The acacia tree is a thorny tree whose length ranges from 15 to 20 meters, is characterized by hardness and resistance to bacteria and rot, and is spread in dry areas in Africa and Asia.
The acacia tree was known in the ancient Egyptian language as SnDt, and it was of great importance on both the religious and secular levels. The sacred tree Horus was also associated with many goddesses such as Isis, Nephthys, and Sekhmet, who met with the acacia deities.
The acacia tree also played a significant role in the burial rituals, and sects of women were associated with it, playing a significant role in those rituals. The acacia tree was also associated with some notable titles for individuals. The tree’s wood was also crucial in manufacturing funerary furniture such as coffins, fake doors, statues, and religious paintings. Also, use The gum of the tree in mummification and depicted in some tombs and temples.
The tree was a source of timber used to manufacture boats, construction work, roofing of buildings, furniture industry, and tanning on the secular level. They used The tree’s products, such as leaves, flowers, and pods, for medicinal purposes.
introduction
Ancient Egypt knew many trees, and many trees played a role in faith, magic, and medicine, and among those trees was the sycamore tree, which means shelter.
Ancient Egyptians believed that spirits and gods dwell in its branches and a well from which water flows under its roots. And it had a special place in ancient Egyptian myths. There is also a palm tree, which name means “sweet,” and was known in all the ancient Egyptian epoch until modern Egypt because its fruits are considered one of the favorite foods of the Egyptians.
There is also the ficus tree, whose fruit was mentioned in many texts and had a place, especially in Heliopolis and the acacia tree, one of the local trees. Its wood was used for many purposes, including the manufacture of boats and ship masts.
Acacia tree
The tree bears horny fruits up to 15 cm in length, bearing several seeds that are somewhat similar to beans and brown. It is arid because it supplies the surrounding soil, nitrogen, and organic carbon. It is successfully cultivated in hot and arid places and works as a windbreak in loose soils. It can resist high temperatures and drought. The stem of the plant secretes a resinous substance known as gum, later known as gum arabic.
It is worth mentioning that used acacia flowers in the manufacture of funeral bouquets and wreaths in ancient Egypt. The acacia tree’s horns are characterized by many dents and reach a length of approximately 15 cm. It represented one of the hieroglyphic signs.
The tree is an essential source of gum, which is obtained through wounding the tree’s body. After several weeks, spherical gum secretions are formed, ranging between white, yellow, and red depending on the period and method. They are collected and used for various purposes, such as the textile industry, gum industry, and medicine. It was growing in Egypt with Various types of Acacia.
Found it from the study of the discovered wood that: acacia wood has been used in Egypt since the pre-dynastic era. It was growing in the neighboring areas of Thebes. It was used in the manufacture of boats, masts of ships, in the manufacture of coffins, in woodwork, and in construction work in all ancient Egyptian periods.
The bark of the acacia tree was also used in tanning. In the town of Al-Gabalin in Upper Egypt, leather was found tanned with the juice of the acacia pods, which contains the dragon substance at a rate of about 30% that is used in tanning, dating back to the pre-dynastic era, and is currently in the Turin Museum.
The ancient Egyptian knew coloring tanned leather in different colors, the most commonly red, yellow, and green. The acacia tree was an essential source of obtaining yellow and blue colors—pigment plants by fermentation or heating.
It dated back to the late-era and used the acacia gum in the statue to fix the colors, producing acacia gum. After weeks, a secretion was produced inside those pieces, forming a gum ranging between white, yellow, and red depending on the period and method. The gum in textiles and leather paste for medicine mentioned the gum in the ancient Egyptian language as qmAyt.
Acacia wood is a porous wood characterized by its dark color and hardness that is not affected by water. Found across-section of the acacia tree from the Djoser group in Saqqara.
Acacia trees were used in the manufacture of boats, and it was proven by analyzing the wood of the Khufu composite that it is from Acacia and cedarwood.
In the ancient Egyptian language, the acacia tree is called the acacia tree, and the Acacia is in the hieroglyphic snd. This name was revealed for the first time in the Pyramids Texts but then came in multiple written forms and the Middle Kingdom, and these forms continued in the modern state and the Greek era.
It is worth mentioning that there was confusion between acacia tree most trees, as there has been confusion between acacia tree and cedar tree.
In ancient Egyptian religion, acacia tree structure played an important role in religion, especially in ritual burial in old state house acacia, being associated with some Women’s groups participating in offering sacrifices and performing funeral dances. They had a role in hunting ceremonies with men, such as helping in slaughtering operations with butchers and preparing meat for cooking, preparing food and drink for the deceased, and participating in various religious rites for burial such as funeral dancing and performing funeral music. It was specialized insects called (musical groups of the acacia temple). This structure appeared in the ancient state, especially in the fourth and fifth dynasties, and extended to other periods in the middle state. The goddess Isis and Nephthys were associated with this house, and some queens such as Queen Hetep were associated. The guard of King Khufu’s mother held Lady of the Butchers of the House of Acacia.
