Proceedings of the Fifth Central European Conference of Egyptologists. Egypt 2009: Perspectives of Research.

Transcription

1 The Pułtusk Academy of Humanities ACTA ARCHAEOLOGICA PULTUSKIENSIA Vol. II Proceedings of the Fifth Central European Conference of Egyptologists. Egypt 2009: Perspectives of Research. Pułtusk June 2009 Edited by Joanna Popielska-Grzybowska, & Jadwiga Iwaszczuk Institute of Anthropology and Archaeology PUŁTUSK 2009

2 Scientific Editors: Joanna Popielska-Grzybowska, Jadwiga Iwaszczuk Proof-reading in English by Jo B. Harper & Joanna Popielska-Grzybowska DTP by Jadwiga Iwaszczuk Graphics by Jadwiga Iwaszczuk Cover design by Jakub Affelski Published with financial support of the Polish Ministry of Education All rights reserved Copyright 2009 by the Pułtusk Academy of Humanities, 2009 Publisher: The Pułtusk Academy of Humanities ul. Daszyńskiego 17, Pułtusk tel./fax (+48 23) Internet: ISBN Realised on behalf of the publisher: Przedsiębiorstwo Poligraficzno-Wydawnicze Graf Janusz Janiszewski Warszawa ul. Błękitna 87A tel

3 Contents Preface... 7 Karol Myśliwiec, Pułtusk between Budapest, Cambridge and Warsaw... 9 Kamila Braulińska, Some Remarks on Interpreting Canidae in Egyptian Art. Predynastic until Late Period Julia Budka, Ankh-Hor Revisited: Study, Documentation and Publication of Forgotten Finds from the Asasif Artur Buszek, Early Dynastic Representations of Dwarfs Research Perspectives Marcin Czarnowicz, Early Egyptian Levantine Relations. Perspectives of Research, View from Tell el-farkha Piotr Czerkwiński, A Genealogy of a Theban Family between 3 rd and 1 st Century BC Andrzej Ćwiek, The Bzn-Substance Jadwiga Iwaszczuk, Surprising Name Stones from the Metropolitan House Storeroom, Luxor Krzysztof Jakubiak, Tell Farama, Pelusium. City Urban Planning Reconstruction in the Light of the Last Researches Bożena Józefów, Joanna Popielska-Grzybowska, Preliminary Remarks on the Rites of Passage in the Pyramid Texts Mariusz A. Jucha, The North-Eastern Part of the Nile Delta Research Perspectives. Polish Archaeological Survey in the Ash-Sharqiyyah Governorate Nicole Kloth, Propylaeum: Virtual Library Classical Studies Egyptology Piotr Kołodziejczyk, The Nile Delta during the Predynastic and the Early Dynastic Periods Recent Discoveries and Perspectives Agnieszka Kowalska, Kamil Kuraszkiewicz, Zbigniew Godziejewski, Old Kingdom Burials with Funerary Plaster Masks from Saqqara Adam Łukaszewicz, A Man Speaks to His Soul: Count Jan Potocki ( ) and the Beginnings of Egyptology Agnieszka Mączyńska, How and Why is Pottery Useful for Understanding Archaeology of Predynastic Egypt? A Few Practical Examples from the Site at Tell el-farkha Szymon Maślak, How to Build in Marshy Lands? Some Remarks on Brick Constructions in Roman and Byzantine Pelusium Michał Neska, Egyptian Infantry in the New Kingdom an Iconographical Survey Andrzej Niwiński, The Double Structure of the Entity. The Ancient Egyptian Conception of the Human Being Reconsidered Grzegorz Pryc, Stone Vessels from the Graves of the Tell el-farkha Site. Seasons Preliminary Classifications Marta Sankiewicz, Cosmological Frames on the Lunettes in the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-bahari Nigel Strudwick, Information Technology in Egyptology: the Past and the Future Elena Valtorta, The Ritualised Body: Body Treatment and Ritual Practices in Egyptian Predynastic Burials Dawid F. Wieczorek, Some Remarks on Dates in the Building-Dipinti Discovered in the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-bahari Leszek Zinkow, Egyptian Revival in Central Europe. Research Project Proposal

