The Egyptian religion viewed the whole world as divine and inhabited by both gods and men. Concepts such as death was therefore explained through myths. The ancient society feared death but desired an eternal life. The Egyptians saw death as a physical dismemberment of the body as had happened in the myth of Osiris when death was first introduced to the world. Osiris functioned as a prototype for all men as he had overcome death by finding a new existence in the netherworld. He was not viewed as a resurrected deity but as a god who had found a way to live forever after death. Funerary texts were developed to help the Egyptians navigate the netherworld, overcome trials and dangers, and to become Osiris. These were an extensive corpus of texts which was placed in the grave with the deceased. By analyzing the New Kingdom’s Book of the Dead the Egyptians’ fear of death can be clearly interpreted in the spells which the book contains. In the Book of the Dead there are 189 spells which functions to secure an eternal life after death by protecting the dead from a number of horrible fates. The book depicts a number of dangerous animals and beings in the netherworld which the spells would offer protection from. There are also incantations for things taken for granted on earth such as breathing, walking upright, not eating faeces or drinking urine. The need to formulate these spells shows an underlying fear of death, and deliverance came by using the Book of the Dead. To preserve the body of the deceased in the grave was of the outermost importance since eternal life could only be achieved if the remains worked as a link between the living world and the land of the dead. That is why the Egyptians developed such a complex funerary ritual and mummified the remains, preserving it forever. Fear of death is derived from the descriptions of it as an isolation, total destruction, dismemberment, and decomposition. The purpose of the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead was to counteract this fate as it assured the deceased of an eternal life.

Thesis (M. A.)--Texas A&M University, 2005. / "Major Subject: Anthropology" Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created on Apr. 27, 2007.) Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

This thesis provides a detailed interpretation of three key texts described in Egyptological research as "coronation inscriptions:" the Historical Inscription of Hatshepsut, Thutmose III's Texte de la jeunesse, and Horemheb's Turin inscription. Similarities and differences between these texts, as well as other sources, both textual and pictorial, are discussed. A clear terminology is laid out, distinguishing between accession (the royal heir becoming king at the death of their predecessor), crowning (the action of placing the crowns on the new king's head), and coronation ceremony (following the accession by some time on which occasion the new ruler would have been bestowed with the crowns and regalia of his office, perhaps for the first time). The main aim of this thesis is to determine whether it would be accurate to label the discussed texts as coronation inscriptions and, if not, how they can best be described. It is determined that the evidence supports the earlier conclusion reached by Redford, that it would be incorrect to speak of a “coronation ceremony” in the dynastic period, for new kings would have been crowned at their accessions in a palace setting, soon after the death of their predecessors, this followed some time later by a public “appearance ceremony” in a temple festival setting. While it is determined that Thutmose III's inscription describes the time when kingship was predicted to him, it is concluded that the Hatshepsut and Horemheb texts narrate exceptional events on which occasion their accessions in a palace and public "appearance ceremonies" intersected.

This thesis studies how three Greek writers differentiate between each other in their texts about ancient Egypt. The three writers included in this thesis are Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus and Plutarch. Their texts describe Egypt and its many aspects, and the names of their texts are as following; Histories and Library of History by Herodotus and Diodorus, and De Herodoti malignitate, De Iside et Osiride and Placita Philosophorum by Plutarch.        This thesis is comparing these writers with each other using two case studies; The Nile and Egyptian cleanness for their gods. The case studies were chosen to limit this thesis upon two aspects of Egypt that the writers should have encountered if they went to Egypt. This brings a theory to light; if the writers' texts are truthfully representing Egypt or if their texts are nothing but literature constructions. This thesis is also looking at how Egyptians are portrayed by the writers with use of the theory the other.        By reading the texts and modern literature about the writers a conclusion is made. The writers are different from each other in their descriptions of Egypt. Herodotus and Diodorus view Egypt as a wonderful land with a wonderful culture. Plutarch is also portraying Egypt with respect as Herodotus and Diodorus but does at the same time view Egypt with a more negative view. This is because Plutarch believes that the Greek culture is the foremost culture in the world.        A problem with all the writers’ texts is based upon that they did not speak ancient Egyptian and could therefore not make use of all the sources presented to them. Herodotus is viewed to not even have visited Egypt. Their texts are to be looked at with a grain of salt even though they clearly tried to represent Egypt as well as they could in their texts. Their texts are to be view as a literature construction simply because the writers did not understand Egyptian and therefore relied on earlier texts about Egypt made in Greek.

