Wah-Sut

Wah-Sut

Shown within Egypt
Location	Egypt, South of Abydos
Region	Upper Egypt
Coordinates	26°10′38″N 31°55′53″E / 26.17722°N 31.93139°E / 26.17722; 31.93139Coordinates: 26°10′38″N 31°55′53″E / 26.17722°N 31.93139°E / 26.17722; 31.93139
Type	Government planned Settlement and Mortuary Temple Complex
Part of	Abydos
History
Founded	Twelfth Dynasty
Abandoned	Thirteenth Dynasty
Periods	late Middle Kingdom Twelfth Dynasty to Thirteenth Dynasty
Site notes
Archaeologists	C.T. Currelly and Arthur Weigall1901-1903 Josef Wegner 1994-present

C.T. Currelly and Arthur Weigall1901-1903

Wah-Sut (Wah-sut-Khakaure-maa-kheru-em-Abdju- Enduring-are-the-places-of-Khakaure-justified-in-Abydos) is a cult town south of Abydos in Middle Egypt. Baisedon the name, we know that the town saw built to be an outlying part of Abydos. The town itself was built by the Egyptian government as the town for the Mortuary Temple of Senworset III. The complex of Senworset III consists of the mortuary temple, town, and a hidden tomb. The area was built during the Middle Kingdom in the 12th Dynasty. The town was used for over 150 years until the end of the Middle Kingdom and the 13th Dynasty.

The town of Wah-sut was built during the Middle Kingdom in the 12th Dynasty. The Egyptian government built it for the workers of Senworset III’s mortuary temple. Senworset III was King during the late Middle Kingdom. According To Joseph Wegner, he set into motion many governmental changes, which established a break in the Middle Kingdom state (early and late). These changes created a difference in the early to late periods of the Middle Kingdom. Many texts have been found of the administrative records of this time period. Aside from these texts, the archeological record shows proof of the changes as well. One major change made by Senworset III, which is found in significance at Wah-Sut, is the importance of Mayors. The Mayor’s work is done in direct guidance of the officials of the royal government. They also are very important within the towns they are Mayor of as well as the complex of the town. They hold multiple titles within the community including heading the economic and administrative aspects of the town and temple. This degree of change of the government directly leads to a more centralized government.

There were many cultural and religious changes made in Egypt during the Middle Kingdom. The use of amulets as divine symbols increased drastically during this time period. The scarab beetle became the most recognizable. It is known for its symbolization of the solar cycle and rebirth. These scarab beetle amulets were found throughout the Wah-Sut complex in the form of seals of the government officials. They also seemed to be linked to burials as well as worn during life. Another religious symbol found during the Middle Kingdom are the magic wands.These wands are decorated with divine images and often hieroglyphs. These wands represent the same as the scarab amulets, the solar cycle and symbolizing rebirth. They have been found to be most used in childbirth rituals to protect the child and bring them into life healthy. They were then buried in the tombs of their female owners. Along with the magic wands, birth bricks were known to be used as well. They were similar to wands magically, but they were physically used during labor to make it easier for the women and to protect the baby. The combination of these physical aspects and some of the spells found textually lead to the understanding of Middle Kingdom rituals surrounding birth.