Contributions as Religious Leader
From the inscriptions and reliefs, the god Amen appears to have been Seti’s favoured God however an emphasis was placed upon all of the traditional gods in an attempt to restore the religion of the pre-Amarna period.
Seti I enforced the role of the gods, particularly Amen, in his military campaigns through the buildings and the art of his reign. Therefore his role as a religious leader closely links with both his role as a builder and a warrior. In the reliefs at Karnak depicting Seti’s military campaigns, Amen appears frequently: preparing Seti for the campaign and receiving the booty from the battle.
Seti I enforced the role of the gods, particularly Amen, in his military campaigns through the buildings and the art of his reign. Therefore his role as a religious leader closely links with both his role as a builder and a warrior. In the reliefs at Karnak depicting Seti’s military campaigns, Amen appears frequently: preparing Seti for the campaign and receiving the booty from the battle.
Seti’s special affiliation with the god Amen is clear in his protection of the god: Seti ensured that Amen’s name was restored on buildings where it had been damaged during Akhenaten’s reign and his identification of the God as his father. However, to emphasise his close connection with the Gods Re, Atum, Re-Harakhte and Re-Atum-Khepri were all also referred to as Seti I’s ‘father.’
Inscription from the temple of Amen at Karnak:
Inscription from the temple of Amen at Karnak:
"Seti made it as his monument for his father, Amen-Re, Lord of Thebes...making for him a great and splendid temple of fine sandstone. Amen responded: 'O my son of my body, my beloved, Lord of the two Lands, Menmaatre, Begotten of Re. How beautiful is this monument you have made!"
To encourage worship of the traditional gods of Egypt, Seti constructed many of his building projects in honour of them. For example, the impressive Temple at Abydos was dedicated to six gods: Osiris, Isis, Horus, Amen-Re, Ptah and Re-Harakhte and also to himself.
Seti I made a significant impact in the area of Pharaoh worship through portraying himself as a God who was equally significant as the traditional gods of Egypt. He also placed great emphasis on honouring his father, Ramesses I, the creator of the 19th dynasty as a way of justifying his bloodline's appointment as royal family.
Seti I made a significant impact in the area of Pharaoh worship through portraying himself as a God who was equally significant as the traditional gods of Egypt. He also placed great emphasis on honouring his father, Ramesses I, the creator of the 19th dynasty as a way of justifying his bloodline's appointment as royal family.