Page:The Religion of Ancient Egypt.djvu/112

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THE GODS OF EGYPT.
97

of the temple of Dendera are said to be nutru. "Qu'est ce qu'une salle divine?" very pertinently asks M. Mariette. Sat nutrit is a "potent talisman." Seti I. in his titles is the "potent image," seχem nutra, of Chepera. Nutra is constantly brought into parallelism with words implying "might." "Great (ura) is the Eye of Horus, Mighty (āa) is the Eye of Horus, Strong (nutra) is the Eye of Horus, the Giver of Strength (senutra) is the Eye of Horus."[1] "A mighty wall to Egypt, protecting their limbs; his force (pehti) is like Ptah in prostrating the barbarians, a child of might (sif nutra) in his coming forth like Harmachis."[2] "He is strong (ten-re) in performing his duties to Amon-Rā, he is vigorous (nutra) in performing his duties to the sovereign, his lord." In the Demotic text of the tablet of Canopus, nutra is translated by χu, which signifies, "strengthen, fortify, protect, invigorate." It has constantly this meaning in the hieroglyphic texts. "Thy body is fortified (nutri-ta), protected (χu-ta), restored (seput-ta)."[3] "Thy limbs are fortified (nutri-ta) by the Power (seχem) which is in heaven."[4] Nutra men ma pet, "strong and durable as heaven." Nutra-f nut-ek er neken, "He fortifies thy city against destruction." Nutra-f Nutrit er nefu, "He strengthens

  1. Sharpe, "Egyptian Inscriptions," Vol. II. p. 28.
  2. Duemichen, Historische Inschr. Vol. II. pp. 46, 12.
  3. J. de Rougé, Inscriptions, Vol. I. pl. 25.
  4. Sharpe, Vol. II. p. 92.