4 Artur Buszek Cracow Early Dynastic Representations of Dwarfs Research Perspectives Dwarfs were known in Egypt since the earliest times. Owing to the good environmental conditions, such as low humidity, we have the most numerous skeletal evidence of dwarfs from Egypt. The oldest skeleton was discovered in Mostagedda (grave no. 3510), and was dated to the Early Predynastic Period, precisely to the Badari Culture. 1 But the most interesting burials were found at the Royal Necropolis in Umm el-qaab, which was dated to the Early Dynastic Period. Dwarfs were buried there in graves accompanying the graves of rulers. This location, near the king, indicates the high social status of this group. 2 Apart from the skeletal remains inside the graves stelae belonging to dwarfs were also discovered. Both location and inscription on the stelae show us the role of dwarfs in the king s palace. One such example is Wediwesekh stela from the Den complex with an inscription he who places the collar, or the dwarf Shedi who was buried near cloth warehouses in the Djer complex, which indicates that he may have been an administrator of the royal wardrobe. 3 These remains proved the high social status of dwarfs in that time. It is confirmed by discoveries from the Old Kingdom. 4 From this period we have less skeletal remains, but a lot of sculptures and reliefs. Sculptures were divided into two groups. In first there are nobles like Khnumhotep from Saqqara or Seneb s family group from Gizeh. 5 In second group are dwarfs of lower status, like the harpist from the Nikauinpu grave in Gizeh. 6 But the highest number of dwarf representations in this time are on reliefs. In almost every relief there are representations of groups of dwarfs of lower status, who served the elites. Only reliefs from Seneb s grave present a noble dwarf. These reliefs may be divided into groups depending on the activity and function of the depicted dwarfs. On these reliefs dwarfs are depicted as personal servants, mainly connected with the master s wardrobe, his jewelers or as animal keepers. In three cases dwarfs are connected with entertainment (two dancers and one singer), and several depictions are difficult to classify. 7 Skeletal remains and representation in art confirm the attendance of dwarfs in Egypt from the Predynastic Period. Both describe the kind of disease from which they suffer. The disproportionate stature, short arms and legs, large head all indicate achondroplasia. The location of dwarf burials in Royal burial complexes and representation in art show the high social status of dwarfs during the Early Dynastic Period. In the Old Kingdom dwarfs were mainly servants for elites and in a few 1 G. Brunton, Mostagedda and Tasian Culture, London 1937, p. 42, pl. X. 2 V. Dasen, Dwarfs in Ancient Egypt and Greece, Oxford 1993 (hereinafter referred to as: Dasen, Dwarfs), pp W.M.F. Petrie, The Royal Tombs of The Earliest Dynasty, London 1901, p. 24; W.R. Dawson, Pygmies, Dwarfs and Hunchbacks in Ancient Egypt, Annals of Medical History 9 (1927), pp. 316, 319; W.R. Dawson, Pygmies and Dwarfs in Ancient Egypt, JEA 24 (1938), p. 186; V. Dasen, Dwarfs in Ancient Egypt and Greece, Oxford 1993, pp , , , J. Filer, Disease, London 1995, p. 56; Ch. Kozma, Dwarfs in Ancient Egypt, American Journal of Medical Genetics 140 no. 4 (2006), pp H. Junker, Giza V, Vienna 1941, pp ; L. Borchardt, Statuen und Statuetten von Köningen und Privatleuten im Museum von Kairo, Berlin 1911, pp ; W.S. Smith, A History of Egyptian Sculpture and Painting in the Old Kingdom, London 1946 (hereinafter referred to as: Smith, HESPOK), pp Smith, HESPOK, pp. 101; J.H. Breasted, Egyptian Servant Statues, New York 1948, p Dasen, Dwarfs, pp ; Kozma, American Journal of Medical Genetics 140 no. 4 (2006), pp

