Suez is a seaport city which is one of the two gates of the Suez Canal. Most media talked about Tahrir Square in Cairo as the epicenter of the Arab Spring in Egypt. However the truth is that Suez...Show moreSuez is a seaport city which is one of the two gates of the Suez Canal. Most media talked about Tahrir Square in Cairo as the epicenter of the Arab Spring in Egypt. However the truth is that Suez was genuinely the center of the unprecendented uprising, as it was the first city to rise up against Hosni Mubarak. Likewise, Suez was also sadly known for being the city where the first protester was killed in Egypt during the January 2011 uprisings. Therein, Suez was renowned across Egypt for carrying ‘The Flame of Revolution‘. As such, some activists referred to Suez as the ‘Egyptian Sidi Bouzid’.Show less
In the thesis four coffin sets belonging to the Bab el-Gasus cache, discovered in 1891 in Deir el-Bahari, Egypt, and now belonging to the collection of the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden, were...Show moreIn the thesis four coffin sets belonging to the Bab el-Gasus cache, discovered in 1891 in Deir el-Bahari, Egypt, and now belonging to the collection of the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden, were discussed on the basis of the following research questions: - Which construction techniques have been used? - Which materials have been used? - Is it possible to recognize the signature of a workshop or an artist? - Do the coffins have a distinctive iconography and if so, what are the striking features? - Can we draw some preliminary conclusions of the social and economic status of the owners of the coffins? A general overview of coffin development in ancient Egypt and more specifically, of the Leiden Bab el-Gasus coffins was followed by the chaîne opératoire of the coffins, starting with the wood, used for the manufacture of these coffins. A small study of some wood samples proved all the coffins to be of the species F. sycomorus. In affirming this, however, it does not account for the observed differences of the wood, and only raises new questions for further investigation. Subsequently, the plaster, pigments, paint and varnish were discussed. Color and the attached symbolic meaning were very important in the decoration of the coffins (Taylor 2001b, 164). A study with a handheld XRF—a device whereby a sample is irradiated by low-energy X-rays—showed no specific outcome, only confirming the use of gold on the lid of F93.10.1a and the presence of orpiment in more than one of the samples. Both pigments had already been observed with the naked eye. It is difficult to draw conclusions about the workshops involved into the production of the coffins. The sets show various similarities, but at the same time give evidence to the practice of reuse. Some key elements of the iconography have been discussed according to the model of Panofsky. The decoration of the sets consisted primarily of symbols of resurrection, while other vignettes gave evidence to a new repertoire of religious images—some of which referred to a combination of several different mythological aspects (Quirke and Spencer 1992, 106). According to Cooney, this can be understood as a reaction and adaptation to the changing funerary traditions, scarce resources, and fear of theft of the funerary objects that took place during the period (Cooney 2011, 24). In chapter seven the owners of the coffins were discussed. The two chantresses, to whom set F93.10.1 and F93.10.3 are assigned, are probably not the original owners of their sets. The third coffin has been usurped three times. The fourth coffin is anonymous, but is associated in Daressy’s list (1907) with Siamun, a male mummy. Although reuse of some coffins is certain, mistakes made in antiquity and in the Nineteenth Century AD may have contributed to the mix up of coffin parts, resulting in the incorrect allocation of names to coffins, lids to different caskets and mummy-boards to other sets. The Bab el-Gasus coffins from the Leiden collection do not differ herein with the other sets of the entire Bab el-Gasus cache. In this thesis not every research question is fully answered. Further research will be needed to discover the whole story of the priests of Bab el-Gasus.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Oude culturen van de mediterrane wereld (Bachelor)
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De Egyptische demon wordt vanuit een godsdienstwetenschappelijk standpunt benaderd en de scriptie gaat dieper in op de functie van de demon in de onderwereld, aan de hand van vertalingen van het...Show moreDe Egyptische demon wordt vanuit een godsdienstwetenschappelijk standpunt benaderd en de scriptie gaat dieper in op de functie van de demon in de onderwereld, aan de hand van vertalingen van het Boek van Twee Wegen en het DodenboekShow less
This study examines the Egyptian collection of antiquities in the National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden after the addition of Anastasi's collection and creates a comparison with the Egyptian...Show moreThis study examines the Egyptian collection of antiquities in the National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden after the addition of Anastasi's collection and creates a comparison with the Egyptian collection of antiquities in the British Museum, London, after Salt's collection was incorporated. The aim of this research is to see if a large addition to a pre-existing collection affects the original plans for the overall collection. A theoretical framework has been constructed focussing on the already existing literature around these two collectors and the respective museums. This is supported by an internship at the National Museum of Antiquities to look in further detail at the artefact catalogue and carry out further research around the subject. The expected result is that the original plans for the two collections will have been changed quite rapidly when incorporated into the respective museums. This is due to the size and object type within the new collections and their impact on the other objects within the already existing museum collection. This research aims to explore the details of these developments, and whether any similarities can be identified between the two circumstances.Show less
