This module explores the funerary environment of private tombs of Pharaonic Egypt through the comparative study of the three main groups of evidence: architecture/archaeological material, iconography and texts. In addition to the specific subject matter, the aim is to develop key skills in the understanding and application of theoretical analysis and interpretation such as currently applied in the field.
Students will develop an awareness and broad understanding of some key theoretical issues and concepts central to the interpretation of Egyptian culture (principles of Egyptian art, cultural conventions, anthropological theories). Students will further build up their critical skills of both primary sources and secondary literature and experiment with basic research methodological issues. Discussion of case studies will contribute to the development of individual projects in which students will demonstrate their acquired skill in comparative analysis of significantly different sets of sources.
This module will be taught through lectures and discussions aimed to establish basic concepts, approaches, and data sets. Central topics or themes will be presented via case studies which will allow students to explore and discuss their own ideas and questions about the material within a carefully defined framework. Lectures and seminars around a range of relevant topics, such as: The meaning of death; Body and soul; The Body's preservation; The Body's protection; The tomb as a place of burial: Architectural environment; The tomb as a memorial: Visual and textual self-presentation; The tomb as a place of ritual.