Who is god Hapy?

Hapy was the god of the Nile he was worshiped all over Egypt especially in Elephantine and Gabal El Selselah. The ancient Egyptians believed that the Nile came from the primeval ocean in between two rocks in Elephantine. Due to this belief god Hapy was represented as a Hermaphrodite there. This representation indicates fertility. He was represented as a man with long hair, heavy breasts, heavy beard and bulging tummy. He is usually represented carrying an offering table containing many offerings that originated from the Nile such as fish, Nile plants, and birds. There are two representations of god Hapy; Hapy of the north or HApy mHyt and Hapy of the south or Smayt. This was the Nile was also divided into two port the northern part and the southern part. The two Hapys were represented in the same physical features but in different costumes, holding significant plants of the part they were worshiped in and the crown that represents their part of the Nile. Some times, the two representations were in one god wearing the double crown and holding a lotus and a papyrus. God Hapy was rarely represented on monuments thus he was considered highly spiritual and had a powerful position.

Background:

This statue was found in Tanis the capital of the Hyksos and was known as Avaris. First it was thought to be one of the monuments belonging to the Hyksos because of the strange representation and costume but the facial features of king Amenemhat III could never be mistaken which are:

<!--The protruding eyes

<!--Heavy lids

<!--High check bones

<!--Wrinkles around the eyes and the mouth

<!--The broad nose

<!--The muscles around his firm broad mouth 

<!--The gap under the lower lip

<!--Dramatic expression on his face

The statue may have been in Fayoum but as dragged to Tanis by one the kings of 21st dynasty where he added his name on the dyad. The king was represented in double form representing Upper and Lower Egypt to stress his control over the two lands or he was represented once as the living king –Horus- and once as the dead king –Osiris-This double theme occurred in 5th dynasty and flourished in the Middle Kingdom.

The statue:

The king is represented in a double statue in standing attitude holding offering tables in the form of god Hapy. He is represented wearing a heavy and thick hair wig with several layers and a thick royal beard with zigzag motifs. This style originated in the pre-dynastic era and was revived in the reign of Amenemhat III. The artist was skillful in representing the facial and bodily features. The two figures are represented wearing a knee high kilt partially pleated. Details of the legs are obvious from the sides of the statue. The symmetrical composition lies in representing one of the statues with his right leg stepped forward and the other with the left leg stepped forward. He is represented holding two offering tables containing offerings that originated from the Nile. The details of the fish, Lotus and Papyrus and birds are well represented. The skill of the sculptor also lies in the position of the birds suspending from the arms or the statue and mingling with the plants.

Hieroglyphic inscription on the face of the statue:

<!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--

<!--<!--  <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--   <!--<!-- <!--<!--

<!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--

nfr nTr anx ms imn n mut nbt iSrw

life to the good king born of Amen and of his mother goddess Mut mistress of Isheru

nswt bity aA xpr ra stp n imn

Great is the existence of Re, chosen by Amen

sA ra mry imn

Beloved of Amen

Hieroglyphic inscription on the back of the statue:

<!--<!--  <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--  <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--

 <!--<!--  <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--   <!--<!-- <!--<!--

<!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--

sA anx Dd wAs nb snb nb Awt ib nb tA mHyt

Protection, life, stability and prosperity, all health, all the joyful of heart, the lord of the northern land 

nswt bity aA xpr ra stp n imn

Great is the existence of Re, chosen by Amen

sA ra mry imn

Beloved of Amen

smr waty Xry Hb imAxw dSry

The sole companion the lector priest the honored or the nobleman dSry

The left side:

<!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--  <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--<!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--

pr xrwt n.f imAxw smr waty dSry