Art in the form of statues and Temple Nedu Neter Hieroglyphic writings played a significant role in Ancient Kemet, also known as ancient Egypt, as a means of propaganda to demonstrate the legitimacy of the ruling dynasties of Kemet.
The Art in Kemet portrayed the rulers as being blessed by the Neteru Deities of Kemet, and it was used to cement their rule, even going as far as creating new Deities to further the message of the rulers’ divinely ordained power.
Ancient Kemet was a highly spiritual society governed by Kemetic Spirituality, and Kemet’s, Law Art and Culture were intertwined with its religion.
Artistic expressions were used to portray the divine, and rulers were often depicted as being close to the Neteru, with some even being shown as reciving blessings from the Neteru or possessing some of the attributes of the Neteru themselves.
The rulers of Kemet thus believed that their rule was divinely ordained, and they used art to demonstrate this to their subjects.
One of the most prominent examples of this can be seen in the reign of Seti I, who ruled over Kemet from 1290-1279 BCE.
Seti I was a powerful Pharaoh, and he used art to portray himself as being chosen by the Gods to rule.
The Temple of Abydos, which was built during Seti I’s reign, contains several reliefs that depict the Pharaoh as being blessed by the Neteru.
One such relief depicts Seti I being baptised in the waters of life by the Neter Hapi who represented the Unity of the White and Blue River joining to form the Nile which was the lifeblood of Kemet.
The relief shows Seti I standing in a pool of water while Hapi pours water over him. The water is symbolic of the life-giving power of the gods, and the relief demonstrates that Seti I was blessed with Life by the Neteru who wished see him reign over Egypt in thier name.
Another relief in the Temple of Abydos shows Seti I being presented to the gods by the Deity Maat who represented truth and justice.
The use of art as propaganda was not limited to the Black Pharaohs of Kemet.
The Greek Ptolemaic Dynasty, which ruled over Kemet from 305-30 BCE, also used art to demonstrate its legitimacy. However, unlike the ancient pharaohs, the Ptolemaic rulers were not indigenous to Kemet. They were Greeks who had conquered Kemet and established themselves as rulers.
To cement their rule, the Ptolemaic rulers inserted themselves into Kemet’s monuments and art. They also created new deities that were a combination of Greek and ancient Egyptian deities. One such deity was Serapis, who was a combination of the Greek deity Zeus and the Egyptian deity Ausar.
Serapis was created to appeal to both Greeks and Egyptians and to demonstrate the Ptolemaic rulers’ divine power. The deity was often depicted as being a god of healing, and he was believed to be able to cure diseases and bring about fertility. The Ptolemaic rulers used Serapis to demonstrate that they had the power to heal and bring prosperity to Kemet.
However, the use of art as propaganda in ancient Kemet was not solely for the purpose of cementing the position of the ruling dynasties. It also embodied the spiritual principles of unity under the law of Maat that were the foundation of Kemet’s civilization.
The law of Maat was the belief that the universe was governed by a set of principles that were just and fair. These principles were embodied in Maat, who was believed to be the embodiment of truth, justice, and order.
The Law of Maat was not just a belief system, but it was also a practical way of life for the people of Kemet. The principles of Maat were incorporated into their laws, customs, and traditions, and it was a unifying force that brought together the people of Kemet under a common belief system.
The art of Kemet, therefore, played a crucial role in promoting the principles of Maat.
Art in Kemet depicted the Neteru Deities and Rulers as being just and fair, and it conveyed the idea that the Rulers had a responsibility to govern justly and uphold the principles of Maat.
Futhermore, Art in Ancient Kemet also portrayed the people of Kemet as being part of a larger whole, with each person having a role to play in maintaining the order and harmony of the universe.
One of the earliest examples of this can be seen in the Narmer Palette, which dates back to around 3100 BCE. The palette depicts the unification of Upper and Lower Kemet by King Narmer, and it is considered to be one of the earliest examples of Egyptian propaganda through art.
The Palette shows Narmer wearing the white crown of Upper Kemet and holding a mace. He is shown standing over the head of a defeated enemy, and he is accompanied by two mythical beasts, which are believed to represent the unification of the two lands. The palette also depicts Narmer as being blessed by the gods, with the god Horus shown on one side and the goddess Hathor on the other.
The Narmer Palette is significant because it demonstrates how art was used to promote the principles of Maat and to unify the people of Kemet under a common belief system. It also shows how rulers used art to promote their legitimacy and divine power, a practice that continued throughout the history of Kemet.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the use of art in the form of statues and temple Medu Neter Hieroglyphic writings as propaganda in ancient Kemet was a longstanding tradition in Ancient Kemet dating to the origins of Kemet.
Art in Kemet was used by the ruling dynasties to demonstrate their legitimacy and divine blessing, but it also embodied the spiritual principles of unity under the law of Maat that were the foundation of Kemet’s civilization.
The Ptolemaic dynasty, which ruled over Kemet from 305-30 BCE, also used art to demonstrate its legitimacy, but it did so by creating new deities that were a combination of Greek and ancient Egyptian deities.
However, the use of art as propaganda in ancient Kemet was not solely for the purpose of cementing the position of the ruling dynasties.
It also embodied the spiritual principles of unity under the law of Maat, which was the belief that the universe was governed by a set of principles that were just and fair.
These principles were incorporated into the laws, customs, and traditions of the people of Kemet, and they were a unifying force that brought together the people of Kemet under a common belief system which explains why Kemet became such a great civilization because the role of Propaganda Art in Ancient Kemet (Egypt) was to espouse the principles of Unity and Justice in the Art, Statutes and Hieroglyphic Medu Neter writings of the Holy Temples throughout Ancient Kemet.
