a scene
of bird hunting with nets. The image represents a pool in
the midst of a papyrus thicket out of which seven
ducks are flying. The net had been open, but on the
signal given by Thoth
with his scarf, they are now closed over the captured birds.
This scene is interesting in that it is repeated in many
private tombs, where peasants close the net under the
watchful eye of their master. Here, the texts
describes Thoth as the "master of the city of Eight"
who presides in Hesret at the heart of the "temple of
nets". This refers to the sanctuary located in
Heliopolis and therefore named in memory of the place
where Seth
was captured in a net by Horus. Furthermore, Thoth administers
the "snaring" operation and it is said that he
extends his two arms like a bow in order to unfurl the strip
of cloth. The text goes on to explain that Thoth has crossed
the swamp filled with birds, and has set a trap so that
the fowl may be offered to the gods. In fact, just
beyond, the red-crowned king holds three birds in each
hand that he is presenting to Amun, from who he
receives all life and "enlargement of heart".
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