ancient egyptian archaeology quiz 2

duat

• liminal realm of the dead & rebirth

• where the judgement hall is; otw to Field of Reeds

tomb painting - foreign chiefs bring gold for temple of Amun

rulers of foreign lands

Ammit/Ammut

• “devourer of the dead” / “eater of hearts”

• demon/deity that would eat the hearts of those not deemed worthy of afterlife during the weighing of the heart ceremony

IMAGE 4/28 p.51

field of reeds

paradise afterlife for those deemed worthy

muu dancers

• “marsh dwellers”

• danced at threshold of the tomb during funerary ceremonies

• helped to escort deceased into afterlife

ba

• personality/individuality

• leaves body by day, returns at night

ka

• life force - distinguishes living from dead

• needs nourishment after death

  • stays near tomb after death to receive offerings

akh

• spirit/immortal self

• formed when ka & ba reunite thru funerary rites

ren

• name/identity

• remembrance of name crucial for continued existence

shuyet (shut)

• shadow; part of person/soul

• invoked for protection/breaking curses

shabti statue

• substitutes for deceased

• work for deceased in afterlife

• appear in MK, common in NK

pyramid texts

• OK stone texts for king’s only

• symbolize:

  • protection of king

  • ascension to the sky

• reunite the ka & ba

coffin texts

• MK wood texts for royals & nobles

• copied inside & outside coffin

• ‘guidebooks’ to the underworld

books of the dead

• NK papyrus afterlife books (replacing coffin texts)

• for anyone that could afford

• mass produced, personalized

weighing of the heart ceremony

• determines who is worthy of the afterlife

  • field of reeds or oblivion

• occurs in judgement hall in duat

Osiris

• king of underworld

• exemplifies rebirth thru death

Nephthys

• “sacred enclosure”

• represents mourning, boundaries, protection

Isis

• “throne”

• represents magic, motherhood, rebirth, protection

natron

• divine salt used in mummification process

canopic jars - “four sons of horus”

• 4 jars where organs removed & stored to preserve function for afterlife

  • Hapi

  • Duamutef

  • Qebehsenuef

  • Imsety

canopic jars - Hapi

form: baboon

protects: lungs

canopic jars - Duamutef

form: jackal

protects: stomach

canopic jars - Qebehsenuef

form: falcon

protects: intestines

canopic jars - Imsety

form: human

protects: liver

opening of the mouth

ritual performed to restore deceased’s senses in the afterlife

• performed by priest dressed like Anubis

• started in OK

coffin

container that directly holds body of deceased

sarcophagus

container holding the coffin; decorated w inscriptions/spells

animal mummy

can be…

• food for deceased

• pets of deceased

• cult animals

• votive offerings (to god)

nine bows

an expression of totality of egypt’s enemies

prisoner tiles

• tiles depicting bound foreign enemies

• put in floors & thresholds to “step on them” symbolizing egypt’s power

• subdues isfet

Hyksos

• foreign rulers in avaris of 15th dynasty (end of MK)

• introduced things like horses, chariots composite bows

• different than typical egyptian rule

• rule ended w rebellion → hyksos fled or absorbed

nubian pyramids

• inspired by egyptian pyramids but w unique nubian style

• smaller & steeper

• tombs for kings, queens, elites

nubian forts

MK forts along nile to…

• control trade routes

• monitor southern border

• project powerful image

why did egypt want to control nubia?

