Charles University, Faculty of Arts
East and Central European Studies
Spring 2012
Ancient Egyptian Religion, Literature and Science
CUFA HIST 310
Instructor:
Jiří Janák, Renata Landgráfová, Filip Coppens, Hana Vymazalová
Office Location:
Czech Institute of Egyptology, Celetná 20, room 418
Office Hours:
Wednesday 10:00-11:00
Telephone:
00 420 22 16 19 616
Email:
([email protected]; [email protected];
[email protected]; hana.vymazalová@ff.cuni.cz)
Class Days/Time:
Thursday, 2:00-5:00pm
Classroom:
MB 326
Course Description
The course provides an introduction to ancient Egyptian culture and cultural heritage,
presented on three independent but interconnected fields of Egyptian intellectual and spiritual
activity: language and literature, religion and cult, science and magic. The first cluster of
lectures presents students with information on Egyptian hieroglyphs and other scripts, as well
as on Egyptian language and different literary forms attested from ancient times. The second
cluster represents an introduction into the system of Egyptian religion. Thus, the students will
be presented with lectures on Egyptian pantheon, the gods and men, and also on ancient
concepts of creation or death and resurrection. The final phase of the course will be devoted to
lectures on Egyptian science, as witnessed in attestations of Egyptian medicine, mathematics,
or astronomy.
Course Goals and Student Learning Objectives
The main aim of the course is to provide students with basic knowledge and understanding of
all aspects of ancient Egyptian culture. They will thus be able to appreciate a society and way
of thinking dramatically different from our own, which will in turn open their minds to seeing
things and problems from different points of view. The course aims not only at providing
information about one of the cradles of human civilization and a culture that has been richly
reflected in much later visual arts and literature, but also has a broader objective of enabling
students to identify phenomena that might be universally human.
Required Readings
Allen, J. P., Genesis in Egypt. The Philosophy of Ancient Egyptian Creation Accounts, New Haven 1988
Allen, J.P., Middle Egyptian. An Intorduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs, Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge 2000
Assmann J., Death and Salvation in Ancient Egypt, Ithaca 2001
Assmann, J., The Search for God in Ancient Egypt, Cornell University Press, Ithaca 2001
Collier, M. – Manley, B. How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs. Los Angeles 1998.
Gillings, R. J., Mathematics in the Times of the Pharaohs. Cambridge – London 1972
Hornung, E., Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt. The One and the Many, transl. by J. Baines, London 1983
Hornung, E., The Ancient Egyptian Books of the Afterlife, transl. by D. Lorton, Ithaca-London 1999
Nunn, J. F., Ancient Egyptian Medicine, British Museum Press, London 1996
Reeves, C., Egyptian Medicine, Shire Egyptology 15, Haverfordwest 1992
Shafer, B. (ed.), Temples of Ancient Egypt, London–New York 1997
Wilkinson, R. H., The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, London – New York 2003
Recommended Readings
Baines, J., Visual & Written Culture in Ancient Egypt, Oxford 2007, Chapters 5 and 13.
Couchoud, S., Mathématiques egyptiennes. Recherches sur les connaissances mathématiques de l’Egypte
pharaonique, Paris 1993
Ikram, S. – Dodson, A., The Mummy in Ancient Egypt: Equipping the Dead for Eternity, London – New York
1998
Ikram, S. – Dodson, A., The Tomb in Ancient Egypt: Royal and Private Sepulchres from the Early Dynastic
Period to the Romans, London - New York 2008
Imhausen, A., gyptische lgorithmen eine ntersuchung u den mittel gyptischen
Landgráfová, R. – Navrátilová, H., Sex and the Golden Goddess I. – Ancient Egyptian Love Songs in Context,
Prague 2009.
