhynchus. The fish cult spread to many parts of Egypt.^[6]

Abtu in myth

The mythological Abtu also was known to accompany the barque of Ra across the sky at sunrise.^[7]

References

^ of Light: Celebrations for the Seasons of Life Based on the Egyptian-Normandi Ellis retrieved 17/09/2011
^ Ancient Egyptian Legends, by M. A. Murray retrieved 17/09/2011
^ (excerpt from) A Hymn Of Praise To Ra When He Riseth In The Eastern Part Of Heaven^[usurped] Robert Guisepi, 1984. retrieved 17/09/2011
^ of Light: Celebrations for the Seasons of Life Based on the Egyptian-Normandi Ellis retrieved 17/09/2011
^ The First Book of the Black Goddess By Matomah Alesha retrieved 18/09/2011
^ R. E. Witt, Isis in the Ancient World (Johns Hopkins UP, 1971)
^ Ancient Egyptian Legends, by M. A. Murray retrieved 17/09/2011

External links

Godchecker.com
Excerpt of the Book of the Dead^{[permanent dead link]}

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Ogdoad	Amun Amunet Heh Hauhet Kek Kauket Nu Naunet
Ennead	Atum Shu Tefnut Geb Nut Osiris Isis Set Nephthys
Triads	Theban Triad
A Aati Aker Akhty Amenhotep, son of Hapu Amesemi Ammit Am-heh Amu-Aa Anat Andjety Anhur Anput Anubis Anuket Apedemak Apep Apis Apt Aqen Arensnuphis Ash Assessors Astarte Aten B Babi Banebdjedet Bastet Bat Bata Ba-Pef Bennu Bes Buchis C Cavern deities D Dedun Dionysus-Osiris F Four sons of Horus G Gate deities H Ha Hapi Hauron Hathor Hatmehit Hedetet Hedjhotep Heka Hemen Hemsut Henet Heqet Hermanubis Hesat Horus Harpocrates Heryshaf Hu I Iabet Iah Iat Igai Ihy Ikhemu-sek Imentet Imhotep Ipy Iunit Iusaaset K Kebechet Khensit Khenti-Amentiu Khenti-kheti Khepri Kherty Khnum Khonsu Kothar-wa-Khasis M Maahes Ma'at Mafdet Mandulis Medjed Mehen Mehet-Weret Mehit Menhit Meret Meretseger Meskhenet Min Mnevis Montu Mut N Nebethetepet Nebtuwi Nefertem Nehebkau Nehmetawy Neith Nekhbet Nemty Neper P Pakhet Perit Petbe Ptah Q Qebui Qed-her Qetesh R Ra Raet-Tawy Rekhyt Rem Renenutet Renpet Renpetneferet Repyt Resheph S Sah Satis Sebiumeker Sekhmet Seker Serapis Serket Seshat Shai Shed Shesmetet Shezmu Sia Sobek Sopdet Sopdu Souls of Pe and Nekhen T Tatenen Taweret Tayt Ta-Bitjet Thoth Hermes Trismegistus Tjenenyet Tutu U Unut W Wadjet Wadj-wer Weneg Wepset Wepwawet Werethekau Wosret