Cultural Expression in the Old Kingdom Elite Tomb

By (author) Sasha Verma

Book cover: Cultural Expression in the Old Kingdom Elite Tomb

Extent: 300 pages

Publisher: Archaeopress Publishing

Subjects: Ancient Egypt

Series: Archaeopress Egyptology

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(June 2014)

ISBN: 9781905739783

8.27 x 11.69 inches

Price: $80.00

In stock

Cultural Expression in the Old Kingdom Elite Tomb considers the material and immaterial culture left behind by the ancient Egyptian elite in their tombs starting some 5000 years ago. The book intends to understand this culture reflecting the intention of the ancient Egyptians. All these intentions are now inaccessible to us, a paradox indeed.


Cultural Expression in the Old Kingdom Elite Tomb considers the material and immaterial culture left behind by the ancient Egyptian elite in their tombs starting some 5000 years ago. The book intends to understand this culture reflecting the ‘intention’ of the ancient Egyptians. All these ‘intentions’ are now inaccessible to us, a paradox indeed. The author starts by examining the ways in which other Egyptologists have understood tomb culture over the past century. Two main clusters of thought dominate the history of this topic, the literal and/or the symbolic meaning. The literal is a popular approach for the modern world; the symbolic encompasses the ancient Egyptians’ ideas about the meaning of life in this and the next world, and metaphysical perfection. The author uses a third mid-way course between the literal and the symbolic; i.e. an attempt to study the evidence in its reality and to search for common, universal factors which may be present and which may aid understanding. The result is an inventory, analysis and synthesis of the core components of Egyptian cultural dynamics as reflected in the iconographic evolution of Old Kingdom elite tombs. New horizons are opened up for describing and interpreting cultural data of many different levels (identity, ideology as social layers, and static versus dynamic as cultural mechanisms). The work goes beyond mainstream Egyptology, because the findings, apart from a specific Egyptian core, also have universal implications since comparison with other cultures shows comparable phenomena.

Explanation of Signs
Chapter 1: Introductory Remarks
Chapter 2: Methodology and Research Assumptions
Chapter 3: The Search for the Generics in the Material Aspects
Chapter 4: The Search for the Generics in the Immaterial Aspects
Chapter 5: Characterizing the Generics
Chapter 6: Criteria for the Selected Motifs
Chapter 7: The Carrying-Chair
Chapter 8: Officials' Records and Taking Account
Chapter 9: Mourning Motif
Chapter 10: Final Observations
Appendix A Carrying-Chair Motif
Appendix B Empty Chairs and Carrying-Chair Fragments
Appendix C Taking-Account
Appendix D Mourning Motif
Appendix E Lists of Charts, Tables and Figures
Appendix F Attendants' Titles (andTombs)
Appendix G Dating Convention Used
Appendix H
Appendix I
Glossary
Bibliography, Explanation of Signs ;

Chapter 1: Introductory Remarks ;

Chapter 2: Methodology and Research Assumptions ;

Chapter 3: The Search for the Generics in the Material Aspects ;

Chapter 4: The Search for the Generics in the Immaterial Aspects ;

Chapter 5: Characterizing the Generics ;

Chapter 6: Criteria for the Selected Motifs ;

Chapter 7: The Carrying-Chair ;

Chapter 8: Officials’ Records and Taking Account ;

Chapter 9: Mourning Motif ;

Chapter 10: Final Observations ;

Appendix A Carrying-Chair Motif ;

Appendix B Empty Chairs and Carrying-Chair Fragments ;

Appendix C Taking-Account ;

Appendix D Mourning Motif ;

Appendix E Lists of Charts, Tables and Figures ;

Appendix F Attendants’ Titles (andTombs) ;

Appendix G Dating Convention Used ;

Appendix H ;

Appendix I ;

Glossary ;

Bibliography

  • By (author) Sasha Verma