Peribsen’s royal name is a subject of curiosity for Egyptologists because it is connected to the deity Seth rather than Horus, as was traditional for the name of a pharaoh. The debate continues over why Peribsen chose this name. Earlier theories have favoured the idea that Egypt was split in two realms during Peribsen’s time or that he was a heretic, who sought to start a new monotheistic religion with Seth as the only worshipped god. However, newer evidence and evaluations tend to show that the Egyptian kingdom was unified, but witnessed a vast and profound reform during the second dynasty. Seal impressions from tombs of this era reveal great changes in the titles held by high officials, pointing to a reduction of their power. Further seal impressions show that several deities were worshipped under Peribsen, refuting the monotheism theory, with other contemporary inscriptions indicating that the Egyptian grammar was perfected during his reign: In particular, the earliest seal impressions with complete sentences date back to Peribsen’s reign. Thus, Peribsen’s reign was in fact a time of cultural and religious advancement.
Ha! Take tha- I mean, it’s a ~totally~ relevant history post.
Here’s his serekh, btw:
D’aww.
According to the Egyptologists Jean Sainte Fare Garnot and Herman te Velde, the name of “Peribsen” accords religious meaning, even before association with a deity. The name “Peribsen” literally means “He who comes forth by their will” or “His heart and will comes forth for them.” The Egyptian syllable sn means “them, their, those”, revealing a clear plural writing. Te Velde and Garnot are convinced that Peribsen used the heraldic Seth animal as a serekh patron, but also linked his name to Horus. If true, it would prove that Peribsen worshipped Horus and Seth on an equal footing during his lifetime. <…>
Therefore, Peribsen’s name may actually show no break in the sacred tradition; he added the power of Seth to Horus. <…>
Egyptologists Ludwig David Morenz and Wolfgang Helck remark that the targeted gouging of Seth-animals did not occur until the New Kingdom of Egypt.
I think that Old-to-Middle Kingdom Egypt might actually be my favorite.
(I don’t have any more books to read atm, so I’m reading up on every pharaoh from the first dynasty onward instead)
Goldnwulf 