The Min festival was an ancient Egyptian ceremony held to celebrate the continued rule. It dated back to Predynastic Egypt and was still very popular during the 19th Dynasty reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II.
Min Festival in Ancient Egyptian Calendar
The festival has a relationship with the king’s worship; it was held in the last month of the summer. According to the lunar calendar, the Min festival also occurred at the beginning of a new season in the ninth civil month.
Procession of Min Festival
The king himself carried out it, followed by his wife, royal family, and the court. When the king entered the sanctuary of the deity Min, he brought offerings and burning incense. Then, twenty-two priests carried the temple’s standing god out on a shield. In front of the statue of the god, the priests also put two small-seated statues of the pharaoh.
Before the god Min, a sizeable ceremonial procession included dancers and priests. On the other side, in front of them marched the king with a white bull wearing a solar disc between its horns. When the god arrived at the end of the procession, the pharaoh gave him sacrificial offerings. Also, the pharaoh was given a bundle of cereal that symbolised fertility.
Fertility and Harvest
In this festival of Min, the king cut the first sheaf of grain. It symbolically supported his role as life-sustainer of his people. This festival, associated with Min, was fecundity and the masculinity of rebirth. Therefore, this third festival focuses on birth, predominating the agricultural aspect.
