Hwt-Ka-Ptah, translating roughly into "Temple of the Spirit of Ptah", was a major Khemetan city that centered its cosmological importance around the Great Netjer Ptah. As Hwt-Ka-Ptah is an English transliteration of the consonantal Khemetan spelling Hwt-Ka-Pth--believed to have been pronounced "Hewt-Kah-Patah" or "Hewt-gAhp-Tah"--other spellings include: "Het-Ka-Ptah", "Hut-Ka-Ptah" and "Hi-Ku-Ptah". It was this city in which Our modern term Egypt owes its name. As linguists and historians generally agree that language barriers prevented hellenic-speaking peoples from accurately rendering the phonetics of the Khemetan language, Hwt-Ka-Ptah was hellenized into Ai-gyp-tah, and later Ai-gyp-tos. Today, it is more commonly known as "Memphis".
Symbolism
Hwt-Ka-Ptah--along with Anu and uWo'se (Uwaset)--symbolized an Earthly representation of what the Khemtnu saw as the Highest Manifestations of Ptah (All Physical Manifestation), Ra (Manifestation of the Mind) and Yaman (Unseen and Quiet Concsiousness), respectively.[2] In Hwt-Ka-Ptah, it was said that the Great Netjer Ptah, also known as the "Great Engraver", was the teacher of artisans, metalworkers and builders.[3] However, remaining Conscious of the importance of Duality to the Khemtnu, Ptah is also said to be the One who fashions un-manifest ideas of the Human Mind (Yaman) into physical form.
Notes
References
- Ashby, Muata (2006). "The Book of Coming Forth by Day". Cruzian Mystic Books.
- Clark, Rosemary (2000). "The Sacred Tradition in Ancient Egypt". Llewellyn Publications.
- James, George G.M. (1954). "Stolen Legacy". African American Images.