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" Egyptian perceptions of West Semites in art and literature during the Middle Kingdom (An archaeological, art historical and textual survey) "
P. Saretta
B. A. Levine
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Latin Dissertation
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English
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| Record Number
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1113386
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| Doc. No
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TLpq304358552
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| Main Entry
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B. A. Levine
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P. Saretta
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| Title & Author
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Egyptian perceptions of West Semites in art and literature during the Middle Kingdom (An archaeological, art historical and textual survey)\ P. SarettaB. A. Levine
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| College
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New York University
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| Date
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1997
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| student score
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1997
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| Degree
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Ph.D.
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| Page No
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296
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| Abstract
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The thesis demonstrates the usefulness of a multi-disciplined approach in defining Egyptian attitudes toward West Semites in the Middle Kingdom. The disciplines involved are: art history, archaeology, epigraphy, Egyptian-Semitic philology, literature and history. More specifically, artistic representations of West Semites are correlated with textual references and their changing roles in the social and economic life of Egypt are analyzed. Identification of West Semites in Egyptian art is based on the study of stereotypic conventions such as hairstyle, beards, and garments. Identification of West Semites in inscriptions and literature involves the analysis of native Egyptian terminology employed for the lands of Canaan and Amurru, and Mesopotamia, i.e. Retenu, Upper Retenu, Kedem, etc. Also, West Semites are identified and further distinguished by ethnicity on the basis of philological analysis of non-Egyptian personal names and name types, as well as on the basis of typical occupations, commercial activities and lifestyle. The evidence reveals the virtual equation of 3mw = semi-nomadic or sedentary Amontes, and Styw = more nomadic elements of the Amorite population. The role West Semites play in Egypt changes from being a merely vanquished people, to a valued component in the Egyptian economy. Typical occupations of Amorites in Egypt during the Middle Kingdom are weaving and dyeing, metallurgy, cattle and sheep breeding, all of which were occupations pursued in their homelands in North Syria, Canaan and Mesopotamia. With respect to the latter, evidence for the lifestyle of Amorites in Mesopotamia has been drawn from scattered references in (Sumerian and Akkadian) literature and the correspondence of the Mari archives. As the significance of the Amorite population in Egypt rises, one is able to document a corresponding change in more positive depictions of 3mw, both in literature and in art. Further, evidence for the socio-economic role of 3mw here defined as Amorites, has been gathered from excavations in the Sinai Peninsula, (Serabit el-Khadim), and the Delta (Tell el-Dab'a) and other sites in Egypt (e.g., Lisht and el-Lahun). Special attention is also paid to the analysis of Egyptian literature of the Middle Kingdom in which 3mw are depicted such as The Tale of Sinuhe, and these in turn have been correlated with artistic representations of 3mw in the famous Beni Hasan tomb painting of the same period.
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| Subject
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Amorites
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Ancient languages
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Art History
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Communication and the arts
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Language, literature and linguistics
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Social sciences
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