reinterpretations of the ankh symbol part 2 - Asar Imhotep

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26 ropes in Africa was an ancient practice that ritually bound the persons tying the knots to the commitments they have made. It should be noted that the Egyptian word for “vertebra” ts literally means “knot.” 18 This may be relevant given our connection between the anx and the spinal column and why the anx is depicted as a knotted piece of rope. In terms of the process of breathing, I offer the following as a possible interpretation. It is my current belief that the above image, outside of its political connotations, simply speaks to the process of respiration and how blood, oxygen, the lungs and arteries work as a coherent system to maintain life. Given our understanding of how African myths are created in Imhotep (2011), what I would suggest is that one pay attention to “who” is doing the tying as this can be very important in terms of a proper interpretation. Heru and Set may represent important features in the process of breathing for which I cannot decipher at this time. Set in the above image is holding the lotus plant (Nelumbo nucifera) which allegedly was introduced from Persia. The Blue Lotus (Nymphaea Caerulea) is native to Egypt and has been proven to have some psychoactive and physiological effects on the body. It was used as a “visionary” enhancer and was taken either by way of smoking it or brewing it in teas or alcohol (wine being the favorite). It was seen as the key to good health, sex and rebirth. The Blue Lotus was an aphrodisiac and enhanced sexual vigor like Viagra, was used as a pain killer like Arnica, a tonic like Ginseng, and circulation stimulant like Ginkgo Biloba. 19 With this in mind, what we could be looking at is a possible recipe used to invigorate one’s sexual life, unblock blockages, or ingredients used to promote optimum health. The key is in researching the possible health benefits of the papyrus plant if it was ever consumed to see if it had in medicinal purposes. One could be reading too much into this, but it wouldn’t hurt to explore the possibilities. To the right we can see another version of this relief where the anx association is more vivid. As we can see, the Snw h acts as the “loop” aspect of the anx and the trachea acts as the vertical bar of the anx verifying and confirming our association between the anx and the thoracic complex. There is another version of this same image, but the gods Hrw and St are not doing the tying: it is the god Hapi (Abbey) which is a personification of the Nile River (which is why he is depicted in a blue color). 18 ts n psd “dorsal vertebrae”; ts n nhbt “cervical vertebrae” 19 Nymphaea caerulea - Water Lily / Blue Lotus http://www.entheology.org/edoto/anmviewer.asp?a=65&z=6. See also, Nymphaea caerulea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphaeacaerulea
27 In this version one could say that it is the very Nile River that unites all of the polities of Egypt (tAmry). The god Hapi is depicted as a male with female breasts. This, to me, is symbolic of the flow of the river (which is seen as masculine in African traditions), but also the nurturing aspect of the flooding which gives birth to vegetation along its banks (which would make this a feminine attribute). In terms of the body, it could simply be making a reference to the importance of water to the body and its circulation points represented by the lotus and papyrus plant stems. More investigation is needed here. THE ANKH AND TREES In Imhotep (2011), I presented a hypothesis about the relationship between the anx symbol and trees, in that on some level the anx was representative of a tree or plant. Given our correlation between the anx and the breathing process, there may be further correspondences between the anx and trees/plants that would strengthen this hypothesis. Trees, like human beings, also go through a respiration process. The anatomy of the tree has striking similarities to that of the human being. As mentioned in Imhotep (2011), in many African cultures, trees are seen as human beings. There may be something to this idea not apparent on the surface. A tree is a woody, upright plant with three main parts: root, trunk (stem, bole), and crown (branches). Tree roots have two key functions: they anchor the tree to the ground and absorb the water, minerals and oxygen that are essential to growth. Like human beings, trees need oxygen too. However, trees absorb oxygen from the roots which absorbs oxygen from the gaps between soil particles. Oxygen diffuses into the root through the root hairs. If the soil gets too wet and becomes waterlogged, the roots cannot easily get oxygen from the soil. The tree will not grow in such conditions. Trees are usually broken down into hardwood or softwood trees. Hardwood trees usually have broad leaves and are either evergreen (for example, eucalypts) or deciduous, shedding their leaves in the autumn (for example, oaks and elms). The foliage of the tree is responsible for three main processes: transpiration, photosynthesis and respiration. On the bottom of leaves are openings
Page 1 and 2: 1 REINTERPRETATIONS OF THE ANKH SYM
Page 3 and 4: 3 INTRODUCTION In part one of this
Page 5 and 6: 5 case in point is the htp (hotep)
Page 7 and 8: 7 What doctors call the “True Rib
Page 9 and 10: 9 THE RESPIRATION PROCESS diaphragm
Page 11 and 12: 11 Getting back to the bronchial tu
Page 13 and 14: 13 The association of the anx and b
Page 15 and 16: 15 In Imhotep (2011), I also demons
Page 17 and 18: 17 Cellular respiration is the set
Page 19 and 20: 19 behind all growth and developmen
Page 21 and 22: 21 This very root is also in the te
Page 23 and 24: 23 On the left is the god Wsr (Osir
Page 25: 25 OTHER BREATHING CONNECTIONS Aero
Page 29 and 30: 29 need it. That is what respiratio
Page 31 and 32: 31 The god Ptah holding the Dd pill
Page 33 and 34: 33 worship, one should look for the
Page 35 and 36: 35 Thompkins, Peter and Bird, Chris

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