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Ancient Egyptian Letters to the Dead
The Realm of the Dead through the Voice of the Living
Series: - Harvard Egyptological Studies, Volume: 15
Author:
In
Ancient Egyptian Letters to the Dead: The Realm of the Dead through the Voice of the Living Julia Hsieh investigates the beliefs and practices of communicating with the dead in ancient Egypt through close lexical semantic analysis of extant Letters. Hsieh shows how oral indicators, toponyms, and adverbs in these Letters signal a practice that was likely performed aloud in a tomb or necropolis, and how the senders of these Letters demonstrate a belief in the power and omniscience of their deceased relatives and enjoin them to fight malevolent entities and advocate on their behalf in the afterlife. These Letters reflect universals in beliefs and practices and how humankind, past and present, makes sense of existence beyond death.
Julia Hsieh, Ph.D. (2019), Yale University, has published articles on topics ranging from ancient Egyptian toponyms and grammatical constructions to vessel repair. Her research interests include the evolution of the Egyptian language, comparative religion, and bioarchaeology. She is the Assistant Editor of Near Eastern Archaeology, and Campaign Director & Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Yale School of Management.
"This book is beautifully illustrated and includes a chart of extant letters to the dead and a glossary. All the texts quoted are translated, with full explanatory notes. While intended for specialists, it is by no means esoteric, providing us with a variety of perspectives on the ancient Egyptians."
- Wilfred G.E. Watson, in The Society for Old Testament Study Book List 2022
- Wilfred G.E. Watson, in The Society for Old Testament Study Book List 2022
Acknowledgements
List of Figures
Abbreviations
Introduction
1 What Are the Letters to the Dead?
2 What Can We Infer from the Letters to the Dead?
1 Orality and Intertextuality
1 Orality
2 Intertextuality
2 Where Were the Letters Composed, Performed, and Deposited?
1 Geospatial Indicators
2 The Use of Bowls and the mnṯꜣ.t Vessel
3 Characteristics and Abilities of the Akh
1 The Akh in the Letters to the Dead
2 Akh as Advocate
3 Adversaries and Malevolent Akh
4 Literacy in the Afterlife
5 Transliteration, Translation, and Text Notes
1 Cairo Linen
2 Qau Bowl
3 Chicago Jar Stand
4 Letter N3737
5 Letter N3500
6 Hu Bowl
7 Boston Jar Stand
8 Stela of Nebetitef and the Misplaced Letter to the Dead
9 Louvre Bowl
10 Berlin Bowl
11 Cairo Bowl
12 Qubbet el-Hawa Bowl
13 Papyrus Berlin 10481 and 10482
14 Horhotep Ostracon
15 Oxford Bowl
16 Moscow Bowl
Conclusion
Supplementary Texts
Summary Chart of Extant Letters to the Dead
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
List of Figures
Abbreviations
Introduction
1 What Are the Letters to the Dead?
2 What Can We Infer from the Letters to the Dead?
Part 1 The Senders
1 Orality and Intertextuality
1 Orality
2 Intertextuality
2 Where Were the Letters Composed, Performed, and Deposited?
1 Geospatial Indicators
2 The Use of Bowls and the mnṯꜣ.t Vessel
Part 2 The Recipients
3 Characteristics and Abilities of the Akh
1 The Akh in the Letters to the Dead
2 Akh as Advocate
3 Adversaries and Malevolent Akh
4 Literacy in the Afterlife
Part 3 Textual Analysis of the Letters to the Dead
5 Transliteration, Translation, and Text Notes
1 Cairo Linen
2 Qau Bowl
3 Chicago Jar Stand
4 Letter N3737
5 Letter N3500
6 Hu Bowl
7 Boston Jar Stand
8 Stela of Nebetitef and the Misplaced Letter to the Dead
9 Louvre Bowl
10 Berlin Bowl
11 Cairo Bowl
12 Qubbet el-Hawa Bowl
13 Papyrus Berlin 10481 and 10482
14 Horhotep Ostracon
15 Oxford Bowl
16 Moscow Bowl
Conclusion
Supplementary Texts
Summary Chart of Extant Letters to the Dead
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
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