The following thesis analyses a dataset of 436 Egyptian votive stelae dating to the Ramesside period (1295-1069 ВСЕ), from six sites: Deir el Medina at Thebes (264 stelae), non-Deir el Medina stelae (55) from the Theban area, Abu Simbel (21 stelae) and Wadi es-Sebua (15 stelae) in Lower Nubia, Qantir/Pi-Ramesses in the eastern Delta (74 stelae) and Zawiyet Umm el-Rakham (7 stelae) in the Libyan desert. The stelae were drawn from published catalogues of museum collections, excavation reports, individual publications, and photographs supplied by institutions and researchers where no published image existed. The thesis presents the votive stelae as the end result of defined social practices, exploring the role of votive stelae as social artifacts which, through image, text and materiality, are active agents in transmitting information on individual and group social status and identity, normative social structure, and alternate social organisation. The stelae are analysed according to the iconographie content, status- or function-related information (title and/or clothing of the dedicator), and original location, or context, of the stela. These elements are understood to provide information on the social context for the utilisation of stelae in Ramesside Egypt. Central to the thesis is a reading of the representations as coded references to actual events, or practices. The examination requires an analysis of the social and representational conventions within which the stelae and their representations were created. The methodology is initially tested against the core dataset of Deir el Medina stelae, followed by a comparative analysis of the non-Deir el Medina stelae from Thebes, and the remaining four geographically distant sites. The thesis reveals the form, use and production of votive stelae are related to royal activity and sanctions, and promulgate the shifting central ideology and structure. The votive stelae can also, when the iconography is decoded, be linked to specific events, illuminating the local social milieu of the communities studied, and their internal social organisation.

This thesis is an investigation into self-definition during two contrasting periods in Egypt's past. It consists of five chapters, plus a conclusion. Chapter I introduces the thesis, putting the topic into its historiographical background, and gives it a theoretical framework. The thesis then falls into two sections, which mirror each other, using the same types of source material. First, the New Kingdom (1550-1070 BCE) is investigated, and then the Coptic period (fourth to ninth centuries CE). Chapter2 assesses New Kingdom textual sources, in particular letters. Statements of self made by different members of the literate society are examined. The inconsistencies within the source material are highlighted, as is a high degree of conformity. In Chapter 3, New Kingdom Memphis is investigated. The impact of official ideologies on the Memphite population is assessed, as witnessed by the temple complexes, a royal palace, the harbour areas, a residential location( Kom el Rabi'a) and the pyramid fields. In Chapter 4, it is seen that a variety of foci could be appealed to by a literate Egyptian seeking to define her/himself in Coptic Egypt. As in Chapter 2, letters are the focus of study, revealing a range of opinions. Chapter 5 tests the rigid self-definition seen in the writings of the Christian hierarchy against the urban site of Coptic Thebes. An analysis is made of the intensive occupation which occurred in the floodplain and the surrounding desert. In conclusion, a comparison is drawn between New Kingdom and Coptic Egypt, and the validity of ideological statements concerning self-definition is considered.

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The Battle of Kadesh fought between the Hittites and Egyptians in Syria is one of the biggest chariot battles in ancient Near Eastern history. Previous research has shown that the significance of the Battle of Kadesh is derived predominately from a tactical and strategic level. This dissertation introduces the idea that although this is a tactical battle, its overall importance comes from applying a holistic approach, in particular, investigating the causes and consequences, alongside the battle. By extending prior work on tactics and strategy to include an identified cause, the Zannanza Affair, and the consequences, the Treaty of Kadesh and the Royal Marriages it makes allowances for a wider evaluation of the battle. Attention is paid to textual, iconographical and archaeological sources to gain a better understanding of the battle. The findings provide support for the argument that the murder of the Hittite prince in the Zannanza Affair led to crucial military innovations and operational changes adopted by the Hittites and Egyptians, which impacted how they fought on the battlefield. While a considerable amount of research has been done on the Hittite and Egyptian military organisations, the role of the elite units on the battlefield has largely not been explored. The Treaty of Kadesh and the Royal Marriages were a critical turning point in Hittite-Egyptian relations offering a strong alliance and unprecedented peace in the ancient Near East. Traditionally, the Battle of Kadesh has been viewed as a tactical battle. However, for further advances, the contribution of this study prompts a rethinking of the latter by placing the operational details of the battle in a broader context encouraging new research on the social, cultural and political aspects, which is crucial for the understanding of the importance of the Battle of Kadesh, on and off the battlefield. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / M. A. (Ancient Near Eastern Studies)