Offering and Prayer Pots
Instructions and tips, by Djedetmiwesir © 2001- 2005
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In antiquity, when the Ancient Egyptians wanted to leave an offering for their deceased ancestors. They often did so, in red clay pots, that had their prayers written directly on the pot. In Wesir's role as Khenti-Amenti (foremost of the westerners, or King of the dead) They make a nice offering for him, as well as his children in the duat.

In the modern world, a lot of us don't think Terra cotta when we thing of food preparation, so it may come as a surprise to you that just about anything you can think of can be cooked safely-- and deliciously in Terra-cotta pottery! In fact Terra-cotta has been used historically through several cultures for food preparation, more often than other modern cooking methods (like Cast Iron and Teflon coated pans).

Terra-cotta is Microwave and dishwasher safe, it's porous consistency provides for very even cooking since the hot air is evenly circulated, Terra-cotta is also very inexpensive and can be found at a variety of places, even your local garden center! Getting back to basics, and antiquity I have prepared some tips, pictures and instructions for Making an Offering Pot with written prayers for Wesir, or your Akhu:

Step #1 Choose your Pot:
Like with any piece of bake-ware, your first and foremost concern will be making sure your Item is food safe, Therefore please take these factors into consideration when shopping for Pots.
• The Pot should not be Painted, or sealed! (The blank, no nonsense and most inexpensive pots is the sort you want.)
• While most Terra-cotta pots now days are lead free, you may want to consider getting a Lead Test kit and using it on the Pot before you put food in it. These are inexpensive and can be found at most home improvement centers, it may give you added piece of mind before you bake!
• The Pot should not have any cracks, or holes (beyond the drainage hole that may be in the bottom, that is-- don't worry about that one)
• For cosmetic factors, Chose a pot that is as unblemished as possible.
• You will also want to think about Sizes! as approximates only, keep in mind that a 9" Flowerpot, will hold most Cakes, and breads. While smaller 3" and even 2" pots would be great for a cupcake/Muffin size dish, (or a small offering space).

Step #2 Preparing your Pot for Use:

Wash your Pot in Hot Soapy water, and then Sterilize it (in fact did you know that you should Always Sterilize terra-cotta pots even when using them for planting?)
I have include three safe options for sterilizing your pits! Choose the best one to suit your needs.

Option A: Immerse Washed pot in rapidly boiling water, covered for 10 - 30 Minutes
Option B: Place in a preheated Oven set at 350 degrees Farenheight for 1-2 Hours
Option C: Place in Dishwasher for one full wash and heated dry cycle. (For you lucky devils that have them!)

Wait for your Pot to completely cool before placing food inside to avoid uneven cooking.

Step #3 Decide on The Offering:
You can cook just about any type of cake or bread in a Terra-cotta pot, including the recipes featured at wesir.org. Doing a search on-line for flowerpot baking, or Terra-cotta Baking on the Internet will bring you many new exciting recipes for your Akhu to try! Or you may want to do something traditionally Kemetic, or even Traditional in your Family as a sentimental gesture towards your Akhu. Just follow the specifications and instructions of your Chosen Recipe. (Such as size of baking container, and time to be baked and temperature.)

Step #4 Preparing the food!
To prevent sticky Situations, You will also want to Grease and flour the Pot for baking breads and cakes, (which was the traditional offering in Ancient Egypt!)Even if your bread/cake recipe does not call for it, Grease and flour your pot! Terra-cotta is very pourous, and can cause some things to stick. Be careful when you grease your pot to only grease the inside, Oils on the outside of the pot will discolor it and may make it difficult to decorate later. A paper towel wrapped around the pot will prevent most butter fingerprints on the outside

To Avoid Messes:
For Cakes or Liquid batters you can easily stop your mixture from leaking out the Bottom Drainage hold by plugging it with a Cookie (such as a Vanilla Wafer or Oreo) and a little butter or Margarine liberally applied to act as a glue. Also, before baking, Place your Mixture filled Pot onto a Baking sheet, to prevent any unexpected leaks or breakage (Just in the event something goes wrong)

Djedet has filled her 9"pot with Wosret's Easy beer bread recipe, sprinkled on some caraway seeds for Ancient Egyptian flavor, and has placed it on a cooking sheet before it goes in the oven!

More Safety:
Once your dish is done baking, Use caution when handling the Pot, it will be very hot. Let it cool all the way before moving on to the Decoration steps, The "ping" sounds it makes as the Pottery cools is Normal!

you didn't think it worked, did you?

Decorating:
When your Dish is baked or completed, now comes the part that really makes it special. First wrap the top of your bread/cake with Saran wrap or Foil to protect it (making sure first that it is completely cooled). and then... Go to town! Use only Nontoxic Permanent Materials (crayons, Non toxic Markers, Non toxic paints Etc.) You can use stamps, Paints, Paper and Elmers glue, stencils, crayons anything you want as long as it is NON TOXIC!

Write the name(s) of the Akh(u) you are making the offering to, and a letter to them (much like Kemet.org's Virtual Abdju) you may want to include prayers, or other sentimental words as well. Sharpies are excellent Non-toxic permanent markers for writing prayers....

The Pot I made for Wesir contains a formal prayer, but ones made for ancestors contained a personal note
(not pictured)

Don't worry if you run out of room, write on the bottom! The Ancients did it all the time (and so did I!)

Decorate as you wish. When when it is done, Make your Offering

When your pot is empty, you may clean it, and then use it for a plant or a container in your shrine. :)

This will be your personal expression to Wesir or your Akhu! Keep in mind that the world is your oyster, A sterilized pot can be used to hold store bought food if you're not the baking type. You can write or say anything on your pot that you want. Remember *Any* Cake or bread recipe works, it can be a cake mix, or a home made recipe! be creative and have fun!

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