English
Spain
HOLY OF HOLIES Innermost sanctuary of an Egyptian temple where the statues of the gods were kept. Closed to all visitors except select priests who attended the statues, the holy of holies was a dark and mysterious place. Each morning the priests opened the doors to the holy shrine and cared for the statue as if it were a living god. Food was placed before the statue for its morning meal, cosmetics were painted around the eyes, perfume was poured over the statue, and it was wrapped in white linen. Once these rituals In the back of every Egyptian temple a small chapel called the holy of holies housed the cult statues and their sacred boats. had been performed, the doors to the shrine were closed until it was time for the next ritual. The only time the average Egyptian ever saw a cult statue was on an important festival day when the statue was taken out of the temple and placed in a portable shrine made of gilded wood that rested on two long, wooden carrying poles. Priests placed the poles on their shoulders and carried the shrine into the open courtyard of the temple. During these special festivals, the Egyptians would crowd into the yard for a glimpse of the statue that represented their god.