La « dissimilation graphique » est une particularité récurrente des écritures égyptiennes, en particulier à l’Ancien Empire (IIIe-VIe dynasties, env. 2700/2150 av. J. C.). À cette époque, la pluralité (aussi bien grammaticale que lexicale) était indiquée par le triplement des sémogrammes, signes investis d’une valeur sémantique et censés permettre la compréhension des lexèmes. De ce fait, si les idéogrammes et classificateurs étaient d’ordinaire répétés trois fois à l’identique, la « dissimilation » désigne les occurrences dans lesquelles ces trois signes sont distincts. Par exemple, si un mot comme bAk.w, « serviteurs », est traditionnellement accompagné de trois hommes assis, l’un d’entre eux pourra être remplacé par une femme en cas de dissimilation. De même, si mHy.t, « poissons », comprend habituellement trois poissons de même espèce, sa version dissimilée offrira trois espèces différentes. Cette thèse se donne pour objectif d’analyser de façon systématique la dissimilation graphique, majoritairement attestée dans les inscriptions hiéroglyphes des tombes royales et privées, mais également dans certains documents hiératiques. À travers cette étude, les raisons supposées de l’existence de la dissimilation graphique sont exposées. En conséquence, la classification égyptienne se voit placée sous de nouveaux éclairages. De plus, par l’examen d’un nombre important de textes égyptiens de l’Ancien Empire, de nouvelles analyses des fonctions des signes qui les composent seront proposées afin d’éclaircir certaines zones d’ombres de la linguistique égyptologique. / The peculiarity called “dissimilation graphique” is recurrent in Egyptian writing systems, particularly during Old Kingdom (Dyn. III-VI, ca. 2700-2150 BC). At this time, plurality (grammatical and lexical) is indicated by the threefold of semograms, signs that have a semantic value and allow to understand the lexemes. Thus, if ideograms and classifiers are ordinary reproduced three times identically, “dissimilation” refers to occurrences where these three signs are different. For example, if bAk.w, “servants”, is usually followed by three men, in case of dissimilation, one of them can be replaced by a woman. In the same way, if mHy.t, “fish”, habitually takes three identical fish, a dissimilated version will show three different species. This Ph.D Thesis aims to analyse in a systematic way the process of “dissimilation graphique”, mostly found in hieroglyphic inscriptions of royal and private tombs, but also in some hieratic documents. Through this study, the supposed reasons of dissimilation are exposed. Consequently, Egyptian classification is newly enlightened. Moreover, in examining a great number of Old Kingdom texts, new analysis of the signs functions are proposed to clarify some unclear elements of egyptological Linguistics.

The aim of this work is to familiarize the reader more closely with the issue of male circumcision in ancient Egypt and ancient Israel, and subsequently also in Judaism, and to outline how the theme of Jewish circumcision was adapted by Christianity. It describes the custom of male circumcision in ancient Egypt using pictorial and textual evidence, including findings on mummies. It looks for similarities and differences between male circumcision in ancient Egypt and in Judaism, in which it represents one of the most important rituals, and a sign of belonging to God and the nation. Attention is also given to the significant transformation in Christianity to the new initiation ritual of baptism, and opinions damning circumcision. Biblical themes, including the mystery of Jesus' circumcision and Christ's crucifixion, are reflected in European visual art, which is discussed in the final part of the work. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

