Editing Montu (section)

== Role and characteristics ==
{{Ancient Egyptian religion}}
A very ancient god, Montu was originally a manifestation of the scorching effect of [[Ra]], the sun – and as such often appeared under the epithet '''Montu-Ra'''. The destructiveness of this characteristic led to him gaining characteristics of a warrior, and eventually becoming a widely revered war-god. The Egyptians thought that Montu would attack the enemies of [[Maat]] (that is, of the [[truth]], of the cosmic order) while inspiring, at the same time, glorious warlike exploits.<ref name=":4">[[Geraldine Pinch|Pinch, Geraldine]]. ''Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt''. Oxford University Press, 2004. {{ISBN|978-0-19-517024-5}}. p. 165.</ref> It is possible that Montu-Ra and [[Atum|Atum-Ra]] symbolized the two kingships, respectively, of [[Upper and Lower Egypt]].<ref name=":3">Pinch 2004, p. 166.</ref> When linked with [[Horus]], Montu's epithet was "Horus of the Strong Arm".<ref name=":5" />

Because of the association of raging [[bull]]s with strength and war, the Egyptians also believed that Montu manifested himself as a white, black-snouted bull named [[Buchis]] (hellenization of the original '''Bakha''': a living bull revered in [[Armant, Egypt|Armant]]) — to the point that, in the [[Late Period of ancient Egypt|Late Period]] (7th-4th centuries BC), Montu was depicted with a bull's head too.<ref name=":0" /> This special sacred bull had dozens of servants and wore precious crowns and bibs.<ref name=":3" /> 
[[File:KhonsuTemple-Karnak-Khonsu-3.jpg|thumb|227x227px|A peculiar representation of the god [[Khonsu]] as Montu – in the [[Temple of Khonsu]] at [[Karnak]].]]
In [[Art of ancient Egypt|Egyptian art]], Montu was depicted as a [[falcon]]-headed or bull-headed man, with his head surmounted by the solar disk (because of his conceptual link with Ra<ref name=":0" />) with either a double or singular [[uraeus]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Montu {{!}} Description & Story {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mont-Egyptian-god |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Egypt: Montu, Solar and Warrior God |url=http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/montu.htm |access-date=2023-05-30 |website=www.touregypt.net}}</ref> and two feathers. The falcon was a symbol of the sky and the bull was a symbol of strength and war. He could also wield various weapons, such as a [[Khopesh|curved sword]], a spear, bow and arrows, or knives: such military iconography was widespread in the [[New Kingdom of Egypt|New Kingdom]] (16th-11th centuries BC).<ref name=":1" />

Montu had several consorts, including the little-known Theban goddesses [[Tjenenyet]]<ref>Wilkinson 2003, p. 168.</ref> and [[Iunit]],<ref>Wilkinson 2003, p. 150.</ref> and a female form of Ra, [[Raet-Tawy]].<ref name=":5">Wilkinson, Richard H. (2003). ''The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt''. Thames & Hudson. pp. 203–4.</ref> He was also revered as one of the patrons of the city of [[Thebes, Egypt|Thebes]] and its fortresses. The sovereigns of the [[11th dynasty|11th Dynasty]] (c. 2134–1991 BC) chose Montu as a protective and dynastic deity, inserting references to him in their own names. For example, four pharaohs of the 11th Dynasty were called ''Mentuhotep'', which means "Montu (Mentu) is satisfied":

* [[Mentuhotep I]] (c. 2135 BC) — maybe a fictional figure; 
* [[Mentuhotep II|Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II]] (c. 2061–2010 BC); 
* [[Mentuhotep III|Sankhkare Mentuhotep III]] (c. 2010–1998 BC); 
* [[Mentuhotep IV|Nebtawyre Mentuhotep IV]] (c. 1998–1991 BC).<ref name=":2" />

The [[Ancient Greece|Greeks]] associated Montu with their god of war [[Ares]] – although that did not prevent his assimilation to [[Apollo]], probably due to the solar radiance that distinguished him.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5" />