Aset Luminous Festival
also called Aset Webenut
Ancient calendars from the Late Period indicate that on the second day of the fourth month of the season of Shomu, that is to say, IV Shomu, 2, the festival of Isis the Bright, Isis the Luminous One, or, Aset Webenut, was celebrated.
The entry from the calendar at Edfu and others states that Aset/Isis was taken out in procession, probably in Her sacred barque, through the streets, towns and regions, from temple to temple, throughout the land of Kemet. The barque was the sacred boat used to carry all divine icons in procession from the quiet darkness of their temple sanctuaries. For this festival, this barque was carried onto a larger boat . This boat may have taken the journey from from Philae, the temple dedicated to Aset during the Ptolemaic period of Egypt's history, to the nearby island of Bigeh, the purported resting-place for Wesir/Osiris, every tenth day. In addition, the barque would have been used for Aset Webenut and other Festivals of Aset.
The sacred barque of Isis, from Her temple at Philae
Since the name of this festival was "Aset the Bright," it is probably logical to assume that many lights in the form of torches and candles were used along the processional route, possibly even placed on papyrus or leaf boats and set adrift in the water.
In Graeco-Roman times, this festival was known as the Lychnapsia, or Festival of Lights. It is found in the Latin Calendar of Philocalus, dated from the fourth century C.E. This calendar gives the date of the observance as August 12, according to the Roman calendar.
The festival began the night before, at the rising of the moon. Aset's search for Wesir, as told by Plutarch, was reenacted during this festival, by people bearing torches, lamps, and candles, to light their way. Houses, temples, and boats were also illuminated, everything ablaze with light.
It is also to be noted that this festival has also been connected to the birthday of Aset.
Modern Day practice
In modern day, the members of Kemetic Orthodoxy celebrate this festival on the second day of the fourth month of the Kemetic season of Shomu, according to the ancient Egyptian calendar. It is observed by placing lit candles inside small paper boats and setting their candle-boats adrift on slow-moving bodies of water. For instructions on how to make one kind of suitable paper boat for this purpose, see boats.
The boats carry the prayers and hymns of the Shemsu, the followers of Netjer, along the waters. Offerings will also be made to Aset, in praise, in gratitude, and in requests for healing and other supplications. Some examples of hymns to Aset can be found at Hymns to Aset
To see past celebrations of Aset Webenut performed in modern day, see the retreat center Tawy House website, and also the picture at Netjer.org/gallery. See that website for details of this and other festivals and workshops.
Parallel in Italian Catholicism
An interesting corollary to this festival is one that takes place in Italy, called the Ave Maria festival. Ave Maria is Latin for Hail Mary, the first two words of a Roman Catholic prayer to the Blessed Mary, mother of Jesus, and called by Catholics the Mother of God. Many scholars believe that Mary's worship evolved out of the devotion to Aset/Isis throughout the Roman Empire period and later into the Christian era.
A description of this Ave Maria festival can be found here at Ave Maria Italy. Note the use of boats and candles in this festival.
The sacred barque of Isis photo is taken from the book Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt by Richard Wilkinson. Textual sources include:
Macquitty, W. Island of Isis: Philae, Temple of the Nile
Donalson, M.D. The Cult of Isis in the Roman Empire: Isis Invicta.
Copyright 2002-2004 by Khenmetaset, aka Marie Parsons. No text may be reproduced without express permission by the Webmaster.