One of the steps towards civilization is the formation of settlements growing into towns, gaining power for various reasons and growing into cities. In Egypt that happened at several places, but the very earliest ones found sofar are Hierakonpolis (Nekhen), Abydos and Buto (Pe, Per Wadjyt). While Abydos has yielded a very large number of finds and displays a continuity from Predynastic times into the Christian era, the importance of Hierakonpolis cannot be overlooked, with artefacts as the Narmer Paltette and the Scorpion Macehead, to mention a few finds. Buto, or Pe, as it is believed to be called in the Pyramid Texts, the northern counterpart to Nekhen, remains more of an enigma. Leaving these finds aside for the time being, let´s take a look at the concept of ' The souls of Pe and Nekhen.

The Souls of the cities of Nekhen and Pe as depicted in several New Kingdom royal tombs, symbolized the souls or 'bau' of the early rulers from these two areas. They are depicted as humans wearing a Horus mask for Nekhen and an Anubis mask for Pe. They were venerated as ancestor spirits holding great power and were considered helping the deceased kings as well as the living one. They could be said to be the sum of the divine beings of a place. Pe is mentioned in the Pyramid Texts as mourning Osiris and urging the vengeance upon Set. Both Pe and Nekhen are regarded as stars, together forming a ladder upon which the newly deceased king might climb up to the skies.

The Souls of Nekhen

The souls of Nekhen (Hierakonpolis), the capital of Upper Egypt are depicted as jackal headed deities and the souls of Pe (Buto), the capital of Lower Egypt as falcon headed deities and so they cover the two lands from south to north. They are seen kneeling with their arms raised in the henu position at rituals and celebrations.

The Souls of Pe

Originating in the early periods, these ba souls lasted throughout Egyptian history. In the Pyramid Texts it says that at the murder of Wesir, the 'Bau' of Pe are outraged and shows this by tearing at their sidelocks and tearing at their flesh. They also urge Heru to avenge his father and when the king is ascending the heavens, the souls of Pe and Nekhen provide a golde ladder for him to ascend on. The king seems to be especially closely linked with the Bau of Pe, perhaps because that city was given to Horus by Re, recompensing Horus for the injury of his eye during the struggle for the throne.