5 Artur Buszek cases they themselves belonged to elite, as is showed on reliefs from this period. All those remains prove that dwarfs from the Early Dynastic Period to the end of the Old Kingdom probably had high or middle-class social status. Today there are about 150 diseases which cause dwarfism, 8 but the most common form is achondroplasia, caused by genetic mutation. The typical symptoms of this disease are short arms and legs, large head with the prominence of the forehead, underdevelopment of the midface with cheekbones that lack prominence, and a low nasal bridge with narrow nasal passages. There are no signs of mental deficiency and decrease of intelligence. The parents of achondroplastic children are in most cases normal. The disease affects both sexes equally, and occurs in about one in 25,000 births. 9 Skeletons and representations in art confirm that achondroplasia was the most common form of dwarfism in ancient Egypt as well. From the Predynastic period to the Old Kingdom we have only a few examples showing other diseases, like the sculpture of dwarf Petpennesut from Gizeh, 10 who was a dwarf with a proportionate stature. As far as art representations are concerned in interpreting the role of dwarfs in the Early Dynastic Period, in general we have from this time small figurines which were made of various materials such as clay, stone, faience, bone and ivory. Figurines were mainly discovered in votive deposits from early sanctuaries like Hierakonpolis, Abydos, Elephantine, Tell Ibrahim Awad, Tell el-farkha. Sporadically they were also in graves, for instance in Tarkhan and Abusir el-meleq. 11 Dwarf figurines from Hierakonpolis come mostly from the Main Deposit. Three female dwarfs of ivory are now in the Ashmolean Museum. Their common feature is a long, excessively large wig, draped in curls over the shoulders and down the back. Two of them are probably dressed in a sort of garment, with plastically modeled faces. Their state of preservation is not good. The third figure is naked, her right hand is on her chest, while the left hand, as well as the left side of the figure, is not preserved. It is noteworthy that the first two female dwarf figures in garments are stylistically different from the naked one. That last figure was crafted much more precisely. Other dwarf figures from the Main Deposit were characterised by significantly worse craftsmanship. Those objects are a female dwarf figure of baked blue glazed clay and a dwarf of brown glazed limestone. 12 In the deposits from Abydos, particularly the temple one (near Kom es-sultan), seven figures and fragments of figures depicting dwarfs were discovered altogether. They are heavy, crude and primitive. They show no care for detail or quality. All the figures were naked except for one, wearing a belt. Sexual features were often emphasised. Three depictions were made of limestone, two of green faience, one of gneiss and one of baked clay. In most cases arms are crossed on the chest, perhaps in a prayer gesture. They may also be placed on the hips or crossed at the waist. 13 On Elephantine, in the temple deposit, the German mission found only one figurine which was interpreted as a dwarf, and dated to the Early Dynastic Period or early Old Kingdom. It depicts a standing naked man with a shoulder-long black wig on his head. His hands are placed along the body, he has an exceptionally big head and short legs. Eyes, nose and 8 P. Beighton et al., International classification of osteochondrodysplasias, American Journal of Medical Genetics 44.2 (1992), pp V. Dasen, Dwarfism in Egypt and Classical Antiquity: Iconography and Medical History, Med Hist. 32 (1988), pp ; Dasen, Dwarfs, pp Smith, HESPOK, pp. 58, T. Wilkinson, Early Dynastic Egypt, London New York 1999, pp J.E. Quibell, Hierakonpolis I, London 1900, p. 7, pls XI, XVIII nos 7, 19; J.E. Quibell, F.W. Green, Hierakonpolis II, London 1902, pp. 34, 37-38; J. Capart, Primitive Art in Egypt, London 1905, p. 170, fig. 132; Smith, HESPOK, p. 7; Dasen, Dwarfs, pp , pl. 28.1a, 1b. 13 W.M.F. Petrie, Abydos II, London 1903, pp , pl. V nos 46, 48, pl. X no. 213; Dasen, Dwarfs, pp