Lehner, M., The Complete Pyramids, Cairo 1997
Leiden – Boston – Köln 1999
Lichtheim, M., Ancient Egyptian Literature, I-III, Berkeley - Los Angeles - London 1975 – 1976 - 19980
mathematischen Aufgabentexten, gyptologische A handlungen , ies aden
Neuge auer, O., „Arithmetic und Rechnentechnik der gypter , in: Quellen und Studien zur Geschichte der
Mathematik B.1, Berlin1931, pp. 301–381
Neuge auer, O., „ ie Geometrie der gyptischen mathematischen Texte . v: Quellen
O´Connor, . – Silverman, D. P. (ed.), Ancient Egyptian Kingship, Leiden – New York - Köln 199
Parker, R. B., Demotic Mathematical Papyri, Brown Egyptological Studies IV. Rhode Island – London 1972
Parkinson, R., Poetry and Culture in Middle Kingdom Egypt. A dark Side to Perfection, London and New York,
Continuum, 2001, Chapters 5-8.
Pinch, G., Magic in Ancient Egypt, London 1994
Quirke, S. (ed.), The temple in ancient Egypt: new discoveries and recent research, London 1997
Quirke, S., Ancient Egyptian Religion, London 1992
Quirke, S., The Cult of Ra: Sun Worship in Ancient Egypt, New York - London 2001
Redford, D. B. (ed.), Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt, I-III, Oxford 2001
Shafer, B.E. (ed.), Religion in Ancient Egypt, Ithaca - London 1991
Simpson, W. K. (ed.), The Literature of Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Stories, Instructions, Stelae,
Autobiographies, and Poetry, New Haven 2003
Spakowska K. (ed.), Through a Glass Darkly. Magic, dreams and prophecy in Ancient Egypt, Swansea 2006
Stadler, M. A. On the Demise of Eyptian Writing: Working with a Problematic Source Basis. in: Baines, J.,
Bennett, J., Houston, S. (eds.): The Disappearance of Writing Systems, London 2008, 157-182.
Taylor, J.H., Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt, London 2001
und Studien zur Geschichte der Mathematik B.1, Berlin 1931, pp. 413–452
Wendrich, W. – Dieleman, J., UC LA Encyclopedia of Egyptology (http://repositories.cdlib.org/nelc/uee/)
Westendorf, W., Handbuch der alt gyptischen Medi in, Handbuch der Orientalistik 36,
Wilkinson, R. H., Reading Egyptian Art. A Hieroglyphic Guide to Ancient Egyptian Painting and Sculpture,
London – New York 1996
Wilkinson, R. H., The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt, London 2000
Wilkinson, T. H., Early Dynastic Egypt, London 1999
Assignments and Grading Policy
Grades based on letters A through F will be given. ECES does not provide courses with
pass/fail grades.
Egyptian language and literature test (8 questions) – 30%
Egyptian religion test (12 questions) – 45%
Egyptian science test (6 questions) – 25%
Correct answers and grades:
100-92%
91-84%
84-70%
69-55%
54% and less
A
B
C
D
F
Attendance
Regular and punctual class attendance is mandatory for all students. Absence of 180 minutes
is allowed. Three or more absences (90 minutes each) lower the grade automatically (A to A-,
A to B+ in case of 4 absences etc.)
Presentation Policy: Missing the presentation will result in an F (when applicable). If the
student wants to switch the date, he/she must find someone to do it and both students must
confirm the change in e-mails to the professor at least 10 days in advance. If the student is
sick and has a medical note, then the professor must agree with the student on how the work
will be made up for.
Final Test or Paper Policy: Completing the final test or paper is required. Failure to submit the
final test or paper according to the deadline will result in a letter grade F for the entire course.
For further details, please see the Attendance Policy at the ECES website under Academic
Policies and Procedures” : http://eces.ff.cuni.cz/
Student Responsibility and Code of Conduct
Students are subject to the general standards and requirements of Charles University in regard
to attendance, examinations, and conduct, as well as to the specific requirements of the
program. The student is expected to assume the initiative in completing all requirements at the
time specified.
Weekly Schedule
The below-listed schedule (the sequence of lectures) may vary due to the
lecturers’ participation on archaeological missions in Egypt.
Week 1
Renata Landgráfová
Egyptian language and script
The Egyptian hieroglyphic script is a complex logophonetic system, where the value of each
individual sign is derived from the combination of the set of values it may assume and its context.
