Religious Practice and Cultural Construction of Animal Worship in Egypt from the Early Dynastic to the New Kingdom: Ritual Forms, Material Display, Historical Development (Archaeopress Egyptology, 36)

Religious Practice and Cultural Construction of Animal Worship in Egypt from the Early Dynastic to the New Kingdom presents an articulated historical interpretation of Egyptian 'animal worship' - intended as a segment of religious practice focused on the mobilisation of selected animals within strategically designed ritual contexts - from the Early Dynastic to the New Kingdom, and offers a new understanding of its chronological development through a fresh review of pertinent archaeological and textual data. The goal is twofold: (1) to re-conceptualise the notion of 'animal worship' on firm theoretical and material bases, reassessing its heuristic value as a tool for analysis; (2) to demonstrate, accordingly, that 'animal worship' did not represent a late degeneration of traditional religion, socially (popular cult) and thematically (animal mummies and burials) restricted, but a complex domain of religious practice with a longer history and a larger variety of configurations than usually assumed.ISBN : 9781789698213 Cover Contents page Preface and Acknowledgements Dedication Abbreviations List of Figures List of Tables Introducing Animal Worship 1.1 Animal worship and ancient Egyptian religion: articulation of the problem 1.2 Thesis, goals, and limitations of the present study 1.3 History of research and status quaestionis 1.3.1 The memory-horizon: the role of literary tradition 1.3.2 The research-horizon: problems and perspectives 1.3.3 Animal worship: the ‘Standard Model’ Figure 1.1. Diagram illustrating the conceptual background of the Egyptological ‘Standard Model’ of Egyptian ‘animal worship’. Table 1.1. ‘Animal worship’ and Egyptian religion according to the ‘Standard Model’. Figure 1.2. Historical development of ‘animal worship’ according to the ‘Standard Model’. Slightly modified from Colonna 2017: Figure 1. 1.4 Theory and methodology 1.4.1 The problem of a definition and the definition of a problem 1.4.2 The practical dimension: religious practice and ritual 1.4.3 The historical dimension: display and decorum 1.4.4 ‘Animal worship’: designing an Alternative Model Figure 1.3. Diagram illustrating the conceptual background of the ‘Alternative Model’. Figure 1.1. Diagram illustrating the conceptual background of the Egyptological ‘Standard Model’ of Egyptian ‘animal worship’. Figure 1.2. Historical development of ‘animal worship’ according to the ‘Standard Model’. Slightly modified from Colonna 2017: Figure 1. Figure 1.3. Diagram illustrating the conceptual background of the ‘Alternative Model’. Part IPresenting the Evidence Part IPresenting the Evidence Figure 2.1. Sealing from Tomb 414, Tarkhan (Cairo JE 43798). After Petrie 1913: pl. II.4. The Early Dynastic 2.1 Royal evidence Figure 2.1. Sealing from Tomb 414, Tarkhan (Cairo JE 43798). After Petrie 1913: pl. II.4. Figure 2.2. Inscription on the Michailides Bowl. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Simpson 1957: fig. 2). Figure 2.3. Wooden label of king Aha from Umm el-Qa‘ab B18/19 (Philadelphia Penn Museum E9396). After Petrie 1901: pl. X.2. Figure 2.4. Sealing from Tomb 3035, Saqqara. After Emery 1938: fig. 26. Figure 2.5. Painted limestone ostracon from Tomb 3035, Saqqara (Cairo JE 70149). Photo by A. Colonna. Figure 2.6. Ivory label of king Den from Umm el-Qa‘ab T. After Petrie 1901: pl. VII.8. Figure 2.7. Wooden label of king Qaa from Umm el-Qa‘ab Q (Ab K 1440). Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli. 2.2 Titles and personal names Table 2.1. Early Dynastic Tiernamen 2.3 The Classical tradition 2.4 Summary Figure 2.2. Inscription on the Michailides Bowl. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Simpson 1957: fig. 2). Figure 2.3. Wooden label of king Aha from Umm el-Qa‘ab B18/19 (Philadelphia Penn Museum E9396). After Petrie 1901: pl. X.2. Figure 2.4. Sealing from Tomb 3035, Saqqara. After Emery 1938: fig. 26. Figure 2.5. Painted limestone ostracon from Tomb 3035, Saqqara (Cairo JE 70149). Photo by A. Colonna. Figure 2.6. Ivory label of king Den from Umm el-Qa‘ab T. After Petrie 1901: pl. VII.8. Figure 2.7. Wooden label of king Qaa from Umm el-Qa‘ab Q (Ab K 1440). Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli. The Old Kingdom 3.1 Royal and temple evidence Figure 3.1a. Relief from the Valley Temple of the Snefru’s bent pyramid, Dashur. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Fakhry 1961, fig. 96). Figure 3.1b. Relief from the Valley Temple of the Snefru’s bent pyramid, Dashur. