Royal Statues in Egypt 300 BC-AD 220: Context and Function

Description

The aim of this book is to approach Ptolemaic and Imperial royal sculpture in Egypt dating between 300 BC and AD 220 (the reigns of Ptolemy I and Caracalla) from a contextual point of view. To collect together the statuary items (recognised as statues, statue heads and fragments, and inscribed bases and plinths) that are identifiably royal and have a secure archaeological context, that is a secure find spot or a recoverable provenance, within Egypt. This material was used, alongside other types of evidence such as textual sources and numismatic material, to consider the distribution, style, placement, and functions of the royal statues, and to answer the primary questions: where were these statues located? What was the relationship between statue, especially statue style, and placement? And what changes can be identified between Ptolemaic and Imperial royal sculpture? From analysis of the sculptural evidence, this book was able to create a catalogue of 103 entries composed of 157 statuary items, and use this to identify the different styles of royal statues that existed in Ptolemaic and Imperial Egypt and the primary spaces for the placement of such imagery, namely religious and urban space. The results, based on the available evidence, was the identification of a division between sculptural style and context regarding the royal statues, with Egyptian-style material being placed in Egyptian contexts, Greek-style material in Greek, and Imperial-style statues associated with classical contexts. The functions of the statues appear to have also typically been closely related to statue style and placement. Many of the statues were often directly associated with their location, meaning they were an intrinsic part of the function and appearance of the context they occupied, as well as acting as representations of the monarchs. Primarily, the royal statues acted as a way to establish and maintain communication between different groups in Egypt. Cover Title page Copyright page Acknowledgements Contents List of Maps and Figures Map 1. Egypt (All sites labelled with black dots provide evidence of royal sculpture) (Image: Author) Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Introduction Previous Scholarship Approach Introduction Previous Scholarship Approach Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Textual Sources A. Literary sources A.2. Discussion of Literary sources A.3. Literary Sources: Conclusion B. Priestly Decrees B.2. Discussion of priestly decrees C. Commissioning statues D. Textual Sources: Conclusion Textual Sources A. Literary sources A.2. Discussion of Literary sources A.3. Literary Sources: Conclusion B. Priestly Decrees B.2. Discussion of priestly decrees C. Commissioning statues D. Textual Sources: Conclusion Map 2: Find spots of the Priestly Decrees throughout Egypt (Image: Author) Figure 1. The Mendes Decree (Meulenaere 1965, pl 1; © Brooklyn Museum) Figure 2. a and b;The Raphia Decree; Mit Raphina Stele with detail of the relief; Ptolemy IV on horseback with spear and Arsinoe III behind. (Hölbl 2001, 163; © Egyptian Museum, Cairo) Figure 3 Rosetta Stone, British Museum (Digital Image, British Museum, AN00016456_004; © Trustees of the British Museum) Figure 4. Philae Decrees on Birthhouse (© Author - digitally combined image) Figure 5. The Pithom Stele: left scene Ptolemy II (on left) offering to a king (probably Ptolemy I; middle scene Ptolemy II offering to the gods Tum, Hathor, and Arsinoe; right scene faces the opposite direction, Ptolemy II (far right) offering Ma’at to t Figure 6. Procession of priests carrying shrines, on the staircase to the roof at Dendera (© Author) Figure 7. Plan of Temple of Horus at Edfu (Kurth 2004, inner cover © D. Kurth) Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Cult Statues A. Cult Statues of the Ptolemies in Egyptian temples A.1. Egyptian cult statues A.2. Cults of the Ptolemies A.3. Arsinoe II and other single cults A.4. Inside the temple A.5. Leaving the temple A.6. Cult statues in Egyptian temples: Conclusion B. Greek cult statues of the Ptolemies B.1. Greek cult statues B.2. Greek cults of the Ptolemies B.3. Thmuis B.4. Hermopolis Magna B.5. Serapeum triad B.6. Greek cult statues: Conclusion C. Imperial cult statues C.1. Imperial cult and cult statues C.2. Imperial cult in Egypt C.3. Karnak C.4. Other Imperial statues used in cult in Egypt C.5. Caesarea C.6. In Egyptian temples C.7. Imperial cult statues: Conclusion Cult Statues A. Cult Statues of the Ptolemies in Egyptian temples A.1. Egyptian cult statues A.2. Cults of the Ptolemies A.3. Arsinoe II and other single cults A.4. Inside the temple A.5. Leaving the temple A.6. Cult statues in Egyptian temples: Conclusion B. Greek cult statues of the Ptolemies B.1. Greek cult statues B.2. Greek cults of the Ptolemies B.3. Thmuis B.4. Hermopolis Magna B.5. Serapeum triad B.6. Greek cult statues: Conclusion C. Imperial cult statues C.1. Imperial cult and cult statues C.2. Imperial cult in Egypt C.3. Karnak C.4. Other Imperial statues used in cult in Egypt C.5. Caesarea C.6. In Egyptian temples C.7. Imperial