Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, December 25th, 2024
Christmas Day
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Bible Encyclopedias
Amon (2)

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

Search for…
or
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Prev Entry
Amon
Next Entry
Amon, King of Judah
Resource Toolbox
Additional Links

An Egyptian god, whose name occurs in Jeremiah 46:25 ("Amon of No," R. V.) and in Nahum, 3:8 (NO-AMON). He was originally only the local divinity of Thebes; but on the accession of the eighteenth dynasty, became the supreme ruler of the Egyptian pantheon, and official god of the empire. In this rôle the name continues to appear even in the titles of some of the Ptolemies. The Libyans and Ethiopians accepted Amon as their highest divinity; and the Greeks identified him with Zeus. When represented in human form, he was commonly given a blue skin and a head-dress of feathers, similar to that of Min of Coptos. Frequently, however, he was portrayed with the head of his sacred animal, the ram.

The earliest vocalization of his name—it does not admit of any certain etymology—is found in the El-Amarna tablets, viz., "Amanu" (compare the Ethiopian pronunciation, "Amen"). Later the name was pronounced "Amon," and still later "Amun," or, without the accent (in the status constructus), "Amen." The Greeks, following a popular pronunciation, doubled the "m" = "Ammon." Identified with the sun (Rē'), like most Egyptian gods, he is also frequently called Amen-rē'.

W. M. M.

Brugsch's etymology of Amon ("Ægyptische Religion," p. 87) compares with ("the Hidden Amon") in Gen. R. and pseudo-Justin, "Cohortatio ad Græcos," p. 37:—"Ammonem qui deum occultissimum vocat."

K.
Bibliography Information
Singer, Isidore, Ph.D, Projector and Managing Editor. Entry for 'Amon (2)'. 1901 The Jewish Encyclopedia. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​tje/​a/amon-2.html. 1901.
 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile