Sacred soils of ancient Egypt

Abstract

Mid-Holocene paleosols within archeological excavations at temples of Ancient Egypt and Sudan are here documented from the field and from publications in order to examine the relationship between particular cults and soils. The principal finding is that the same kind of paleosols were seen at the different temples of the same deity, but different kinds of paleosols at temples of different deities. Temples of Isis and Osiris, for example, are on Mollisols, in contrast with temples of Horus and Hathor on Alfisols. Different soils supported different livelihoods, castes and cults, and fostered tribal theologies as distinct as those of pastoral Masai versus agrarian Kikuyu. Ancient Egyptians were aware of these differences, as revealed by inscriptions at the temple of Horus at Edfu. These texts outline a soil classification used by the predynastic ruler Tanen for temple establishment on each soil type as it emerged from the primeval flood. Soils have long been a basis for human livelihoods and religion.