MONTOU

God of war

Montu is an Egyptian god of war, closely bound to the sun and its burning force. He was first perceived as a manifestation of the burning power of Ra before becoming, in the Theban region, the protector of armies and the patron of fighters. He is most often represented in the guise of a man with a falcon's head crowned with the solar disc and two tall plumes. In the Late Period, he can also appear with a bull's head, in connection with the sacred bull Buchis, a white animal with a black muzzle venerated at Hermonthis. His cult knew a great flowering under the Eleventh Dynasty, when several kings bore his name, in the form Montuhotep, Montu is satisfied. The warrior pharaohs were readily compared to him: Thutmose III is thus described as a valiant Montu on the battlefield. His principal sanctuaries were in the region of Thebes, at Hermonthis (Armant), Tod, Medamud and Karnak. He sometimes forms a couple with consorts such as Raettawy, Iunit or Tjenenet. His figure thus combines solar energy and warlike valour.