Editing Upper and Lower Egypt

{{short description|Two regions of Ancient Egypt}} 
In [[History of ancient Egypt|Egyptian history]], the '''Upper and Lower Egypt''' period (also known as '''The Two Lands''') was the final stage of [[prehistoric Egypt]] and directly preceded the [[Early Dynastic Period (Egypt)|unification of the realm]].  The conception of Egypt as the Two Lands was an example of the dualism in ancient Egyptian culture and frequently appeared in texts and imagery, including in the titles of Egyptian [[pharaoh]]s.

The Egyptian title ''[[wikt:zmꜣ#Egyptian|zmꜣ]]-[[wikt:tꜣwj#Egyptian|tꜣwj]]'' ([[Egyptological pronunciation]] ''sema-tawy'') is usually translated as "Uniter of the Two Lands"<ref>Ronald J. Leprohon, The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary, Society of Biblical Lit, 2013</ref> and was depicted as a human [[trachea]] entwined with the papyrus and lily plant. The trachea stood for unification, while the papyrus and lily plant represent Lower and Upper Egypt.

Standard titles of the [[pharaoh]] included the [[prenomen (Ancient Egypt)|prenomen]], quite literally "Of the [[Cyperaceae|Sedge]] and Bee" ([[wikt:nswt-bjtj|nswt-bjtj]], the symbols of Upper and Lower Egypt)<ref>Abeer El-Shahawy, Farid S. Atiya, The Egyptian Museum in Cairo, American Univ in Cairo Press, 2005</ref> and "lord of the Two Lands" (written ''[[wikt:nb-tꜣwj|nb-tꜣwj]]''). [[Queens regnant]] were addressed as pharaohs and male. [[Queens consort]] might use the feminine versions of the second title, "lady of The Two Lands" (''nbt-tꜣwj''), "mistress of the Entire Two Lands" (''hnwt-tꜣwy-tm''), and "mistress of the Two Lands" (''hnwt-tꜣwy'').<ref>Grajetzki, Ancient Egyptian Queens: A Hieroglyphic Dictionary, Golden House Publications, London, 2005, {{ISBN|978-0954721893}}</ref>

==Structure==
[[Image:Double crown.svg|thumb|upright|''[[Pschent]]'', the double crown of Egypt]]
[[Ancient Egypt]] was divided into two regions, namely [[Upper Egypt]] and [[Lower Egypt]]. To the north was Lower Egypt, where the [[Nile]] stretched out with its several branches to form the [[Nile Delta]]. To the south was Upper Egypt, stretching to [[Aswan]]. The terminology [[wikt:upriver|"Upper"]] and [[wikt:downriver|"Lower"]] derives from the flow of the [[Nile]] from the highlands of [[East Africa]] northwards to the [[Mediterranean Sea]].

The two kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt were united c. 3000 BC, but each maintained its own regalia: the ''[[hedjet]]'' or White Crown for Upper Egypt and the ''[[deshret]]'' or Red Crown for Lower Egypt. Thus, the [[pharaoh]]s were known as the rulers of the Two Lands, and wore the ''[[pschent]]'', a double crown, each half representing sovereignty of one of the kingdoms. Ancient Egyptian tradition credited [[Menes]], now believed to be the same as [[Narmer]], as the king who united Upper and Lower Egypt. On the [[Narmer Palette]], the king is depicted wearing the Red Crown on one scene and the White crown in another, and thereby showing his rule over both Lands.<ref name="Wengrow"/>

==Sema Tawy and symbolism==
[[File:Abu Simbel 0219.JPG|thumb|left|150px|[[Hapi (Nile god)|Hapi]] tying the papyrus and reed plants in the ''sema tawy'' symbol for the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt]]
The union of Upper and Lower Egypt is depicted by knotted papyrus and reed plants. The binding motif represents both harmony through linkage and domination through containment. The duality is an important part of royal iconography. Sometimes, the duality is further extended by having the knotted plants extend and bind foreign foes (both from the North and the South) as well.<ref name="Wengrow">[[Wengrow, David]], ''The Archaeology of Early Egypt: Social transformations in North-East Africa, 10,000 to 2650 B.C.'', Cambridge University Press, 2006</ref>

During the first dynasty, dualistic royal titles emerge, including the King of Upper and Lower Egypt (''[[wikt:nswt#Egyptian|nswt]] [[wikt:bjtj#Egyptian|bjtj]]'') title which combines the plant representing Upper Egypt and a bee representing Lower Egypt. The other dualistic title is the [[ancient Egyptian royal titulary#Nebty ("two ladies") name|Two Ladies name]] or Nebty name. The two ladies are [[Nekhbet]], the [[vulture]] goddess associated with [[Nekhen]] in Upper Egypt, and [[Wadjet]], the [[cobra]] goddess associated with [[Buto]] in Lower Egypt.<ref name="Wengrow"/>

There are many depictions of the ritual unifications of the Two Lands. It is not known if this was perhaps a rite that would have been enacted at the beginning of a reign, or merely a symbolic representation. Many of the depictions of the unification show two gods binding the plants. Often the gods are [[Horus]] and [[Set (deity)|Set]], or on occasion Horus and [[Thoth]]. There are several examples of Barque stands from the reigns of [[Amenhotep III]] ([[Hermopolis]]), [[Taharqa]] ([[Jebel Barkal]]), and [[Atlanersa]] (Jebel Barkal) that show two river gods performing the rite. This matches a scene from the Temple at [[Abu Simbel]] from the time of [[Ramesses II]].<ref name="Merzeban">Rania Y. Merzeban, "Unusual sm3 t3wy Scenes in Egyptian Temples", ''Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt'', Vol. 44 (2008), pp. 41–71</ref>

There are only a handful of scenes that show the King himself performing the ritual. All of these are from barque stands and date to the reigns of [[Amenhotep III]], [[Seti I]] and [[Ramesses III]]. The latter two may be copies of the first one.<ref name="Merzeban"/>

<gallery>
File:Egypt Memnon.jpg|The river god [[Hapi (Nile god)|Hapi]] uniting Upper and Lower Egypt. [[Colossi of Memnon]]. Reign of [[Amenhotep III]]. 
File:Luxor Tempel 15.jpg|Temple scene at [[Luxor]], Thebes
File:Tutankhamun's Alabaster Jar.jpg| Alabaster jar depicting the sema tawy symbol with Hapy. From the tomb of [[Tutankhamun]].
File:Karnak Khonsou 080522 c.jpg|[[Ramesses III]] at the temple of [[Khonsu]]. 
File:Chephren CG 14-Detail.jpg| Sema tawy (without deities) on the side of the throne of [[Khafre]]
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[History of ancient Egypt]]
* [[Narmer]]
* [[Two Ladies]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Ancient Egypt topics}}

[[Category:Geography of ancient Egypt]]
[[Category:Prehistoric Egypt]]