Contrary to common elief, the script is neither pictorial” nor fully phonetic”, and has all the
possibilities of modern alphabets. The script will be introduced in detail, and its potential will be
analyzed and compared with other scripts, like the Chinese or English. Further, an overview of the
other Egyptian scripts (hieratic, demotic and coptic) will be presented with some details.
The second half of the lesson will focus on the Egyptian language, its basic typological characteristics,
its development over the three millennia of attestation.
Required readings:
Collier, M. – Manley, B. How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs. Los Angeles 1998.
Stadler, M. A. On the Demise of Eyptian Writing: Working with a Problematic Source Basis. in: Baines, J.,
Bennett, J., Houston, S. (eds.): The Disappearance of Writing Systems, London 2008, 157-182.
Baines, J., Visual & Written Culture in Ancient Egypt, Oxford 2007, Chapters 5 and 13.
Week 2
Renata Landgráfová
(Auto)biographical inscriptions and wisdom literature
The ancient Egyptian elites were keen to leave behind them attestations of their virtuous lives in the
form of biographical texts inscribed on the walls of their tombs or on stone stelae set up in tombs or
temple areas. The texts will be analysed from the point of view of their value as historical evidence,
thruthfulness, memorability and evidence of individuality in ancient times. Further, the values
expressed within the biographies shall be compared with the moral values proposed by the official
wisdom literature, which was copied and studied in Egyptian scribal schools.
Required readings:
Assmann, J., Cultural and Literary Texts, in: Moers, G., Definitely. Egyptian Literature. Proceedings of the
Symposium "Ancient Egyptian Literature: History and Forms," Los Angeles, March 24-26, 1995, 1-15.
Lichtheim, M., Ancient Egyptian Autobiographies Chiefly of the Middle Kingdom [OBO 84], Freiburg –
Göttingen 1988.
Parkinson, R., Poetry and Culture in Middle Kingdom Egypt. A dark Side to Perfection, London and New York,
Continuum, 2001, Chapter 10.
Week 3
Renata Landgráfová
Egyptian tales and love songs
It would seem that at least some ancient Egyptian tales and most of the love songs were composed
purely for entertainment. The texts will be analysed from the point of view of what they reflect about
ancient Egyptians and their favourite pastimes. Humour, satire and parody will be disclosed and
examined, as well as possible metaphors and hidden meanings.
Required readings:
Landgráfová, R. – Navrátilová, H., Sex and the Golden Goddess I. – Ancient Egyptian Love Songs in Context,
Prague 2009.
Parkinson, R., Poetry and Culture in Middle Kingdom Egypt. A dark Side to Perfection, London and New York,
Continuum, 2001, Chapters 5-8.
Week 4
Renata Landgráfová
Letters from ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptian letters reflect a wide range of aspects of ancient Egyptian daily life. They will be
examined in their formal aspects (layout, formulae, greetings), and especially in terms of their
contents.
Required readings:
Wente, E., Letters from Ancient Egypt, Atlanta 1990.
Bagnall, R. S. – Cribiore, R., Women’s Letters from ncinet Egypt, 300 BC – AD 800, Michigan 2006.
Week 5
Jiří Janák
The Structure of Egyptian Pantheon
Egyptian polytheism and pantheon
Egyptian religion (and pantheon) was specific for its interlinking of the local and state spheres of
religion and religious authorities. Both systems will be discussed and analyzed. Akhenaten’s
monotheistic” reform as an exemption?
Required readings:
Assmann, J., The Search for God in Ancient Egypt, Cornell University Press, Ithaca 2001
Hornung, E., Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt. The One and the Many, transl. by J. Baines, London 1983
Week 6
Jiří Janák
Creation and Cosmology
Cosmogony and Cosmology
Egyptian views on the creation of the world will be discussed together with basic myths and ancient
concepts of re-creation and the order of the world.
Required readings:
Allen, J. P., Genesis in Egypt. The Philosophy of Ancient Egyptian Creation Accounts, New Haven 1988
Hornung, E., Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt. The One and the Many, transl. by J. Baines, London 1983
Week 7
Jiří Janák
The Concept of the Divine
Egyptian concept of the divine and the gods. Visual and textual representations of Egyptian gods.
