Definition: Opet Festival
The annual festival of Opet centered on the god Amun and his wife and divine consort, Mut, whose statues were housed separately. They had a child, Khons, whose conception would have been impossible had the gods always lived separately, so once a year the statues were brought together for their honeymoon or opet. They were taken on a long procession which was accompanied by free food and drink. Nine months later, the statue of Mut was taken to the birthing house to give symbolic birth to Khons.
The "monotheistic" Amarna pharaoh, Akhenaten, suspended this festival. The "boy king" Tutankhamen restored it.