In this thesis I have investigated the reasons for which Romans appropriated foreign material culture, in which conditions and what happened with it after was brought in Rome during the Late...Show moreIn this thesis I have investigated the reasons for which Romans appropriated foreign material culture, in which conditions and what happened with it after was brought in Rome during the Late Republic (second and first century B.C.). Moreover, what kind of material culture was taken and why were these specific objects chosen and not others. My main focus was to understand the appropriation of foreign material culture and how did it influenced the Republic. It is very difficult to define the three cultures, but an attempt had been made in order to explain the concepts and how do they interact with each other. Before studying the influence of the foreign material culture, definitions have been given to the concepts used in this thesis. I have studied the Greek material culture and its impact on the Roman people, on the architecture of temples and on the Roman culture. Using the temple of Apollo Sosianus as an example, the Greek material culture used in its decoration has been studied, but also the Egyptian motifs which occur. It is a significant temple of this period of time due to its many restorations which can be observed in the material preserved. This thesis is exploring the Egyptian material culture brought during the Late Republic. This is often mentioned by the ancient writers, but the results of different excavations did not brought such aspects to life. One can considered that through the cult of the goddess Isis, many Egyptian objects can be found. The similarities and differences between the appropriated Greek and Egyptian material culture have been also discussed. As an example, most of the valuable statues and goods were used to adorn the city and to please the Senate, reassuring in the same time the generals position and privileges, but this was not the case for the Egyptian material culture.Show less
Ramesses II, the third pharaoh of the 19th dynasty, fought a major battle near the ancient town Kadesh against the Hittite army. While he won the battle, he lost the war and had to surrender a...Show moreRamesses II, the third pharaoh of the 19th dynasty, fought a major battle near the ancient town Kadesh against the Hittite army. While he won the battle, he lost the war and had to surrender a large part to the Levant to the Hittites. Despite this long-term defeat, Ramesses decided to use the battle of Kadesh as an inspiration for inscriptions, including both texts and reliefs, on several temples in Egypt. The purpose of the inscriptions has not been very clear, since the texts are usually studied by Egyptologists, who focus on the content of the text rather than its function. Most explanations of these texts either describe the texts as a piece of propaganda or as apotropaic (i.e. warding off evil forces), but neither of these completely fit the inscriptions themselves. This thesis focuses on another possible way to understand the purpose of the Kadesh inscriptions. This will use two different theoretical concepts, the first being visibility studies and the second being linguistic landscapes. These concepts, often used in archaeology and linguistics respectively, can shed additional light on the purpose of the inscriptions, trying to find out for whom the texts were meant. With the data gathered with these theories will show that another interpretation can be given of these texts. Rather than being meant for people or evil forces outside the temple, they were meant for the god residing inside the temple. These were supposed to show the god that the pharaoh was attempting to reaffirm their relationship with the deities by keeping the order in Egypt.Show less
Militaries have played significant roles in the transition from authoritarian regimes to more democratic political systems. Most of these transitions took place during the seventies and eighties in...Show moreMilitaries have played significant roles in the transition from authoritarian regimes to more democratic political systems. Most of these transitions took place during the seventies and eighties in South Europe and Latin America. They often started with cracks within the ruling party, which ultimately led to a gradual transition towards the installation of another regime and in most cases to some form of democratization. Based on those empirical examples a few key indicators predicting the behaviour of a military in transitions can be distinguished. An institutionalised military, which is not directly involved in the administration apparatus and which position has been backed by a legal framework have been found willing to shape the transition period to a more democratic system. During the transition the civilian authorities should guarantee the military certain prerogatives in order to keep it satisfied. An end of the transition period is reached when an effective and strong civilian government is installed which is able to execute civilian oversight over the military. The recent popular uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East were not gradual and caused an abrupt regime change in several Arab countries. Only in Egypt the military took a leading role in the transition. This thesis shows that also in the case of Egypt the nature of the military as an institutionalized military, not directly involved in the day to day governing, made it very resistant to any form of democratization. In the three proposed constitutions since the 25 January revolution the military has demanded and granted itself extensive prerogatives and annulled any form of civilian oversight. This will make it very difficult for any future civilian leader to execute civilian oversight over the Egyptian military.Show less
