The DECEASED AND HIS RELEVANCE TO RHwy, aHAwy, 3nnwy, AND 4nwy

Abstract

The twofold oppositions or contrasts that complement each other are evident in Ancient Egypt. We have heaven and earth, day and night, life and death, fertile land and desert, and so good and evil. One of the most outstanding forms of dualism was the divine RHwy: Horus and Seth. The interpretation of this word differs according to the context included. On one hand, it is translated as the two companions when talking first about the gods Rea and Thoth; on the other hand, it is the two rivals Horus and Seth, apart from occasionally it is translated, as well as, the reconciled gods, or the two companions. This raises the question of when and where the meaning of the word should be understood as «Rivals» and or as «Companions»! In the course of this article, we shall have to ask, however, does the connection that linked between RHwy and the deceased differ from his relation to each of them separately? The study is also exposed to three words that come in the texts and that may play the same role of the word RHwy in its binary meanings: aHAwy, Xnnwy, and 4nwy. So, and in the interests of clarity, I have purposely confined this article to the Old Kingdom Pyramid Texts, Middle Kingdom Coffin Texts, and New Kingdom Book of the Dead, as thoughts about Rhwy are remarkably shown in similarity and continuation.