6 Early Dynastic Representations of Dwarfs Research Perspectives mouth are marked on the face. The entire figure is glazed in light blue. 14 Except from the described object a few other depictions and fragments may be interpreted as dwarfs. Fifteen years ago we had only figurines from Upper Egypt. New investigation in the Delta proved that this region was very important in the process of unification of the state, and artistic development was on the same level as in the South of country. The first deposit from Lower Egypt was discovered in Tell Ibrahim Awad, which contained 212 objects, including a few dwarf depictions. However, in this case the lack of adequate publications does not allow a full analysis. 15 Until now the most numerous deposit with regard to dwarf depictions from the Early Dynastic Period was discovered in Tell el-farkha in The deposit was located in a room that could be interpreted as a shrine. A part of the figurines was deposited in a decorated vessel, covered with a bowl, a part of the layer filling the room. Sixty-two objects were placed in the mentioned vessel. Most of the objects belonging to the deposit had holes drilled at the base. Similarly, figures of female dwarfs standing on bases also had such drilled holes. They probably served to fix the figures on a larger base or other surface. However, dwarf depictions are the most numerous. All of the dwarf figurines are made of hippopotamus tusk. Currently the figures are in the Cairo Museum, except from a fragment of the figure and female dwarf figures, which are stored in Mendes. Basically the figures of male and female dwarfs from Tell el-farkha may be divided into a few groups based on their stylistic and particularly their artistic advancement. This division is sometimes difficult due to various states of preservation of the figures. In this case it is not possible to state that the degree of craftsmanship was characteristic for the development of dwarf representations. We even observe a sort of schematisation. Depicting characteristic traits, such as a large head or legs arched outwards, characteristic for dwarfs, appears to have been enough. In such a case we may be dealing with the development from realistic to schematic forms. In the first group there are very schematic, even geometric figures (fig. 12). Their simplicity, even primitivism, may in this case cause problems with interpretation. Two figures may be counted in this group. Both coming from the vessel deposit and wearing long dress and in both cases have slightly modelled breasts, what indicates the female gender of the dwarfs. Typical dwarf deformations are noticeable, like a disproportionate stature, large head and knees slightly bent and arched outwards. It is characteristic for achondroplastic dwarfs. In this case the schematic style of representation does not make the interpretation of figurines as dwarfs difficult. 17 The second group may shortly be characterised as figures with large wigs (fig. 13). However, in this group we have differences with state of preservation. Five figures were discovered in a vessel and three in a shrine room (one of them was preserved only in the lower part). All figurines depict a standing female dwarf on the base (mainly oval in shape). The women are dressed in long dresses or knee-long skirts. Their short hands are schematically separated from the body. Their knees are bent, with feet joined together and separated from the base 14 G. Dreyer, Der Tempel der Satet, Die Funde der Frühzeit und des Alten Reiches, Elephantine VIII., Mainz 1986 (hereinafter referred to as: Dreyer, Der Tempel der Satet), pp. 61, 99 no. 1, pl V.M. van Haarlem, The Ivory Objects from Tell Ibrahim Awad, Egyptian Archaeology 20 (2002), pp ; G.A. Belova, T.A. Sherkova, Ancient Egyptian Temple at Tell Ibrahim Awad: Excavations and Discoveries in the Nile Delta, Moscow 2002, photographs K.M. Ciałowicz, Predynastic and Early Dynastic Period, [in:] A. Majewska (ed.), Seventy Years of Polish Archaeology in Egypt. Egyptian Museum in Cairo 21 October - 21 November 2007, Warsaw 2007, pp ; K.M. Ciałowicz, Ivory and Gold. Beginnings of the Egyptian Art, Cracow 2007; M. Chłodnicki, K.M. Ciałowicz, Tell el-farkha. Preliminary Report 2006, PAM XVIII (2008), pp ; K.M. Ciałowicz, Excavations of The Western Kom at Tell el-farkha in 2006, Recherches Archéologiques, in the press. 17 Figurines with inventory numbers WD06/35 and WD06/43; Chłodnicki, Ciałowicz, PAM XVIII (2008), pp. 133, 134; A. Buszek, Dwarf Figurines from Tell el-farkha, Studies in Ancient Art and Civilization 12 (2008), pp

