Shu, the male principle of creation
Once having created himself from the primordial chaos of the Nun,
Atum created the male and female principles, the polarity which
governs the universe. the electro-magnetic field. The male principle
was manifest as Shu, the female as Tefnut. Atum endowed them with
life and the power of sexual reproduction and joined them. Their
offspring were Geb and Nut.
Shu lifted his daughter Nut to form the vault of the heavens. Geb
became one with the earth and made it fertile. Atum-Re illuminated
this his creation which is the world.
Underlined texts are linked (click) Click here for full scenes
Atum created the male and female principles, the polarity which
governs the universe. the electro-magnetic field. The male principle
was manifest as Shu, the female as Tefnut. Atum endowed them with
life and the power of sexual reproduction and joined them. Their
offspring were Geb and Nut.
Shu lifted his daughter Nut to form the vault of the heavens. Geb
became one with the earth and made it fertile. Atum-Re illuminated
this his creation which is the world.
Underlined texts are linked (click) Click here for full scenes
Outer coffin tub left of the High Priest of Amun, Masaharta; 21a Dynasty, Thebes; Cairo
National Museum CG61027; Shu is shown wearing a solar-disk on his breast. Note the
headdress which appears also in the next example.
National Museum CG61027; Shu is shown wearing a solar-disk on his breast. Note the
headdress which appears also in the next example.
Outer coffin tub outside left of the Chantress of Amun Nesytaudjatachet, 21a Dynasty, Thebes; Odessa
(Ukraine) Archaeological Museum InvNo. 52976. Note the headdress which Shu frequently wears, although
his canonical symbol is a feather. At left he is shown as the Lord of the Heavens, elevating the solar barque
(Ukraine) Archaeological Museum InvNo. 52976. Note the headdress which Shu frequently wears, although
his canonical symbol is a feather. At left he is shown as the Lord of the Heavens, elevating the solar barque
A rather poorly painted coffin of the late 21a Dynasty in Thebes; Leiden RMO InvNo 93-10-?? prov.:
Bab el-Gasus (in depot). The white crown shown in the green colour, as worn by Osiris in the
netherworld, is unusual. The one leg below the unusual kilt is mummiform, but none the less in the red
of the living.Here we may speak of a syncretistic "osirification" of Shu, indicating the degenerative
phase of art as the dynasty nears collapse.
Bab el-Gasus (in depot). The white crown shown in the green colour, as worn by Osiris in the
netherworld, is unusual. The one leg below the unusual kilt is mummiform, but none the less in the red
of the living.Here we may speak of a syncretistic "osirification" of Shu, indicating the degenerative
phase of art as the dynasty nears collapse.
Outer coffin tub outside left of Ankhefenmut, Wab-priest of Mut; 21a Dynasty, Thebes; Cairo National Museum
JE29692; prov.: Bab el-Gasus 1891.
JE29692; prov.: Bab el-Gasus 1891.
Leiden RMO 93-10-?? (depot) late 21a Dynasty, Thebes, prov.: Bab el-Gasus 1891
This poorly executed piece, as the second above, appears to depict Shu as mummiform from the
waist down. He is seen at left wearing his canonical headdress, a feather.
This poorly executed piece, as the second above, appears to depict Shu as mummiform from the
waist down. He is seen at left wearing his canonical headdress, a feather.