Greek interactions with Egyptian material culture during the Archaic Period
This thesis proposes that we can better understand Greek society in the Archaic Period by evaluating the purposes of their interactions with Egyptian material culture and through a greater appreciation of Egyptian political and cultural history in the Third Intermediate and Late Period. The thesis combines an examination of the Egyptian and Egyptianising objects from Greek graves and sanctuaries with a study of Egyptianising motifs in Greek painted pottery and sculpture. With this evidence, the thesis primarily addresses questions of agency and of consumption. It aims to demonstrate that Greek interactions with Egypt are not defined by Phoenician intermediaries or by the foundation of Naucratis late in the seventh century. Instead, it is argues that the development of personal connections between the elite of certain Greek states and the rulers of Egyptian kingdoms in the eighth century could explain the escalation of Greek interactions with Egyptian material culture during the Archaic Period and the regional variability of these interactions. The thesis also highlights the stark differences between Greek interactions with Egyptian and Egyptianising material in different media and in different consumption
Skuse, Matthew Leslie
Graeco-Egyptian ; Consumption ; Archaic Period ; Early Iron Age ; Orientalising ; Mediterranean networks
Greek interactions with Egyptian material culture during the Archaic Period. This thesis proposes that we can better understand Greek society in the Archaic Period by evaluating the purposes of their interactions with Egyptian material culture and through a greater appreciation of Egyptian political and cultural history in the Third Intermediate and Late Period. The thesis combines an examination of the Egyptian and Egyptianising objects from Greek graves and sanctuaries with a study of Egyptianising motifs in Greek painted pottery and sculpture. With this evidence, the thesis primarily addresses questions of agency and of consumption. It aims to demonstrate that Greek interactions with Egypt are not defined by Phoenician intermediaries or by the foundation of Naucratis late in the seventh century. Instead, it is argues that the development of personal connections between the elite of certain Greek states and the rulers of Egyptian kingdoms in the eighth century could explain the escalation of Greek interactions with Egyptian material culture during the Archaic Period and the regional variability of these interactions. The thesis also highlights the stark differences between Greek interactions with Egyptian and Egyptianising material in different media and in different consumption
greek interaction egyptian material_culture archaic_period proposes well greek_society archaic_period evaluate purpose interaction egyptian material_culture great appreciation egyptian political_cultural history third intermediate late_period combine examination egyptian object greek graf sanctuary study motif greek paint pottery sculpture evidence primarily address_question agency consumption aim greek interaction egypt define phoenician intermediary foundation instead_argue development personal connection elite certain greek state ruler egyptian kingdom could_explain greek interaction egyptian material_culture archaic_period regional_variability interaction also_highlight stark difference greek interaction egyptian material different_medium different consumption