7 Artur Buszek by an incision. The faces are carved schematically with marked eyebrows, nose, thin mouth and almond-shaped eyes. Large wigs lay on their heads, separated at the top of the head and falling to the back. In the case of figurines which were discovered in the layer filling of the chapel, soil and salt created a sediment on the figure, colouring it in dark bronze. Depending on the state of preservation and craftsmen s work the quality of figurines details of faces and wigs differs. 18 The last group of figures is depicted with many details and may be considered as realistic representations. However, some deformations are shown in an emphasised, often grotesque, way. This group involves three figures, two of which were discovered in a deposit in The third figure was discovered in another vessel from the chapel room as well, one year later. This group is hard to analyse because the style of craftsmen s is different in every case. The common feature of these figurines is detailed craftsmanship and distinctive for dwarfs features. The first one is a standing female dwarf on a round base (fig. 14). The woman wears a long robe and has visibly modelled breasts. This dwarf has features similar to dwarfs from the second group as e.g. large, heavy wig, however noticeable care for detail and realism allows us to place it in this group. The craftsmanship of this figurine is much more detailed, which is particularly noticeable on the face of dwarf. Moreover, such details as fingers marked by incisions differ this example from the second group. Second one is a standing male dwarf (fig. 15). The figure is realistic, although with overdrawn, even caricatural, proportions (very large head and short limbs, especially hands). The dwarf wears only a loin cloth with a penis sheath. The knees of the figure are bent and spread apart and his feet are pointing inwards with the toes, and outwards with the heels. The hands are very short with modelled fingers and emphasised muscles. The face of the dwarf is definitely the most sophisticated part of the figure. His eyebrows are plastically emphasised, just as large, almond-shaped eyes with pupils and schematically drawn eyelids. Third figure depicts a standing naked female dwarf, which was discovered in 2007 and was placed in a vessel which was located in the shrine-room (fig. 16). Elements of a considerably flat face are well made, including a wide nose, lips and eyes with pupils and eyelids. A large, wavy wig rests on her head and falls to both sides to her shoulders and to her back. The breasts are well modelled, emphasising the gender of the figure. A skin fold below the neck and slightly sagging breasts may point to advanced age. Her legs, arched outwards, terminate (as if cut) just below the knees in a way that makes the stability of the figure impossible. In a place where the left hand should be was a drilled hole. In the same chapel room a hand, also with an opening, was found, so the parts must have been joined with a peg. An outline of fingers is noticeable on the clenched fist. The opening in the palm indicates that probably some item was placed there a sceptre or staff for the stability of the figure. 19 If we compare figurines from Upper Egypt with those from Tell el-farkha we will see some differences as well as similarities. In style dwarfs from Tell el-farkha are similar to figurines from Hierakonpolis, where we have figures with large and heavy wigs, and one example of a naked female dwarf similar to figurines with a mobile hand. On the other hand, Elephantine figurines are completely different than these from Hierakonpolis and from Tell el-farkha. In this case that was due to the material used. In the case of the Elephantine there 18 Figurines with inventory numbers: WD06/33, WD06/41, WD06/42, WD06/48, WD06/51, W06/8, WD07/55, W07/56; Chłodnicki, Ciałowicz, PAM XVIII (2008), pp. 133, 134, 142; Buszek, Studies in Ancient Art and Civilization 12 (2008), pp Figurines with inventory numbers: WD06/36, WD06/54, WD07/D1/17; Chłodnicki, Ciałowicz, PAM XVIII (2008), pp , 136; Buszek, Studies in Ancient Art and Civilization 12 (2008), pp