cult statues: Conclusion Figure 8. Falcon Headed Deity (Miho Museum 1997, no.5, © Miho Museum) Figure 10. Ptolemy VIII and his wives receive royal status, interior wall relief, Kom Ombo (© Author) Figure 9. Offerings to Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II by Ptolemy III; Gate of Euergetes, Karnak (© Author) Figure 11. Stele showing Tanite triad with Ptolemy IV and Arsinoe III, from Tanis (Digital Image, British Museum, AN00144204_001; © Trustees of the British Museum) Figure 12.a (left). Statue of an Aphrodite from Athribis (Myśliwiec 1988, pl 35 - TA III.15.85; © Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw) Figure 12.b (below). Head of a female (goddess) from Athribis (Myśliwiec and Herbich 1988, pl 37 – TA III3485; © Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw) Figure 13. Temple of Augustus at Philae (© Author) Figure 14. Temple of Serapis, Luxor (© Author) Categories and Contexts A. Categories of royal statue B. Egyptian temples C. Metropoleis D. Other contexts E. Categories and context F. Categories and Contexts: Conclusion Categories and Contexts A. Categories of royal statue B. Egyptian temples C. Metropoleis D. Other contexts E. Categories and context F. Categories and Contexts: Conclusion Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Figure 15. Ram-headed sphinxes lining the dromos of Karnak (© Author) Figure 16. Layout of Temple of Amun at Tanis Figure 17. Sphinxes and colossi defining the dromos and entrance of the Temple of Luxor (Photo: Author) Figure 18. House structures of Karanis (© Author) Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Environment of Royal statues and Egyptian Statues with Greek Features A. Environment of the Metropoleis B.1. Environment in the Temples: Medinet Madi and Tebtunis B.2. Location and Environment in the Egyptian Temples B.3. Egyptian statues with Greek features B.4. Egyptian statues with Greek inscriptions C. Audience and Ethnicity D. Conclusion Environment of Royal statues and Egyptian Statues with Greek Features A. Environment of the Metropoleis B.1. Environment in the Temples: Medinet Madi and Tebtunis B.2. Location and Environment in the Egyptian Temples B.3. Egyptian statues with Greek features B.4. Egyptian statues with Greek inscriptions C. Audience and Ethnicity D. Conclusion Figure 19. Zeus wearing Atef Crown Figure 20. a and b Standing Male from Tebtunis (Rondot 2004, no.108 to 111, 277; Archives Anti © Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Padua Inv. No. 184, Photogr. No. 012 and 013) Figure 21. Standing statue feet in situ, from Tebtunis (Rondot 2004, no.106, 276; Archives Anti© Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Padua Inv. No. 186, Photogr. No. 001) Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Functions of Royal Statues A. Statue functions in the Metropoleis B.1. Statue functions in Egyptian temples B.2. Roman statues and Egyptian temples C. Statue Function: Conclusion Functions of Royal Statues A. Statue functions in the Metropoleis B.1. Statue functions in Egyptian temples B.2. Roman statues and Egyptian temples C. Statue Function: Conclusion Alexandria A.1. Royal statues of Ptolemaic Alexandria A.2. The Serapeum A.3. Underwater Ptolemaic statues: The Pharos and Royal Harbour A.4. The Hadra Dyad A.5. Other material and contexts B.1. Imperial statues in Roman Alexandria B.2. Central area B.3. Antirhodos Island B.4. Numismatic evidence for Imperial statues C. Pre-Ptolemaic sculpture in Alexandria D. Alexandria: Conclusion Alexandria A.1. Royal statues of Ptolemaic Alexandria A.2. The Serapeum A.3. Underwater Ptolemaic statues: The Pharos and Royal Harbour A.4. The Hadra Dyad A.5. Other material and contexts B.1. Imperial statues in Roman Alexandria B.2. Central area B.3. Antirhodos Island B.4. Numismatic evidence for Imperial statues C. Pre-Ptolemaic sculpture in Alexandria D. Alexandria: Conclusion Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Map 3. Layout of Alexandria (Bagnall and Rathbone 2004, fig 2.1.1; © Judith McKenzie) Figure 22. Plan of the Serapeum, Ptolemaic period Figure 23. Ancient and Modern Coastline of Alexandria with relevant areas labelled (Goddio and Bernand 2004, 89; Map Franck Goddio © Franck Goddio/IEASM) Figure 24. Two coins of Commemorative Arches from c. AD 81-138 Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Outside Egypt A. Meroe B. Statues in Italy C. Other locations D. Outside Egypt: Conclusion Outside Egypt A. Meroe B. Statues in Italy C. Other locations D. Outside Egypt: Conclusion Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Conclusion Conclusion Table 1: The distribution of the different categories of royal statue throughout the regions of Egypt. Abbreviations Abbreviations Bibliography Bibliography Catalogue Introduction Lower Egypt Canopus Paraitonion Thonis-Herakleion Banub/Beheit el-Hagar Tanis Mendes Thmuis Pithom Bubastis Athribis (Banha) Terenouthis Heliopolis Abu Rawash Memphis Saqqara The Fayoum Karanis Medinet Madi Tebtunis Upper Egypt Sheikh Fadl Zawiet el Amwat Hermopolis Magna Aphroditopolis Athribis (Wannina) Koptos Karnak Philae Alexandria Outside Egypt Meroe Greece Rome Cyrene Ukraine