Mandulis standing in a bush of lotus flowers: Mandulis (Mrwl) is represented in His highly sacred form of human-headed Ba-bird (the ‘Ba’ is the soul) wearing the Hemhemet Crown (the “Roaring One”, the Triple Atef Crown); before Him is represented a sacred Uraeus. Detail from the Facade of the Outer Vestibule, west wall, fourth register, of the Temple of Mandulis at Talmis, Lower Kush/Nubia
-HYMN TO MANDULIS-
hymn of the roman decurion Maximus to Mandulis (Mrwl); end of the I century CE, from the south wall of the Pronaos of the Temple of Mandulis at Talmis (Cfr. Burstein, Ancient African Civilizations. Kush and Axum 66-68).
-(foreword)
‘When I had come to gaze on this blessed place of peace (the Temple of Mandulis at Talmis) and to let wander free in the air the inspiration desired by my soul, a way of life strange to me stirred my mind from all sides. As I could not convict myself of any evil,
my nature then urged me to cultivate mystic toil.
In my wisdom I then composed a complex song, having received from the Gods a holy and expressive idea.
When it was clear that the Muse had accomplished something pleasing to the Gods, I shook out my festival song, like the flower of a green shoot on Helicon. Then a cave enticed me to enter and sleep. (…)
He (Mandulis) charmed away the barbaric speech of the Aithiopians and urged me to sing in sweet Greek verse. (…)
He (Mandulis) came with brilliant cheeks on the right hand of Isis,
exulting in His greatness and the glory of the Romans, and uttering Pythian oracles like an Olympian God. (…)’
-(the Hymn)
“O rayshooting Lord Mandulis, Titan, Makareus,
having beheld some radiant signs of Your power I pondered on them and was busied therewith,
wishing to know with confidence whether You are the Sun God.
I made myself a stranger to all vice and all godlessness, was chaste for a considerable period, and offered the due incense offering in holy piety.
I had a vision and found rest for my soul. For You did grant my prayer and show me Yourself going through the heavenly vault; then washing Yourself in the holy water of immortality You appeared again.
You did come at due season to Your shrine, making Your rising, and giving to Your image and to Your shrine divine breath and great power.
Then I knew You, Mandulis, to be the Sun, the Allseeing Master, King of all, the Allpowerful Eternity.
O happy folk, that dwell in the city beloved by the Sun Mandulis, even holy Talmis, which is under the sceptre of fairtressed Isis of
the countless names.”
Mandulis (Mrwl, on the left) and the King (on the right). Before the King is represented Horus of Behdet in His sacred form of Falcon, while Mandulis is flanked by the Two Goddesses (Nekhbet and Uadjet as winged Uraei); both Mandulis and the King hold the Ankh (the symbol of Life) and the Uas-Scepter (symbol of Power and Dominion); between Them is represented an altar.
From the Outer Wall (inner side, facing the Inner Sanctuary, west wall) of the Temple of Mandulis at Talmis (ca. 50km south of Aswan, now called “Kalabsa”), Lower Kush/Nubia
Isis holding the papyrus-scepter and giving the Ankh (the symbol of Life) to Mandulis (Mrwl); Mandulis is represented in His form of human-headed Ba-bird (the ‘Ba’ is the soul) wearing the Hemhemet Crown (the “Roaring One”, the Triple Atef Crown);
detail from the north half of the Exterior Wall of the Temple of Mandulis at Talmis (ca. 50km south of Aswan, now called “Kalabsa”), Lower Kush/Nubia
the King offering incense to Isis, Horus, and Mandulis,
scene from the Exterior Wall (north half) of the Temple of Mandulis (Mrwl) at Talmis (ca. 50km south of Aswan, now called “Kalabsa”), Lower Kush/Nubia
Detail of the Entrance-Gate of the Pylon of the Temple of Mandulis (Mrwl) at Talmis (ca. 50km south of Aswan, now called “Kalabsa”), Lower Kush/Nubia:on the lintel is represented (on the left) the King offering milk to Mandulis, and making offerings to Osiris and Isis; (on the right) the King making adorations to Horus son of Isis, and offering a statuette of Maat to Mandulis and Uadjet;above, the Winged Solar Orb (Horus of Behdet) flanked by the Two Uraei (the Two Goddesses as Uraei, Uadjet on the right, and Nekhbet on the left)
The North Wall of the Inner Sanctuary of the Temple of Mandulis (Mrwl) at Talmis (ca. 50km south of Aswan, now called”Kalabsa”), Lower Kush/Nubia:
-in the upper register,
(at left) the King offering a statuette of Maat to Amon-Ra, Mut, and Horus
(at right) the King offering a vase to Khnum, Satis, and Mandulis;
-in the lower register,
(at left) the King offering wine to Horus, Hathor, and Mandulis
(at right) the King, followed by the Queen, offering a statuette of Maat to Osiris-Onnophris, Isis, and Nephthys
AMNTE NOFRE (Amentet Neferet) 