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| Fecundity figures personifying nomes, cities and states - and sometimes identified with the king - are frequently depicted in Egyptian temples in the symbolic presentation of produce and offerings. 19th Dynasty. Temples of Ramesses II. Abydos. |
nome Noun /nōm/Egypt was traditionally divided into administrative districts which the ancient Egyptians called sepaut and the Greeks called nomoi, from which the word nome comes. For most of the dynastic era there were 22 Upper Egyptian provinces or nomes and in the later periods Lower Egypt was also divided into 20 nomes. Each of these nomes had its own embelm - usually that of its titulary deity/deities or some other distinguishing element - which was displayed upon a pole or standard so that the nomes were recognized and named after their symbols, with names such as ibis, fish or crocodile nome.
nomes plural
- One of the thirty-six territorial divisions of ancient Egypt
- An administrative division of modern Greece
In the representations carved on the walls of Egypt's temples, the nomes were depicted as either female or androgynous figures, usually bearing the emblems of their districts on their heads. Their depictions show them processionally carrying offerings into the temple to signify the gifts of their areas to the upkeep and welfare of the god's houses. Usually the 22 nomes of Upper Egypt were depicted on the southern walls of temples and the 20 nomes of Lower Egypt were depicted on northern walls.
