Min and lettuce, a photo from Luxor, Inland

Photographer's Note

In Egyptian temples, there are a lot of reliefs, statues and paintings showing the pharaohs and gods. Isis, Horus, Hathor, Anubis are well recognizable. But what about Min? His representation is unique and once you see, you recognize him everywhere.

Min was a fertility god and its cult originated in the predynastic period. He was was most often represented in male human form, with one arm and one leg only but with an erect penis. Cult and worship in the predynastic period surrounding a fertility god were based upon the fetish of fossilized belemnite. Later symbol widely used was a bed of lettuce, that the Egyptians believed to be an aphrodisiac. Egyptian lettuce was tall, straight, and released a milk-like sap when rubbed, characteristics superficially similar to the penis. Lettuce was sacrificially offered to the god, then eaten by men in an effort to achieve potency.{https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Min_(god)#/overview}

In the main photo, the representation of Min is on the column in the Karnak Temple.

See also two workshops (and better in the large format).

pierrefonds, holmertz, ikeharel, jean113, kasianowak, jemaflor, PaulVDV, mcmtanyel heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

Silvio1953 (223103) 2022-02-21 5:01

Ciao cara Malgo, great view of fantastic relief, wonderful colors, fine details and splendid sharpness, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

pierrefonds (115677) 2022-02-21 5:21

Hi Maslgo,

The subject is well framed. The point of view is showing the details on the column of the temple. The light is giving nice tints to the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

holmertz (103732) 2022-02-21 6:37

Hello Malgo,
The reliefs are equally beautiful and interesting in both WS, but I guess the rounded shapes and the upward view make this special enough to qualify as main post. All photos are well exposed and sharp and with contrasts that are good enough to give the reliefs a certain 3D effect.
Best regards,
Gert

Tue (93592) 2022-02-21 8:15

Hello Malgo,
Excellent and very sharp close-up of this temple pillar. Those ancient stone carvings look amazing and their warm colours are appealing, especially in front of the light blue sky.
Lars

jean113 (28349) 2022-02-21 9:09

Hello Malgo, all three shots are an excellent accompaniment to your interesting notes.
I like this upward looking view of the carvings and the various columns.
Kind regards, Jean.

jmdias (116635) 2022-02-21 11:02

malgo

in the main post the penis isn't so evident as in the last one. curious as lettuce had a meaning for men's fertility. nice views of these carvings, some more preserved than others.

take care

jorge

kasianowak (17676) 2022-02-21 11:51

Czesc Malgosiu
Fascynujace. Wlasnie uswiadomilas mi jak malo wiem o kulturze antycznego Egiptu (albo, jeszcze gorzej, jak malo pamietam z tego co czytam).
Super kompozycja w ktorej mozemy podziwiac glowny temat zdjecia jak rowniez jego otoczenie oraz piekne kolory.
Pozdrawiam serdecznie
Kasia

ifege (49617) 2022-02-21 16:28

Hi Malgo
3 good relief photos and a very interesting story about the lettuce and beliefs around them.
cheers
Ian

jemaflor (148368) 2022-02-21 23:24

Hi Malgo,
well photographed, a goo angle and a perfect contrast, pleasant warm tone, interesting presentation with Ws too and good informative note, tfs.

aliabazari (23401) 2022-02-21 23:25

Hi dear friend Malgorzata
A beautiful view of this ancient artwork. You showed it beautifully to us. The resolution is impressive. Thanks for sharing

PaulVDV (63574) 2022-02-22 8:51

Hello Malgo,
Congratulations with your 4000th picture on this site!
I like a lot these ancient reliefs and paintings.
Especially when they're found on the columns.
Composition wise your're main photo is the best.
Wonderful with the contrast between the stone colour and the blue sky.
Best regards, Paul

pajaran (117201) 2022-02-23 0:37

Pozdrav.

Lep pogled, interesantan tekst ...
lep stari stub sa reljefom, dobro pokazano sa lepim bojama i kontrastom.
Dobar rad sa lepom fotografijama u radionci.
Lepa stara arhitektura i detalji.

Zelim vam lep i uspesan dan, sve najbolje.
Paja

mcmtanyel (69384) 2022-02-25 21:09

Hello Malgo,
I like the rich color of these columns, the reliefs are impressive, too.
Regards,
MT