This thesis is a study of three different statue cache deposits which were discovered at different locations in North Sudan. The three groups of statues represented colossal royal figures...Show moreThis thesis is a study of three different statue cache deposits which were discovered at different locations in North Sudan. The three groups of statues represented colossal royal figures representing kings of Nubia, and some who also ruled over Egypt as Pharaohs of the 25th Dynasty. The caches were discovered during archaeological investigations at three cult sites which were dedicated to the Nubian-Egyptian god Amun, within the main temples, at Gebel Barkal, Doukki Gel and Dangeil. The deposits are somewhat mysterious and unique as each royal statue was found fragmented into many pieces, all broken in the same way and in the same locations upon the statue, before being buried beneath the ground in a sacred place. The study explores the meaning and motivation behind image breaking and deposition in an attempt to postulate the circumstances of these burials. It will use comparisons from Egypt and the Near East to look for any parallels for such treatment of royal images, and examine the historical context of the estimated time of deposition in order to build up some form of narrative as to how and more importantly, why, these royal statues were treated in such a way. This thesis will scrutinize the popular theories which were previously proposed and return to the archaeological evidence in order to address the issue and attempt to come up with a hypothesis concerning the nature of the cachesShow less
Samenvatting In 1891 werd een belangrijk graf ontdekt in Deir el-Bahari, aan de andere kant van de Nijl bij Thebe in Egypte. In dit graf bevonden zich 153 mummiekisten van Priesters van Amon uit de...Show moreSamenvatting In 1891 werd een belangrijk graf ontdekt in Deir el-Bahari, aan de andere kant van de Nijl bij Thebe in Egypte. In dit graf bevonden zich 153 mummiekisten van Priesters van Amon uit de 21e Dynastie (ca. 1070– 945 v.Chr.). De priesters lagen hier samen met hun familieleden, omringd door grafgiften. Het graf werd ontdekt door Eugène Grébaut en zijn assistent, George Daressy. Het graf kreeg de Arabische naam Bab el-Gasus, dat betekent 'de Deur van de Priesters'. Na de vondst in 1891 is het graf binnen negen dagen ontruimd. Helaas is door de snelheid waarmee het graf werd ontruimd, de archeologische context onvoldoende opgetekend. De priesters die in het graf werden gevonden, leefden in een tijd van politieke en economische onrust. Deze woelige periode bracht een verandering in visie en rituelen rond de dood met zich mee. De architectuur van het graf Bab el-Gasus laat een spaarzaam rotsgraf zien, zonder enige decoratie die een nauwkeurige datering mogelijk gemaakt zou hebben. Aan de hand van de literatuur is de conclusie dat het hier gaat om een secundaire begraving. De datering kan helaas niet worden vastgesteld door het ontbreken van gegevens en de vergissingen die tijdens en na de opgraving zijn gemaakt. Wel kan worden vastgesteld dat het graf moet zijn uitgebreid om alle priesters van Amon een plek te kunnen bieden.Show less
Advanced master thesis | Political Science (Advanced Master)
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Why do people who face rather similar situations sometimes resort to violence and others do not? While structural factors are often assumed to be of high explanatory value for explaining the...Show moreWhy do people who face rather similar situations sometimes resort to violence and others do not? While structural factors are often assumed to be of high explanatory value for explaining the occurrence of violence, more recent approaches focused more on local dynamics and the specific position of agents in the political and economic system. Case studies entangling the specific reasons why people engage in violence are suited to gain further insight into these dynamics. Based on a comparison of the cases of North Sinai and South Sinai which show very different levels of violence despite sharing many similarities, this thesis shows the diversity of motives for individuals to engage in violent activities in North Sinai. At the same time it illustrates the importance of a shared interest that increases societal cohesion in the South of the peninsula and allows the people there to maintain nonviolent discipline.Show less
This thesis argues that previous literature dealing with water scarcity conflicts and politics inside river basins misses out on important factors determining water scarcity. Hence, a political...Show moreThis thesis argues that previous literature dealing with water scarcity conflicts and politics inside river basins misses out on important factors determining water scarcity. Hence, a political geography and political ecology perspective is utilized in order to link international relations, political economy and geography. With this combination, concepts like food security, land-lease deals and their link with water scarcity are examined in order to illustrate that water scarcity is much more than water equity principles often found in transboundary river interaction between specific states. This thesis specifically focuses on the Nile Basin, most notably Egypt and Ethiopia in particular, and argues that many players from all over the world through investments and discursive practices interfere with Nile water allocation indirectly and obscurely. Hence, just hammering out a legal framework with Nile Basin riparians in not enough and should looked for in economic and discursive practices surrounding water scarcity.Show less
