In this thesis the theme of the diffusion of the cult of the Egyptian goddess Isis from Egypt across the Mediterranean world is treated, by investigating some of the approaches that have been...Show moreIn this thesis the theme of the diffusion of the cult of the Egyptian goddess Isis from Egypt across the Mediterranean world is treated, by investigating some of the approaches that have been employed by Bommas, Woolf, Bricault, and Versluys in their analysis of the theme; and by examining the features of the Temple of Isis of Philae, the Temple of Isis at the Campus Martius in Rome, and the Temple of Isis at Pompeii. While the Temple of Isis at Philae mostly features architectural elements that are typical of indigenous Egyptian temples, the Italian Iseums of Pompeii and of the Campus Martius feature elements meant to evoke the Egyptian environment and elements of the cult of Isis that are represented in a Graeco-Roman fashion. After comparing the different characteristics of these structures, it emerges that the element that can be found in Egyptian temples of Isis (or in at least, the one at Philae) that persisted in the Temples of Isis when these were built in Italy, was the Nilometer, which was featured at the Temple of Isis at Pompeii, although it is not possible to know with certainty if this was featured in the Iseum Campense by looking at the archaeological evidence. In any case, many conducts for water were found in the latter structure, which could have been likely linked to the presence of a Nilometer or of other elements connected to water, and this would underline the persistence of at least the importance of the presence of water in the concept of the Iseum, and thus likely also in the practice of the cult. However, It has to be underlined that in the case of Philae, the Nilometer was with most probability used in connection to the presence of the river Nile in the vicinity of the structure, while in Italic temples this would have been an element related to the ritual of the cult. Other Egyptian-izing features, such as the dromos of the Iseum Campense, and the purgatorium of the Temple of Isis at Pompeii, were not present at the Temple of Isis at Philae, thus probably being features meant to evoke the concept of Egypt in general more than reflecting the characteristics of Egyptian Iseums. Therefore, it is possible to assume that the almost-total refashioning of the concept of the Iseum when this kind of structure was built in at least Rome and Pompeii might be a reflection of the refashioning of the cult that took place after it diffused out of Egypt.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
De Egyptische Predynastieke periode wordt in het aardewerkrepertoire onder andere gekenmerkt door versieringen, waarvan onderzoekers altijd hebben verondersteld dat het schepen betrof. Deze...Show moreDe Egyptische Predynastieke periode wordt in het aardewerkrepertoire onder andere gekenmerkt door versieringen, waarvan onderzoekers altijd hebben verondersteld dat het schepen betrof. Deze versieringen liggen ten grondslag aan veel theorieën betreft de vroeg Dynastieke religie en ideologie, en buitenlandse contacten met onder andere Mesopotamië, ondanks dat het materiaal nooit eerder kritisch onder de loep is genomen. In deze scriptie is het Predynastiek materiaal aan de hand van een door de auteur samengestelde catalogus aan de tand gevoeld om de variabiliteit van de iconografische componenten (units) vast te stellen. Hieruit blijkt dat een aantal onderzoekers er een levendige fantasie op nahoudt, de iconografie wezenlijk evolueert en ons begrip van deze decoraties momenteel nog steeds slechts van zeer oppervlakkige aard is.Show less
