Admission requirements
Preferably a full BA degree in Egyptology, but at least Klassiek Egyptisch [Classic Egyptian=Old and Middle Egyptian]; Kunstgeschiedenis van Egypte en Syrië-Mesopotamië [Art history]; Selected topics in Egyptian Archaeology.
Description
Integral treatment of archaeological, art historical and philological aspects of especially iconographic programmes of Old Kingdom elite tombs, with much attention for the theoretical and methodological problems concerning their interpretation.
Course objectives
- Continuing on the literature of the courses of Archaeology & Material Culture, Classic Egyptian and Egyptian Art History, the aim is to further increase the knowledge of and insight in specific complex aspects and problems of elite tombs in the Old Kingdom and to further develop the critical view and analysis capacity.
- In order to achieve this objective a number of articles need to be studied insensively, together with delivering written and oral commentary in an open public discussion.
- Also the MastaBase data base on CD-ROM will be introduced.
- Further, if time permits, provincial elite tombs will be surveyed and analytically described in a standard paper database format.
- The final paper consists of a report on these activities and an assignment concerning the practical use of the CD.
Timetable
Please consult the Classics and Ancient Civilizations website.
Mode of instruction
Seminar with possibility to choose a MA thesis topic based on this course.
Research
Class attendance is obligatory. This course aims at active participation and preparation: the student demonstrates involvement in the topic by asking well-informed and constructive questions and making contributions to the collective progress, on the basis of antecedent independent preparation.
Course Load
Total course load for a course of 5 EC is 140 hours, for 10 EC 280 hours, of which:
5 EC course
Seminar attendance 2×8: 16 hours
Literature + written commentary: 33 hours
Research database 6×6 hours: 36 hours
Paper: 55 hours
10 EC course
Seminar attendance 2×8= 16 hours
Literature + written commentary: 108 hours
Research database 6×6: 36 hours
Paper: 120 hours
Differentiation between the 5 EC MA course and the 10 EC Research MA course consists of an increase of the “Literature + written commentary from 33 to 108 hours extra literature and by an increase from 55 hours “Paper” to 120 hours by expanding the final paper.
Assessment Method
Assessment
Presentation, discussion, essay [on literature and database research] (20%);
Paper based on “case study research” (80%).
Weighing
To complete the final mark the final grade for the course is established by determining the weighted average.
Resit
Re-examination consists of rewriting the final paper.
Inspection and feedback
Students will be invited to discuss their paper and their results for this seminar (presentation, essay, paper) individually with the teacher in Vrieshof room 2.08a, as soon as the results have been published.
Blackboard
Blackboard will not be used.
Reading list
Thumb through attentively:
5 and 10 EC courses:
Montet, P. 1925. Les scènes de la vie privée dans les tombeaux égyptiens de l’Ancien Empire. Strasbourg
Vandier, J. 1964-1978. Manuel d’Archéologie Égyptienne IV-VI. Paris
Harpur, Y. 1987. Decoration in Egyptian tombs of the Old Kingdom. Studies in orientation and scene content. London
Cherpion, N. 1989. Mastabas et hypogées d’Ancien Empire, Bruxelles
Study and comment:
Common for 5 and 10 EC courses:
Weeks, K. 1979. "Art, word and the Egyptian world view", in: K. Weeks (ed.), Egypt and the social sciences. Cairo, 59-81.
Müller, I. 1974. "Die Ausgestaltung der Kultkammern in den Gräbern des Alten Reiches in Giza und Saqqara", Forschungen und Berichte 16, 79-96.
Cherpion, N. 1984. "De quand date la tombe du nain Seneb?", BIFAO 84, 35-54.
Harpur, Y. 1985-1987. "The identity and positions of relief fragments in museums and private collections", JEA 71, 27-42; 72, 23-40; 73, 197-200; SAK 13, 107-123
Kessler, D. 1987. "Zur Bedeutung der Szenen des täglichen Lebens in den Privatgräbern (I): Die Szenen des Schiffbaues und der Schiffahrt", ZÄS 114, 59-88
Walsem, R. van, 2005. Iconography of Old Kingdom elite tombs. Analysis & interpretation, theoretical and methodological aspects.
10 EC course:
Additional literature:
H. Altenmüller, "Licht und Dunkel, Tag und Nacht. Programmtisches aus der Dekoration der Gräber des Alten Reiches", in: S. J. Seidlmayer (ed.), Texte und Denkmäler des ägyptischen Alten Reiches, Berlin 2005, 9-26.
H. Altenmüller, "Die Nachtfahrt des Grabherrn im Alten Reich. Zur Frage der Schiffe mit Igelkopf", SAK 28 (2000), 1-28.
H. Altenmüller, "Der Himmelsaufstieg des Grabherrn. Zu den Szenen des zSS wAD in den Gräbern des Alten Reiches", SAK 30 (2002), 1-30.
H. Altenmüller, "Eine Stiftungsurkunde für die Opferversorgung des Grabherrn? Zum Bild des Grabherrn an der Staffelei", SAK 33 (2005), 29-40.
P.A. Bocchi, "The enigmatic activity of painting the seasons at an easel: contemplative leisure or preemptive measure?" JARCE, 40 (2003), 159-169.
D. Vischak, "Common ground between Pyramid Texts and Old Kingdom tomb design: the case of Ankhmahor", JARCE, 40 (2003), 133-157.
J. Baines, "Forerunners of narrative biographies", in: A. leahy, J. Tait (eds.), Studies in ancient Egyptin honour of H.S. Smith, London 1999, 23-37.
E. Feucht, "Fishing and fowling with the spear and the throw-stick reconsidered", in: U. Luft (ed.), The intellectual heritage of ancient Egypt (Festschrift Kakosy), 1992, 157-169.
S. Grunert, "Nicht nur sauber, sondern rein. Rituelle Reinigungsanweisungen aus dem Grab des Anchmahor in Saqqara", SAK 30 (2002), 137-151.
R. van Walsem, "Interpretation of Evidence", Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt, 2 (2001), 175-179.
R. van Walsem, "Sense and Sensibility. On the Analysis and Interpretation of the Iconography programmes of four Old Kingdom Elite tombs, in: M. Fitzenreiter, M. Herb (eds.) "Dekorierte Grabanlagen im Alten Reich. Methodik und Interpretation (I[nternet] B[eiträge] zur Ä[gyptologie] und S[udanarchäologie], VI (London 2006), 277-332.
D. Vischak, "Agency in Old Kingdom Elite Tomb Programs: Traditions, Locations, and variable Meanings", in: id., 255-276.
R. van Walsem "‘Meaningful Places’: Pragmatics from Ancient Egypt to Modern Times", in: Kitty Zijlmans (ed.), Site-seeing. Places in Culture, Time and Space (Leiden 2006), 111-146.
R. van Walsem,"Diversification and variation in Old Kingdom funerary iconography as the expression of a need for individuality", JEOL 44 ( 2013), 117-139.
Copies of the literature to be studied are available for consulting in room 2.08a.
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about registration in uSis is available in English and Dutch.
Exchange and Study Abroad students: please see the Study Abroad/Exchange website for information on how to register.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable.