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Sebiumeker

Sebiumeker
Sebiumeker statue in the Carlsberg Glyptotek museum 1st century BCE
Major cult centerMeroe, Kush
Genealogy
SiblingsArensnuphis ?

Sebiumeker was a major supreme god of procreation and fertility in Nubian mythology who was primarily worshipped in Meroe, Kush, in present-day Sudan. He is sometimes thought of as a guardian of gateways as his statues are sometimes found near doorways. He has many similarities with Atum, but has Nubian characteristics, and is also considered the god of agriculture.

Etymology

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His Meroitic name was probably Sabomakal, which became Sebiumeker in the ancient Egyptian language.[1]

Role in ancient Kush

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Sebiumeker was a major supreme god of procreation and fertility in Meroe, Kush (present-day Sudan).[2][3]

He was referred to as Lord of Musawwarat. His statues have often been found near doorways at the Nubian sites Tabo (Nubia) and Musawwarat es-Sufra,[4] giving rise to the interpretation that he was a guardian god.[2] But another interpretation is that he represented transformation which is why he was placed at the doorways of temples.[2]

Though certainly a Nubian god, he has many Egyptian symbols and legends.[5]

Family

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His partner (or maybe brother) was Arensnuphis.[5] This close association with Arensnuphis is similar to the relationship with Set and Osiris.[5]

Image

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He wore the ancient double crown with a beard and uraeus and had big ears, a mark of importance. With his double crown, false beard, kilt, and tunic,[5] he resembles Atum.[2][6][7]

A sandstone head without inscription stands in Meroe. It also has the double crown with uraeus. It has several Egyptian looking features, but also has the formal broad Nubian unmodeled planes.[8]

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His worship is invoked in the Gifts of the Nile scenario in the strategy video game Civilization VI.

References

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  1. ^ Scholz, Piotr O. (2006). Nubien: Geheimnisvolles Goldland der Ägypter. Theiss. p. 153. ISBN 978-3-8062-1885-5.
  2. ^ a b c d Mark, Joshua J. "Egyptian Gods - The Complete List". World History Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  3. ^ Fisher, Marjorie M.; Lacovara, Peter; Ikram, Salima; d'Auria, Sue (2012). Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile. American University in Cairo Press. p. 134. ISBN 978-977-416-478-1.
  4. ^ Török, László (2002). The Image of the Ordered World in Ancient Nubian Art: The Construction of the Kushite Mind, 800 Bc-300 Ad. BRILL. p. 302. ISBN 978-9004123069.
  5. ^ a b c d Richard A Lobban JR (9 December 2003). Historical Dictionary of Ancient and Medieval Nubia. Scarecrow Press. pp. 343–344. ISBN 9780810865785.
  6. ^ Wildung, Dietrich; Kuckertz, Josephine (1996). Sudan: Antike Königreiche am Nil ; Kunsthalle der Hypo-Kulturstiftung, München, 2. Oktober 1996 - 6. Januar 1997 ... Reiss-Museum, Mannheim, 14. Juni - 20. September 1998 ; [eine Ausstellung des Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris und der Kunsthalle der Hypo-Stiftung, München]. p. 267. ISBN 978-3-8030-3084-9.
  7. ^ "Rival to Egypt, the Nubian kingdom of Kush exuded power and gold". National Geographic. 15 November 2016. Archived from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  8. ^ Bianchi, Robert Steven (2004). Daily Life of the Nubians. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 237. ISBN 9780313325014.