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| This grey granite statue of Iunit, spouse of the Theban god Montu, is the first known representation of this goddess.18th Dynasty. Luxor Cachette statue. Luxor Museum. |
Female Anthropomorphic Egyptian Gods: Iunit
A goddess of family localized importance in the Theban region, Iunit was incorporated into the local ennead of Karnak in New Kingdom times. Along with the goddess Tjenenyet, she was venerated as the consort of the ancient falcon war god Montu in the town of Armant (Hermonthis) a little to the south of Thebes. Her name means 'She-of-Armant', and although the goddess first appears in reliefs dated to the reign of Mentuhotep III of the 11th Dynasty, it is thought that she may have been worshipped there from very early times. It is perhaps possible, though not likely, that she is the goddess of the same name mentioned in the Pyramid Texts (PT 1066). The female deity Raet, also known from the Theban region, seems to be related to Iunit and may possibly represented a solar aspect of the goddess of Armant.