The work deals with landing facilities in ancient Egypt, both in the Nile Valley and in coastal areas. The aim has been to collect and interpret written, iconographic and archaeological evidence from the Early Dynastic to the Late Periods. The material is presented chronologically and individual groups of sources are arranged by type (written, archaeological and iconographic). The knowledge thus obtained has then been used to form a comprehensive overview of the development, function, importance and organization of harbour/port facilities in ancient Egypt. The main problem of the study of landing facilities in ancient Egypt lies in the extreme fragmentation of sources which makes it impossible to provide a continuous picture of the development of the subject and which raises as many questions as answers. The best preserved group of sources is written evidence, followed by information obtained by archaeology. The least informative is iconographic evidence. Although the majority of these sources are relatively straightforward to interpret, there are cases where interpretation is speculative. A fundamental question has arisen during this study. It is the relationship of the ancient Egyptians themselves to the facilities which undoubtedly played a significant role in the life of the inhabitants of the...

This essay is about women in ancient Egypt and their relation to aging and why they are rarely depicted other than beautiful and young, when it was a possibility for men to be depicted old in ancient Egypt. Looking at the examples in existence of depictions of aging in women, following questions will be discussed. How is a woman with signs of aging depicted and what does these characteristics convey to the viewer? By looking at tomb paintings and statues showing signs of age, these questions will be discussed and put in context in hope of gaining a better understanding of how female age was perceived in ancient Egypt. The main conclusion drawn from this study is that signs of aging in ancient Egypt had a pronounced symbolic value. In addition to this, there is no direct answer why the signs of aging on women were depicted as they were, but there are some speculations why a woman is portrayed older and why she is not.

This thesis examines of the religious and philosophical origins of racism, arguing that anti-black, anti-African racism has its origins in the biblical account of the ancient Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and the events recounted in the Hebrew scriptures. It begins with an examination of the nature of racism itself, considering how the contemporary experience of and scholarship about racism can illuminate the search for racism’s historical origins. Contemporary experience has taught us that the functioning of racism often operates independently of the explicit racial prejudice coupled with power once thought to comprise it. This understanding has been reflected in scholarship that has examined how racism has functioned through hierarchical discourse, a concept which is defined and analyzed at some length. Following this examination comes a “genealogical” tracing of hierarchical discourse about African phenomena in the Western-dominated academy, leading to the centrality of the religious concept of idolatry in the making of racist accounts of African phenomena. Finally, the thesis concludes with a chapter on the mytho-historical exodus event, which gave birth to this concept of idolatry, analyzing the meaning and significance of the event in the making of racist discourse. This thesis demonstrates that a broader understanding of racism as an outgrowth of a worldview necessarily hostile to alternatives, when applied to the study of the historical development of racism, paints a far more convincing and complete portrait of the origins of racism, its historical development, and its present functioning than studies based on a more narrow understanding of racism. / African American Studies

Yes / Vast numbers of votive mummies were produced in Egypt during the Late Pharaonic, Ptolemaic, and Roman periods. Although millions remain in situ, many were removed and have ultimately entered museum collections around the world. There they have often languished as uncomfortable reminders of antiquarian practices with little information available to enhance their value as artefacts worthy of conservation or display. A multi-disciplinary research project, based at the University of Manchester, is currently redressing these issues. One recent aspect of this work has been the characterization of natural products employed in the mummification of votive bundles. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and the well-established biomarker approach, analysis of 24 samples from 17 mummy bundles has demonstrated the presence of oils/fats, natural waxes, petroleum products, resinous exudates, and essential oils. These results confirm the range of organic materials employed in embalming and augment our understanding of the treatment of votives. In this first systematic initiative of its kind, initial findings point to possible trends in body treatment practices in relation to chronology, geography, and changes in ideology which will be investigated as the study progresses. Detailed knowledge of the substances used on individual bundles has also served to enhance their value as display items and aid in their conservation. / RCB is supported by a PhD studentship from the Art and Humanities Research Council (43019R00209). L.M. and S.A.W. are supported by a Leverhulme Trust Research Project Award (RPG-2013-143).