Souls of Pe and Nekhen

In the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, two remarkable statues stand as representations of the Souls of Pe and Nekhen, dating from the reign of Amenhotep III during the 18th Dynasty, around 1391–1353 B.C. Carved from grey granite and originally from the great temple complex at Karnak, these kneeling figures are striking both in form and symbolism.

Each statue embodies one of the two divine ancestral guardians of Egypt’s ancient regions. The Soul of Pe, associated with the northern Delta city of Buto (also known as Dep), is shown with the head of a falcon, an animal sacred to Horus. Its counterpart, the Soul of Nekhen, linked to the southern city of Hierakonpolis (Nekhen), is depicted with the head of a jackal. These figures are not mere deities, but mythologised ancestors of the pharaohs, embodying the spiritual legacy and authority of Egypt’s earliest royal lineages.

The concept of the Bau (plural of ba) is used here to refer to these souls. In Ancient Egyptian belief, the ba was one of several vital components of the soul, representing a person’s individuality and divine power. In the case of Pe and Nekhen, their Bau personify the ancestral essence of kingship itself, guardians of the divine right passed on through generations of rulers.

These statues are shown in a formal kneeling position, performing a sacred gesture known as the henu, a pose of jubilation and reverence. With arms raised or held in ceremonial alignment, this gesture was used in temple rituals to acclaim gods and pharaohs alike. It also conveys readiness, these ancestral souls were seen not only as spiritual supporters of the king but also as protectors, ready to strike down the enemies of the rightful ruler, particularly in his divine guise as Horus.

Related: Ka Statue of King Hor Awibre

The Souls of Pe and Nekhen are first attested in the Pyramid Texts, Egypt’s earliest funerary inscriptions, where they are called upon as the ancient and noble spirits who sanction the rule of the living king. Their approval was vital for legitimising Pharaonic authority. Even centuries later, foreign rulers such as the Kushite kings would invoke them to reinforce their own claim to the Egyptian throne.

Though the names of these ancestral figures are lost to time, their presence in sculpture and text reflects their enduring importance as the spiritual bedrock of Pharaonic legitimacy.