Abydos History : Ancient Egypt’s Most Important Necropolis

Abydos History: Ancient Egypt’s Most Important Necropolis From the time of the First and Second Dynasties (beginning of the 3rd millennium BC), Abydos played an important role as the burial place of pharaohs and high court dignitaries. Here, the rituals for the burial of the dead king and the accession of his successor were celebrated, symbolizing the transitory and recurrent character of all earthly things. As far back as the Old Kingdom, the cult of Osiris, which originated in the Delta, had managed to gain a foothold at Abydos; with the nearby hill of Umm el-Gaab believed to be Osiris’ tomb, and so it’s not surprising that Abydos’ temples became a vortex for the cult of Osiris.