Paintings and Drawings by Savanna
Tropical Rainforest and Caribbean Marine Life
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Egyptian Boat "Soul Traveling"
painting on silk
I love boats in ancient art, not only the style of boats from ancient cultures but also their purpose, as they not only serve in daily life but also commonly seen as the means of transportation for the soul through the afterlife.
This is my interpretation of this ancient painting, created in silk in the Serti technique. I found this boat beautifully laced with symbolism and style.
A section of a Nineteenth Dynasty painting from the tomb of Irynefer. A scared bark is traveling on the celestial Nile of the afterlife. Irynefer, standing in a pose of respect toward the Gray Heron (a sacred bird that represents the ba or soul and the sun god Ra), the disk of the sun (over the heron and over the stern of the boat) are also symbols of Ra.
Like the sun, the heron rose from the primeval waters of the Nile and its name, Benu, was likely derived from the word weben: to “rise” or “shine”.
Other symbols; painted on the side of the boat is the eye of Udiet, a symbol of sanctity and divine grace. In addition, the protective eye of Horus, the wadjet, floats above the prow. There are many more symbols, like the winged scarab on the necklace worn by Irynefer, the feather of Matt on the staff - representing soul’s value or truth. And more - that all add to the protection and divinity of the journey.
Later "Benu" the Gray Heron of Egypt, became the sacred bird of Heliopolis, which became the legendary phoenix of the Greeks. The association of the rising and setting sun, or rising from its own ashes, or resurrection.
This is my interpretation of this ancient painting, created in silk in the Serti technique. I found this boat beautifully laced with symbolism and style.
A section of a Nineteenth Dynasty painting from the tomb of Irynefer. A scared bark is traveling on the celestial Nile of the afterlife. Irynefer, standing in a pose of respect toward the Gray Heron (a sacred bird that represents the ba or soul and the sun god Ra), the disk of the sun (over the heron and over the stern of the boat) are also symbols of Ra.
Like the sun, the heron rose from the primeval waters of the Nile and its name, Benu, was likely derived from the word weben: to “rise” or “shine”.
Other symbols; painted on the side of the boat is the eye of Udiet, a symbol of sanctity and divine grace. In addition, the protective eye of Horus, the wadjet, floats above the prow. There are many more symbols, like the winged scarab on the necklace worn by Irynefer, the feather of Matt on the staff - representing soul’s value or truth. And more - that all add to the protection and divinity of the journey.
Later "Benu" the Gray Heron of Egypt, became the sacred bird of Heliopolis, which became the legendary phoenix of the Greeks. The association of the rising and setting sun, or rising from its own ashes, or resurrection.