Iconography, titles, atributes.
Required readings:
Hornung, E., Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt. The One and the Many, transl. by J. Baines, London 1983
Wilkinson, R. H., Reading Egyptian Art. A Hieroglyphic Guide to Ancient Egyptian Painting and Sculpture,
London – New York 1996
Wilkinson, R. H., The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, London – New York 2003
Week 8
Jiří Janák
Human Beings and the King
Egyptian concept of human beings, their place in the created world and their relation to other beings.
The view of royal power and authority and the concept of the divine kingship.
Required readings:
Assmann, J., The Search for God in Ancient Egypt, Cornell University Press, Ithaca 2001
Articles on the king and royal power in Wendrich, W. – Dieleman, J., UC LA Encyclopedia of Egyptology
(http://repositories.cdlib.org/nelc/uee/)
Week 9
Jiří Janák
Death and Afterlife
Egyptian view of death and the concept of the afterlife. The notion of the blessed and damned dead.
Mummification and burial rites.
Required readings:
Assmann J., Death and Salvation in Ancient Egypt, Ithaca 2001
Articles on Osiris in Wendrich, W. – Dieleman, J., UC LA Encyclopedia of Egyptology
(http://repositories.cdlib.org/nelc/uee/)
Week 10
Jiří Janák – Renata Landgráfová
Mortuary texts
Overview on different texts and textual corpora that the Egyptians used to ensure the resurrection of
their dead. Pyramid Texts, Coffin Texts, the Book of the Dead, Underworld Texts etc.
Required readings:
Assmann J., Death and Salvation in Ancient Egypt, Ithaca 2001
Hornung, E., The Ancient Egyptian Books of the Afterlife, transl. by D. Lorton, Ithaca-London 1999
Week 11
Filip Coppens
Temple Rituals
The ancient Egyptian temple formed the central space for the interaction between the divine and the
earthly world. The various aspects of this interaction are expressed in the architectural layout, the
decorative program, the choice of texts and the rituals performed within the temples. The classes
intend to focus mainly on the architecture and the rituals and practices in temples of the New Kingdom
and the Ptolemaic and Roman era.
Required readings:
Coppens, F., ‘Temple Festivals of the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods’, in J. Dieleman – W. Wendrich (eds.),
UCLA
Encyclopedia
of
Egyptology,
Los
Angeles
2009
–
freely
available
at:
http://escholarship.org/uc/item/4cd7q9mn
Gundlach, R., ‘Temples’, in D. Redford (ed.), The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt III, Oxford–New York
2001, 363–379.
Shafer, B. (ed.), Temples of Ancient Egypt, London–New York 1997.
Thompson, S.E., ‘Cults: an overview’, in D. Redford (ed.), The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt I,
Oxford–New York 2001, 326–332.
Week 12
Hana Vymazalová
Mathematics and Medicine
Ancient Egyptian mathematics and medicine were appreciated by the whole ancient world, and were at
the basis of the modern scientific disciplines. The mathematical and medical texts will be studied in
the context of the ancient Egyptian society and its practical requirements, and will be compared with
other sources of evidence (archaeological, anthropological, etc.).
Required readings:
Gillings, R. J., Mathematics in the Times of the Pharaohs. Cambridge – London 1972
Nunn, J. F., Ancient Egyptian Medicine, British Museum Press, London 1996
Reeves, C., Egyptian Medicine, Shire Egyptology 15, Haverfordwest 1992
Week 13 (the summer semester only!)
Jiří Janák, Renata Landgráfová, Hana Vymazalová
Ancient Egyptian Magic
Overview on the system and basic aspect of Egyptian magic. Amulets, magical texts, apotropaica etc.
Magic and religion, magic and medicine, magic in literature.
Required readings:
Pinch, G., Magic in Ancient Egypt, London 1994
Spakowska K. (ed.), Through a Glass Darkly. Magic, dreams and prophecy in Ancient Egypt, Swansea 2006