The ideological significance of flint in Dynastic Egypt
This thesis examines a little understood aspect of Dynastic Egyptâthat of the ideology of flint. Ideology is defined as the way flint is thought of rather than used. This study is unique in examining long term chronological changes in flint ideology against the background of increased metal use, and in using together text, iconography, and archaeology: studies of Egyptian ideology traditionally privilege text. Metaphor theory is employed as an important tool to aid this study. While metaphor is frequently used in Egyptological studies of Egyptian religion, its use is rarely explicit. The dataset brings together unpublished artefacts in British museum collections; a first hand analysis of lithics from Panhesyâs house at Amarna; finds cards from recent excavations at Memphis; and textual sources, several of which have not been considered before in relation to the ideology of flint; as well as published data on Egyptian lithic material. Chronological changes in ideology surrounding flint during the Bronze and Iron Ages, a time of flint decline, are considered. Because the nature of flint decline in Egypt has been assumed rather than known, I attempt to quantify the process. Conclusions show that the ideology
Graves-Brown, C. A.
The ideological significance of flint in Dynastic Egypt. This thesis examines a little understood aspect of Dynastic Egyptâthat of the ideology of flint. Ideology is defined as the way flint is thought of rather than used. This study is unique in examining long term chronological changes in flint ideology against the background of increased metal use, and in using together text, iconography, and archaeology: studies of Egyptian ideology traditionally privilege text. Metaphor theory is employed as an important tool to aid this study. While metaphor is frequently used in Egyptological studies of Egyptian religion, its use is rarely explicit. The dataset brings together unpublished artefacts in British museum collections; a first hand analysis of lithics from Panhesyâs house at Amarna; finds cards from recent excavations at Memphis; and textual sources, several of which have not been considered before in relation to the ideology of flint; as well as published data on Egyptian lithic material. Chronological changes in ideology surrounding flint during the Bronze and Iron Ages, a time of flint decline, are considered. Because the nature of flint decline in Egypt has been assumed rather than known, I attempt to quantify the process. Conclusions show that the ideology
ideological significance flint dynastic_egypt examines little_understood aspect dynastic_egypt ideology flint ideology define way flint think rather use study unique examine long_term chronological_change flint ideology background increase metal use use together text_iconography archaeology study egyptian ideology traditionally privilege text metaphor theory employ important tool aid study metaphor frequently_use egyptological study egyptian religion use rarely explicit dataset bring_together unpublished artefact british_museum collection first_hand analysis lithics house amarna find card recent_excavation memphis textual_source several consider_relation ideology flint well publish_data egyptian lithic_material chronological_change ideology surround flint bronze iron ages time flint decline consider nature flint decline egypt assume rather know attempt quantify process conclusions show ideology