Titles associated tree acacia
associated acacia threesome titles important that owner ascended status supreme in old such a supervisor the Acacia three Egyptian society shows this title rare titles in ancient Egypt
acacia tree in text pyramids
acacia tree played an essential role in protection as stated intextsAlAhram The acacia tree was a sacred tree for the god Horus
. It is as follows: “Dd mdw 1r pi wnis pri m SnDt pri m SnDt wD nf sAwTw rw pr wD nf sAwTw rw.” Aram
meaning is Wanis, which is Hur who came from the acacia tree,
in the texts of Al-as mentioned in the texts of Al-Aram. The deceased’s soul was like a goddess, allowed to sit on the sacred trees in the form of a bird, and found a view of the temple of Hathor in Dendera on which the Ba bird stood.
Acacia tree in the book of the dead
mentioned in Papyrus Wise Annie who lived during the reigning queen Hatshepsut, prayer, and supplication to Osiris where he says:
“I beseech thee, O Lord of the acacia tree.”
In the chapter on entering the hall of Maat, Ani says to Osiris:
You have come in shining supplication, and you have become near the place where the acacia tree does not grow. I have entered a hidden place.”
as mentioned, the tree’s relations with Acacia with the goddesses “Isis and Nephthys,” where our Lord Acacia was one of their titles. They were also associated with “Sekhmet,” the goddess of fire.
The acacia tree Ford on a granite statue dates back to the king’s era” Amenhotep III. acacia;
The goddess “Sekhmet” was also associated with the acacia tree, the connection with the god “Seth,” the acacia tree, and the acacia tree was also associated with protecting the king’s complex nature.
It is an evergreen tree, and the yellow flowers of this tree look like tiny suns, and thus it may be related to the sun’s cycle in the other world.
The acacia tree in ancient Egyptian literature and stories
The acacia tree was one of the local trees, but the ancient Egyptians got it from other places. Ford, in the biography of “Wonny” in his tomb in Abydos, and dates back to the era of the Sixth Dynasty during the era of “Baby I” that his master sent him to “Wawat” to make the acacia boat.
In his tomb in Thebes, which belongs to the Twelfth Dynasty, Anini also mentioned that he owned a garden containing many trees, including 73 sycamore trees and 31 acacia trees.
As mentioned in the “Chester Beatty” papyrus, which dates back to the era of “Seti I,” a reference to the trick that Isis plotted on Set, as she made herself a wonderful woman, and she passed near Set, while he was sitting with the members of the court. He flirted with her, and when they exchanged a conversation, she told him her story, and she said that she was the wife of one of the infantry shepherds. She bore him a son, and her husband died, and his son took care of his father’s livestock, but a stranger took possession of the cattle while the son of the head of the family was present, then Isis made her figure in the form of a bird.” as follows:
HadaThen Isa made her shape in the form of a kite, and then flew and landed on the top of the branch of an acacia tree, and called Seth, saying to him, “Don’t you be ashamed of yourself?” You said it yourself and with your mouth that your wisdom (made you) judge yourself. Neolithic also had three significant acacia roles in Greco-Roman
Acacia and Ancient Egyptian medicine
acacia has many uses in medicine. For example, seeds of acacia ground soaked in water to treat diarrhea, well-used seeds powder to treat wounds, used fruits, Acacia in treating abdominal pain, and Acacia leaves to treat headaches and vitamins for the liver.
a leaf Acacia to kill the belly snakeAcacia leaves and horns are used to feed sheep in the developing world, such as Senegal. Its ability to kill worms in these animals has been observed. An experiment was conducted by exposing some of the contents of these animals’ groins.
An experiment was conducted by exposing some contents of the groin of slaughtered animals that contain On parasites for 12 hours. About 25 ml of senna leaf juice was killed by 100%.
As mentioned in papyrus Ebers recipe to kill belly snake as follows:
“Other leaves, Acacia 64/1 water 32/1 leaves in dew overnight and filtered and drunk on one day.
Leaves acacia for treatment cough
scientifically proven that acacia tree anti effect of bacteria and viruses, and their products such as leaves and seeds treated wounds and eliminates infection throat.were mentioned in Papyrus Hearst recipe treat toes as follows:
which works finger foot grease leaves acacia cook together and put it.
Conclusion
Acacia tree is one of the sacred trees in ancient Egypt, Where Associated Some gods such as Osiris, Horus, Isis, Sekhmet, etc.,
Associated some crucial titles, had structure acacia important role in rituals Religious, and the ancient Egyptian, preceded the world. Ancient and modern, in knowing the benefits of acacia tree products in all areas of life, he used them in funeral offerings, the manufacture of coffins, medicine, and treatment of many diseases.