The Ptolemaic Basileus in proskynesis before the Gods of Egypt : The ritual sn-tA ('Kissing the Earth') in Temples of the Ptolemaic Era
Abstract
The present paper investigates the "Kissing the Earth" ritual, executed by the foreign ruler, and in particular the Ptolemaic Basileus, before the deities of Egypt. Following a general overview of these reliefs and accompanying texts upon the walls of temples from the Ptolemaic and Roman Era, the paper focuses on the occurrence of the ritual in the early Ptolemaic Period and its precursors from New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period times.
This is followed by a discussion of plausible reasons for the discontinuity of its portrayal on a temple wall as well as the (changed) nature and characteristics of the scene upon its reappearance on the Horus precinct at Edfu after a long period of absence, in order to gain a better understanding of when and where the Ptolemaic ruler is depicted performing proskynesis before the gods of Egypt.