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Schott 1972, 32). Figure 3.2a. Block from the pyramid temple of Sahura, Abusir. After Borchardt 1913, 47. Figure 3.2b. Fragments from the mortuary temple of Unas, Saqqara. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Ćwiek 2003: fig. 76). Figure 3.3. Fragments from the solar temple of Niuserra, Abu Ghurob: a: visit to the chapel of the Apis bull (fr. no. 251); b: procession (fr. no. 252); c: inscription fragment (fr. no. 255). After von Bissing-Kees 1928, pl. 15. Figure 3.4. Hypothetical sequence of episodes according to Kees’ restoration of fragments 251, 255, 255. Figure 3.5. ‘Scene of the pelicans’ (Berlin, ÄM 20037) from the so-called ‘Room of the Seasons’, sun-temple of Niuserra, Abu Ghurob. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli. 3.2 Private inscriptions: titles and biographies Table 3.1. Old Kingdom officials and titles related to individual animals. Table 3.2. Old Kingdom officials and titles related to multiple animals. 3.2.1 Early Old Kingdom (3rd-4th dynasties) 3.2.2 Late Old Kingdom – Early First Intermediate Period (5th-9th dynasties) 3.3 Personal names 3.4 Funerary domains Table 3.3. Old Kingdom personal names incorporating Hp (‘Apis’). Table 3.4. Old Kingdom personal names incorporating Tntt (‘Tjentet-cow[s]). Table 3.5. Old Kingdom personal names incorporating bA (‘sacred ram’). Table 3.6. List of domains mentioning individual animal agencies. 3.5 Pyramid Texts 3.6 Architectural evidence 3.7 Summary Figure 3.1a. Relief from the Valley Temple of the Snefru’s bent pyramid, Dashur. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Fakhry 1961, fig. 96). Figure 3.1b. Relief from the Valley Temple of the Snefru’s bent pyramid, Dashur. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Schott 1972, 32). Figure 3.2a. Block from the pyramid temple of Sahura, Abusir. After Borchardt 1913, 47. Figure 3.2b. Fragments from the mortuary temple of Unas, Saqqara. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Ćwiek 2003: fig. 76). Figure 3.3. Fragments from the solar temple of Niuserra, Abu Ghurob: a: visit to the chapel of the Apis bull (fr. no. 251); b: procession (fr. no. 252); c: inscription fragment (fr. no. 255). After von Bissing-Kees 1928, pl. 15. Figure 3.4. Hypothetical sequence of episodes according to Kees’ restoration of fragments 251, 255, 255. Figure 3.5. ‘Scene of the pelicans’ (Berlin, ÄM 20037) from the so-called ‘Room of the Seasons’, sun-temple of Niuserra, Abu Ghurob. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli. From the First Intermediate Period to the Middle Kingdom 4.1 Titles 4.2 Private inscriptions 4.3 Personal names 4.4 Coffin Texts 4.5 Summary Figure 4.1. Passage of the biography of Henqu II from Tomb N67, Deir el-Gebrawi. After Davies 1902: pl. XXIV. Figure 4.2. Relief Relief scene from the funerary chapel (B1) of Senbi, Meir. After Blackman 1914, pl. XI. Fig. 4.3 Relief scene from the tomb Ukh-hotep son of Senbi (B2), Meir. After Blackman 1915, pl. XV. The New Kingdom 5.1 The Apis bull at Memphis 5.1.1 The Serapeum during the New Kingdom Figure 5.3 Wall painting from Tomb D (Horemheb) showing the Apis bull and the four sons of Horus, Saqqara. After Mariette 1857: pl. 3. Figure 5.4. Wall painting from Tomb G (Ramses II) showing the king and prince Khaemwaset before Apis. After Mariette 1857: pl. 8. Table 5.1. Conspectus of the New Kingdom burials of the Apis bulls (‘Isolated Tombs’ and ‘Lessere Vaults’). Table 5.2 Main epithets and forms of predication of the Apis bull attested on the inscribed material from the New Kingdom tombs of the Serapeum. Figure 5.1. One of the New Kingdom ‘Isolated Tomb’ as shown in Mariette’s reconstruction. After Mariette 1882: 117, fig. 1. Figure 5.2 Mariettes’s drawing of the Greater Vaults of the Serapeum. After Mariette 1882: 119, fig. 3. 5.1.2 The stelae of the Serapeum Table 5.3. Conspectus of the Apis stelae from the New Kingdom tombs of the Serapeum. Figure 5.5. Relief from the Red Chapel of Hatshepsut showing the ‘Running of the Apis bull’. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli. 5.1.3 Other attestations 5.2 The Mnevis bull at Heliopolis 5.2.1 The New Kingdom necropolis of the Mnevis bull Table 5.4. Conspectus of the New Kingdom burials of the Mnevis bull. Table 5.5. Main epithets and forms of predication of the Mnevis bull attested on the inscribed material from the New Kingdom tombs of Arab el-Tawil. Figure 5.6. Detail of the donation stela of Thutmosis III (Cairo JE 65830), Heliopolis (?). Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Moursi 1987: abb. 4, taf. 9.4). Figure 5.7. Stela München ÄS 14000, acquired in Cairo. