Bible Encyclopedias
Amon

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature

Amon, 1

[image]

Fig. 34—Amon, an Egyptian god

A´mon (Jeremiah 46:25) is the name of an Egyptian god, in whom the classical writers unanimously recognize their own Zeus and Jupiter. His chief temple and oracle in Egypt were at Thebes, a city peculiarly consecrated to him, and which is probably meant by the No and No Amon of the prophets. He is generally represented on Egyptian monuments by the seated figure of a man with a ram's head, or by that of an entire ram, and of a blue color. In honor of him, the inhabitants of the Thebaid abstained from the flesh of sheep, but they annually sacrificed a ram to him and dressed his image in the hide.

As for the power which was worshipped under the form of Amon, it has been asserted that the Libyans adored the setting sun under that of their Ammon; others have endeavoured to prove that Amon represented the sun at the vernal equinox. But nothing very definite is known upon the subject, though the fact seems placed beyond a doubt that Amon bears some relation to the sun.

Amon, 2

Amon (artificer), son of Manasseh, and fourteenth king of Judah, who began to reign B.C. 641, and reigned two years. He appears to have derived little benefit from the instructive example which the sin, punishment, and repentance of his father offered; for he restored idolatry, and again set up the images which Manasseh had cast down. He was assassinated in a court conspiracy: but the people put the regicides to death, and raised to the throne his son Josiah, then but eight years old (2 Kings 21:19-26; 2 Chronicles 33:21-25).

 

 

 

 

Bibliography Information
Kitto, John, ed. Entry for 'Amon'. "Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature". https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​kbe/​a/amon.html.