Editing Upper and Lower Egypt (section)

==Sema Tawy and symbolism==
[[File:Abu Simbel 0219.JPG|thumb|left|150px|[[Hapi (Nile god)|Hapi]] tying the papyrus and reed plants in the ''sema tawy'' symbol for the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt]]
The union of Upper and Lower Egypt is depicted by knotted papyrus and reed plants. The binding motif represents both harmony through linkage and domination through containment. The duality is an important part of royal iconography. Sometimes, the duality is further extended by having the knotted plants extend and bind foreign foes (both from the North and the South) as well.<ref name="Wengrow">[[Wengrow, David]], ''The Archaeology of Early Egypt: Social transformations in North-East Africa, 10,000 to 2650 B.C.'', Cambridge University Press, 2006</ref>

During the first dynasty, dualistic royal titles emerge, including the King of Upper and Lower Egypt (''[[wikt:nswt#Egyptian|nswt]] [[wikt:bjtj#Egyptian|bjtj]]'') title which combines the plant representing Upper Egypt and a bee representing Lower Egypt. The other dualistic title is the [[ancient Egyptian royal titulary#Nebty ("two ladies") name|Two Ladies name]] or Nebty name. The two ladies are [[Nekhbet]], the [[vulture]] goddess associated with [[Nekhen]] in Upper Egypt, and [[Wadjet]], the [[cobra]] goddess associated with [[Buto]] in Lower Egypt.<ref name="Wengrow"/>

There are many depictions of the ritual unifications of the Two Lands. It is not known if this was perhaps a rite that would have been enacted at the beginning of a reign, or merely a symbolic representation. Many of the depictions of the unification show two gods binding the plants. Often the gods are [[Horus]] and [[Set (deity)|Set]], or on occasion Horus and [[Thoth]]. There are several examples of Barque stands from the reigns of [[Amenhotep III]] ([[Hermopolis]]), [[Taharqa]] ([[Jebel Barkal]]), and [[Atlanersa]] (Jebel Barkal) that show two river gods performing the rite. This matches a scene from the Temple at [[Abu Simbel]] from the time of [[Ramesses II]].<ref name="Merzeban">Rania Y. Merzeban, "Unusual sm3 t3wy Scenes in Egyptian Temples", ''Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt'', Vol. 44 (2008), pp. 41–71</ref>

There are only a handful of scenes that show the King himself performing the ritual. All of these are from barque stands and date to the reigns of [[Amenhotep III]], [[Seti I]] and [[Ramesses III]]. The latter two may be copies of the first one.<ref name="Merzeban"/>

<gallery>
File:Egypt Memnon.jpg|The river god [[Hapi (Nile god)|Hapi]] uniting Upper and Lower Egypt. [[Colossi of Memnon]]. Reign of [[Amenhotep III]]. 
File:Luxor Tempel 15.jpg|Temple scene at [[Luxor]], Thebes
File:Tutankhamun's Alabaster Jar.jpg| Alabaster jar depicting the sema tawy symbol with Hapy. From the tomb of [[Tutankhamun]].
File:Karnak Khonsou 080522 c.jpg|[[Ramesses III]] at the temple of [[Khonsu]]. 
File:Chephren CG 14-Detail.jpg| Sema tawy (without deities) on the side of the throne of [[Khafre]]
</gallery>