Riverine and desert animals in predynastic Upper Egypt : material culture and faunal remains
Animals were given a preponderant position in Egyptian art, symbolism, and cultual practices. This thesis centres on the relationship between humans and animals during the predynastic period in Upper Egypt (Naqada I-IIIB, 4th millennium BCE), focusing on hippopotamus and crocodile as representatives of the Nile environment and antelope species as representatives of the desert environment. Depictions of these animals are analysed and compared with contemporary faunal remains derived from activities such as cult, funerary, or every day consumption. The material analysed covers several centuries: temporal evolutions and changes have been identified. The animals studied in this thesis were first used by the Naqada I-IIB elites as means to visually and practically express their power, which they envisioned in two contrasting and complementary ways. The responsibilities of the leaders were symbolised by the annihilation of negative wild forces primarily embodied by antelope species. In contrast, they symbolically appropriated positive wild forces, chief among them being the hippopotamus, from which they symbolically derived their power. Faunal remains from after mid-Naqada II are few, depictions of hippopotamus
Droux, Xavier
Animals and civilization--Egypt ; Animal remains (Archaeology)--Egypt ; Material culture--Egypt ; Egypt--Antiquities ; Egypt--Religious life and customs
Riverine and desert animals in predynastic Upper Egypt : material culture and faunal remains. Animals were given a preponderant position in Egyptian art, symbolism, and cultual practices. This thesis centres on the relationship between humans and animals during the predynastic period in Upper Egypt (Naqada I-IIIB, 4th millennium BCE), focusing on hippopotamus and crocodile as representatives of the Nile environment and antelope species as representatives of the desert environment. Depictions of these animals are analysed and compared with contemporary faunal remains derived from activities such as cult, funerary, or every day consumption. The material analysed covers several centuries: temporal evolutions and changes have been identified. The animals studied in this thesis were first used by the Naqada I-IIB elites as means to visually and practically express their power, which they envisioned in two contrasting and complementary ways. The responsibilities of the leaders were symbolised by the annihilation of negative wild forces primarily embodied by antelope species. In contrast, they symbolically appropriated positive wild forces, chief among them being the hippopotamus, from which they symbolically derived their power. Faunal remains from after mid-Naqada II are few, depictions of hippopotamus
riverine desert animal upper egypt material_culture faunal_remain animals give position egyptian art symbolism practices centre relationship human_animal period upper egypt iiib millennium_bce focus representative nile environment species representative desert environment animal analyse_compare contemporary faunal_remain derived activity cult funerary every day consumption material analyse cover temporal evolution change identify animal study first use elite mean visually practically express power envision two_contrast complementary way responsibility leader symbolise annihilation negative wild force primarily embody specie contrast symbolically appropriate positive wild force chief among symbolically derived power faunal_remain depiction