8 Early Dynastic Representations of Dwarfs Research Perspectives were not any bones or ivory figures what may have been caused by the provincial character of that place, as opposed to Hierakonpolis, which was considered an administrative centre as early as in the Predynastic Period. In this aspect materials used in the Delta are quite interesting (Tell Ibrahim Awad, Tell el-farkha). The size of the figures was connected with the type of material used to make them. In Hierakonpolis, where ivory was used, the size of figurines ranged from 8 cm to more than 15 cm in height, in Tell el Farkha size of figurines was from less than 3 cm to less than 6cm in hieght. In the Delta hippopotamus tusk was more popular material, which was also highly valued. Undoubtedly the choice of that material was connected with its availability. Another difference is the number of depictions. In all votive deposits were dwarf figurines, but in Tell el-farkha dwarfs dominate their representations account for more than 18 percent of all figurines. This may indicate the special treatment of dwarfs in Tell el-farkha. However, differences in methods of research, methodology, states of preservation and state of publications of all the other deposits makes it impossible to compare them. Attendance of dwarfs figurines, especially those made of ivory, in votive deposits proves the importance of dwarfs: there is the possibility that ivory should be connected with the Royal Court. But all votive deposits can also be linked with religion. All of them were discovered in places which are interpreted as early sanctuaries or shrines. The Old Kingdom depictions of dwarfs gain more secular character, which can be noticed on reliefs from graves of elites from Saqqara and Gizeh. Figures from Tell el-farkha give us very important information about the development of art in Egypt. It is clear that later depictions in the Old Kingdom had their origin in figurines from the Early Dynastic Period. Some characteristic features of dwarfs (especially achondroplastic dwarfs), like disproportionate stature, large head, short legs and arms, bent knees, were used and showed in the same way. In the Old Kingdom only a few representations in art indicate other diseases, as in the case of Petpennesut, who was a proportionate stature dwarf, but even in this example the figure displays some achondroplastic features, like a large head. We can see that for Egyptians it was enough to show some features in a schematic way to recognise the depicted person as a dwarf. Two figurines from Tell el- Farkha present this kind of schematisation. Craftsmen did not give much attention to detail, the disproportionate stature being the only distinctive feature of the dwarf. In the Early Dynastic Period we can see the origins of the Egyptian canon in art. We can assume that schematisation of dwarfs from Tell el-farkha is evidence of the development of art from realistic forms to a more simplified one. The meaning of those figures is not certain. A number of hypotheses exists: one of them is that the dwarf figures depict an actual physical defect of a person making the votive offering. 20 This regarded court dwarfs, who had the privilege of making votive offerings in state sanctuaries. Thus, it is possible that realistic depictions may have served as portraits, while the schematic ones were just generally depicting dwarfs. However, because of the relatively large number of such depictions, this hypothesis is quite improbable. Another hypothesis states that the offerings were connected with fertility and protection of childbirth. What is more, the basis of this hypothesis are the later cults of Bes and Hathor, which are connected with fertility, but these arguments are insufficient. All we can say for sure is that the beliefs connected with dwarfs were known in the whole of Egypt in the Early Dynastic Period Dreyer, Der Tempel der Satet, p. 60; Dasen, Dwarfs, p Dasen, Dwarfs, p

9 38

10 Artur Buszek Fig. 12. Female dwarf figurine from Tell el-farkha (WD06/43) (photograph by R. Słaboński) Fig. 13. Female dwarf figurine from Tell el-farkha (WD06/42) (photograph by R. Słaboński) Fig. 14. Female dwarf figurine from Tell el-farkha (WD06/36) (photograph by R. Słaboński) Fig. 15. Male dwarf figurine from Tell el-farkha (WD06/54) (photograph by R. Słaboński) Fig. 16. Female dwarf figurine from Tell el-farkha (W07/ D1/17) (photograph by R. Słaboński)