GOLD (& other resources)

plains forts

• earliest fort type across river from nubian settlements

• population: soldiers & families

barrack forts

• smaller & built later

• population: soldiers only

battle of Kadesh

• Ramesses II (egypt) vs. Muwatalli I (Hittites)

• sources: visual scenes, letters, records, poem

• outcome: Hittite claims to have won

  • Kadesh peace treaty: less about peace, more abt mutual benefit & stability

sea peoples

enemy coalition of different ethnic groups

• foreign invaders from the west

amarna letters

correspondences between egypt and foreign rulers

• demonstrate diplomacy, brotherhood, threats, flattery, begging

organic towns

• unplanned growth - advantageous location

• long-term occupation

• capital cities

• poorly preserved

artificial towns

• state planned

• purpose-specific

• short lived

• pyramid towns, workmen’s villages, fortresses

  • 1 capital city: amarna

• better preserved

Avaris

• Hyksos capital city

• best known city w large foreign pop

Pi-Ramesses

• functional capital during 19-20th dynasty

• built partially over avaris

Amarna

best preserved egyptian capital/city

Thebes

• “city of the scepter” - upper egypt

• religious center of egypt

Memphis

• capital of OK - lower egypt

• center of trade & commerce

• administrative core

Kerma

nubian based empire, also name of culture

Wawat

lower nubia

Kushite kings (25th dynasty)

foreign rulers that restored egyptian tradition after Hyksos rule

• adopted egyptian religion & kingship

Kush

formed from Kerma culture

• capital at napata & meroe

• upper nubia

what did egyptians believe happened after death?

soul entered duat and hall of judgement

→ weighing of the heart

→ if worthy soul enters field of reeds

→ when ka & ba reunited, akh formed

who “got in” to the afterlife?

• OK: only kings (pyramid texts)

• MK: elites & kings (coffin texts)

• NK: anyone who could afford books of dead

why was mummification important? (5)

1. preservation of body for ba, ka, akh

2. prep for rebirth then eternal life

3. prevent decay

4. transform deceased into divine being

5. purify & sanctify

how did mummification relate to ka, ba, & akh?

• ka & ba needed to recognize body in afterlife

• akh was the eternal spirit that was formed when ka & ba were reunited

  • only if body preserved & funerary rites completed

egypt vs. outside world

egypt: civilization, maat, people

outside: chaos, isfet, barbarians

how did the egyptian view of foreigners change over time?

• OK: foreigners distant, inferior

• MK: grew concerned about borders → nubian forts

• NK: foreigners enemies to be conquered or to bear tribute

view of foreigners: maat vs. isfet

maat: foreigners bring tribute to king in elite tombs

isfet: foreigners in royal imagery subdued/conquered

what evidence of foreigners do we have?

• war records

• imagery

• amarna letters

why did egypt go to war? (5)

conquest:

• goods

• incense

• wood

• people

• political control

Give an example of a New Kingdom war. What was the outcome?

battle of Megiddo:

• Thutmose III vs. Canaanite kings

  • source: annals of Thutmose III

• outcome: Canaanite kings surrendered

• => created network where rulers of Canaan owed tribute & loyalty to egypt

urban archaeology

material remains of daily life in ancient cities

• studies where and how people lived, worked, & interacted

why do we lack urban archaeology?

• building materials of homes weren’t long lasting

• cities were built over

• archaeologists mostly focused on monumental buildings

what do towns like Lahun contribute to our understanding of daily life?

shows how urban housing and towns were designed

pyramid building ceremony

1. stretching the cord

2. scattering gypsum powder

3. hacking the earth

4. molding first brick

5. dedicating temple to its lord

6. presenting an offering

the great sphinx

• oldest known monumental structure in egypt

• protector of necropolis/pyramids

tomb

houses for the dead: soul & all earthly possessions

• name written all over

new kingdom royal tombs

• hidden tombs in valley of the kings

  • mortuary temple separate

• private afterlife journey

• tomb = engine for rebirth

old kingdom royal tombs

• pyramid burial

  • mortuary temple included

pyramid symbolism

sun’s rays

old kingdom elite tombs

• mastabas

• house of eternity: focus on continuing service to king in afterlife

new kingdom elite tombs

• not hidden; chapels above ground, coffin below

• decorated

  • book of the dead & afterlife texts

new kingdom royal mortuary temples

• away from tomb; near nile

• purpose: glorify king & gods

  • often told life story of king/queen

Deir el-Medina

workers’ village at Thebes

• gives insight into everyday life of artisans