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Moursi 1983: abb. 2, taf. VI). 5.2.2 The stelae of the Mnevis bull Table 5.6. Conspectus of the Mnevis stelae from New Kingdom Heliopolis. 5.2.3 Other attestations 5.3 The ‘Fish-stelae’ from Mendes Figure 5.8. Fish stela (Field No. F 137+169), Mendes. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Redford 2004: pl. XXIX, CAT#425). Figure 5.9. Fish stela (Field No. Q 8), Mendes. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Redford 2004: pl. XXIX#450). 5.4 The fish necropolis at Gurob 5.5 The ‘Salakhana Trove’ at Asyut Figure 5.10. Ramesside stela Berlin 19594, Asyut. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Durisch 1993: fig. 2). Figure 5.12. Ramesside stela Louvre AF 6949, Asyut. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Durisch 1993: fig. 1). Figure 5.11. Ramesside stela BM 1430, Asyut. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Durisch 1993: fig. 6). 5.6 Bulls in the Theban region 5.6.1 The Buchis bull at Armant 5.6.2 The ‘White bull’ of the Min festival 5.7 The ‘Crocodile-stelae’ from Sumenu Figure 5.13. Ramesside stela from Al Mahamid Qibli. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Bakry 1971: taf. XXVIIb). Figure 5.14. Ramesside stela dedicated to Sobek Lord of Sumenu, unknown provenance. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Fazzini 1972: fig. 23). 5.8 The inscribed jar fragment Munich Ä 1383 Figure 5.1. One of the New Kingdom ‘Isolated Tomb’ as shown in Mariette’s reconstruction. After Mariette 1882: 117, fig. 1. Figure 5.2 Mariettes’s drawing of the Greater Vaults of the Serapeum. After Mariette 1882: 119, fig. 3. Figure 5.3 Wall painting from Tomb D (Horemheb) showing the Apis bull and the four sons of Horus, Saqqara. After Mariette 1857: pl. 3. Figure 5.4. Wall painting from Tomb G (Ramses II) showing the king and prince Khaemwaset before Apis. After Mariette 1857: pl. 8. Figure 5.5. Relief from the Red Chapel of Hatshepsut showing the ‘Running of the Apis bull’. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli. Figure 5.6. Detail of the donation stela of Thutmosis III (Cairo JE 65830), Heliopolis (?). Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Moursi 1987: abb. 4, taf. 9.4). Figure 5.7. Stela München ÄS 14000, acquired in Cairo. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Moursi 1983: abb. 2, taf. VI). Figure 5.8. Fish stela (Field No. F 137+169), Mendes. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Redford 2004: pl. XXIX, CAT#425). Figure 5.9. Fish stela (Field No. Q 8), Mendes. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Redford 2004: pl. XXIX#450). Figure 5.10. Ramesside stela Berlin 19594, Asyut. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Durisch 1993: fig. 2). Figure 5.11. Ramesside stela BM 1430, Asyut. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Durisch 1993: fig. 6). Figure 5.12. Ramesside stela Louvre AF 6949, Asyut. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Durisch 1993: fig. 1). Figure 5.13. Ramesside stela from Al Mahamid Qibli. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Bakry 1971: taf. XXVIIb). Figure 5.14. Ramesside stela dedicated to Sobek Lord of Sumenu, unknown provenance. Graphic elaboration by F. Iannarilli (after Fazzini 1972: fig. 23). Part IISynthesis and Reconstruction Modelling Animal Worship 6.1 Introduction: etic and emic Table 6.1. Categorisation of sacralised animals. 6.2 The etic perspective: single and multiple animals 6.3 The emic perspective: Egyptian concepts and modes of predication 6.4 The sacralisation of the animals: a ritual and semantic process 6.5 Reconfiguring ‘animal worship’: practice, display, history 6.5.1 Rethinking ‘animal worship’: conceptual analysis 6.5.1.1 Animals Table 6.2. The semantic framework of the Egyptian category nTr and its hierarchical structure. 6.5.1.2 Actions Table 6.3. Contexts of ‘animal worship’ as religious practice. Table 6.4. ‘Animal worship’ as an integrated arena of religious practice between state and non-state religion. 6.5.1.3 Meaning and interpretation 6.5.2 Reconstructing ‘animal worship’: historical synthesis Table 6.5. The three macro-phases of ‘animal worship’ and their distinctive material configurations. Figure 6.1. Historical development of ‘animal worship’ according to the ‘Alternative Model’. Slightly modified from Colonna 2017: Figure 2. 6.6 Conclusions Figure 6.1. Historical development of ‘animal worship’ according to the ‘Alternative Model’. Slightly modified from Colonna 2017: Figure 2. Bibliography Index Back cover