| | Iah is a lunar god, and this dominates his associations. In this role he is very closely associated with Khonsu (the primary lunar god from the New Kingdom onward) and Thoth (as Thoth-Iah), who also has strong lunar associations. This affected his prominence in later periods. Iah also eventually become associated with Osiris (as Osiris-Iah), possibly through the lunar cycle of regeneration, and also the association of the lunar disc with the damaged eye of Horus. | | Iah is a lunar god, and this dominates his associations. In this role he is very closely associated with Khonsu (the primary lunar god from the New Kingdom onward) and Thoth (as Thoth-Iah), who also has strong lunar associations. This affected his prominence in later periods. Iah also eventually become associated with Osiris (as Osiris-Iah), possibly through the lunar cycle of regeneration, and also the association of the lunar disc with the damaged eye of Horus. |
| − | It appears that Iah was particularly popular with the 17th Dynasty royal line, as several prominent royals adopted his name into their own, including [[Ah-Hotep]], and her son, [[Ahmose I]] (Amosis), founder of the 18th Dynasty, along with his wife, [[Ahmose-Nefertari]]. Some have also speculated that the name [[Kamose]] may also have had some root in Iah’s name. Interestingly, another association can be seen between Iah and the 26th dynasty, in the form of [[Ahmose II]] (Amasis), despite his eclipse, so to speak, by [[Khonsu]]. Also, statuettes and amulets of Iah continue to be found through the New Kingdom and Late Periods, including a fine statuette now in the collection of the [[British Museum]]. | + | It appears that Iah was particularly popular with the 17th Dynasty royal line, as several prominent royals adopted his name into their own, including [[Ah-Hotep]], and her son, [[Ahmose I]] (Amosis), founder of the 18th Dynasty, along with his wife, [[Ahmose-Nefertari]]. Some have also speculated that the name [[Kamose]] may also have had some root in Iah's name. Interestingly, another association can be seen between Iah and the 26th dynasty, in the form of [[Ahmose II]] (Amasis), despite his eclipse, so to speak, by [[Khonsu]]. Also, statuettes and amulets of Iah continue to be found through the New Kingdom and Late Periods, including a fine statuette now in the collection of the [[British Museum]]. |
| | There is no mention, however, of Iah ever having any significant temples or state endowments of his own, though he appears in the [[Book of the Dead]], suggesting he maintained an independent role of some kind in the latter New Kingdom. | | There is no mention, however, of Iah ever having any significant temples or state endowments of his own, though he appears in the [[Book of the Dead]], suggesting he maintained an independent role of some kind in the latter New Kingdom. |