From The Alpha and the Omega - Volume III
by Jim A. Cornwell, Copyright © July 20, 2002, all rights reserved
"Volume III - Gods/Goddesses of Ancient Egypt"
IMIUT
(Imyut, Imy-Ut)


 		    To return to the
Aries Decan (connection of animal skins/flayed skin or the imyut fetish),
Perseus Decan (associated with the flayed skin or imyut),
Pegasus Decan (associated with the flayed skin or imyut),
Denderah Decan 01 - Grand Temple Decan 20 (associated with the flayed skin or imyut),
Khent-Amentiu (similarities),
or List of Netjeru.
    Imiut a strange fetish, known as the imiut fetish, was linked to Anubis.    It was a headless stuffed animal skin (usually of a great feline), tied by its tail to a pole which was planted in a pot.    One source claims it is known as the "Son of the hesat-Cow" (the cow that produced the Mnevis bull was linked to the cow goddess Hesat), another title of Anubis    There is evidence this fetish goes as far back as to the 1st Dynasty (3100-2890 B.C.) and was in time connected to Yinepu (Anubis, Inpew) and sometimes called the "Anibus fetish."    It may symbolize Yinepu as embalmer, as seen at the chapel at Deir-el-Bahri.
    Yinepu can be seen in jackal form on a shrine from the tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amon, 28th Dynasty.
    Anubis/Yinepu's link with mummification goes back into the Pyramid Age.    There is the epithet "He Who is in the Place of Embalming," Imy-Ut as a special indication of this.    In the Pyramid Texts putrefaction of the king's flesh is prevented in the name of Yinepu.    He is the one who washes the intestines of the deceased royalty, and who purifies and embalms the body, who uses incense and who wraps them with linen bandages woven by Tayet, a deity of weaving.
    In early times there was a god, Imiut, who was known as "He Who is in His Wrappings" who became a form of Anubis.    The fetish was probably linked with mummy wrappings though it also appears to have been related to the royal jubilee festival.
    Of interest is the hieroglyphic origin of Aries is seen as an Animal skin.

    In the sixth Egyptian month (Capricornus) of Menchir, Mechir, Mekhir, Rekeh(uer), whereas the Christian coptes called it Amshir.
    The netjer of the sixth month was Rekhur, at the Ramesseum: Jackal (rekh-ur), at Edfu: Hippopotamus (rekh-ur), note Rekeh(uer) mentioned above, and another source calls it Re'Khur.

    In the seventh month (Aquarius) is called Phamoneth, Pamenot, Phaemenoth, Phamenoth, REKEH (nezes) note that Nasie is the 13th month, whereas the Christian coptes called it Baramhat.
    The netjer of the seventh month was Amon-Ra, at Ramesseum: Jackal (rekh-netches), at Edfu: Hippopotamus (rekh-netches), note that REKEH (nezes) or Nasie is referred to as the 13th month.
    Other sources claim that the imiut fetish were linked to the funerary cult, depicted in the Chapel of Anubis at Hatshepsut mortuary temple and actual golden fetishes being left in the tomb of Tutankhamen.    These emblems of Anubis were placed at the western ends of the corridors, one on each side of the outermost shrine at Tutankhamen's tomb.    The pots were made of calcite and the poles represented the water lily (lotus) stem and bud while the tip of the skin's tail had a papyrus flower attached and the pole and fetish itself were gilded.    Other fetishes have been found made of real animal skin that have been wrapped in bandages.
    Anubis the Dweller in the Mummy Chamber, Governor of the Divine House ... saith:- Homage to thee, thou happy one, lord!    Thou seest the Wedjat (Eye of Horus or Ra).    Ptah-Sokar hath bound thee up.    Anubis hath exalted thee.    Shu hath raised thee up, O Beautiful Face, thou governor of eternity.    Thou hast thine eye, O scribe Nebseni, lord of fealty, and it is beautiful.    Thy right eye is like the Sektet Boat, thy left eye is like the Atet Boat.    Thine eyebrows are fair to see in the presence of the Company of the Gods.    Thy brow is under the protection of Anubis, and thy head and face, O beautiful one, are before the holy Hawk.    Thy fingers have been stablished by thy scribe's craft in the presence of the Lord of Khemenu, Thoth, who hath bestowed upon thee the knowledge of the speech of the holy books.    Thy beard is beautiful in the sight of Ptah-Sokar, and thou, O scribe Nebseni, thou lord of fealty, art beautiful before the Great Company of the Gods.    The Great God looketh upon thee, and he leadeth thee along the path of happiness.    Sepulchral meals are bestowed upon thee, and he overthroweth for thee thine enemies, setting them under thy feet in the presence of the Great Company of the Gods who dwell in the House of the Great Aged One which is in Anu.
-- The Speech of Anubis (from the Papyrus of Nebseni)

    This file was created on June 18, 2005 and updated on May 30, 2006.

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