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INNER
SANCTUARY OF MIN
A select few priests were involved in the ceremonies centered on the sanctuary.
Accompanied by incense and lamps, and scattering purified water from the sacred
lake, the High Priest approached the shrine saying, "I am a pure one."
He would break the clay seal on the door of the shrine, and open it to reveal
the gold statue of the god. This he would decorate before making an offering of
food. The priests then left the sanctuary with someone sweeping the floor as
they left, so as not to leave behind any traces of their presence.
Min is
another form of Amun and was chiefly worshipped at Coptos and Panopolis.
He wears the plumed head-dress of Amun and holds a whip-like sceptre. He is also
shown holding his erect phallus in his left hand. Though the Greeks identified
him with Pan there is nothing Pan-like about him. Min is a proud, regal
figure. His ancient symbol was the thunderbolt and he was sometimes considered
to have been the creator of the world, or even as another form of Horus.
Coptos became an important entrepot for desert trading expeditions and so Min
became the god of roads and travellers. As god of fecundity he was also god of
crops, and the first sheaf of wheat was offered to him by the Pharaoh at harvest
time. His sacred animal was a white bull while the games of Panopolis were held
in his honour during the period of Greek influence.
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