sacred lake

sacred lake It was an architectural feature of the larger
temples of Egypt, reproductions of the primordial waters
of NUNU that existed before the moment of creation. Rectangular
in design normally, the lakes were reserved for
certain rituals and used as well for cleansing. The larger
sacred lakes served as receptacles for the barks of the
gods at festivals.
KARNAK and other major temples contained
such lakes, all man-made. When the pharaoh was
in residence, the water from the local sacred lake was
used to baptize him in the morning rising rituals.
The sacred lakes were in use throughout all of the
historical periods of Egypt. Also called she netjeri, the
divine pool, the lakes were stone lined and at times were
fashioned with elaborate staircases. They also served as
sanctuaries for sacred birds, CROCODILES, or HIPPOPOTAMI.
Certain three-sided lakes were used in Osirian monuments.
A few were circular or shaped as horseshoes. The
sacred temple lake at Thebes figured in the dispute
between the HYKSOS ruler APOPHIS (r. 1585–1553 B.C.E.)
and Sekenenré TA’O II (r. c. 1540 B.C.E.).