ANCIENT EGYPTIAN RITUAL PRACTICE: ir-ht AND nt-‘ Carolyn Diane Routledge A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations University of Toronto © Copyright by Carolyn Diane Routledge 2001L’auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive permettant a la National Library Bbtnaqu nationale of Canada Acauisiions and ‘Acquisitions et BGlographic Services Services Dbfographiques geueracst = Searing trade ‘The author has granted a non- exclusive licence allowing the ‘National Library of Canada to reproduce, loan, distribute or sell copies of this thesis in microform, paper or electronic formats The author retains ownership of the copyright in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author’s permission. Bibliothéque nationale du Canada de reproduire, préter, distribuer ou vendre des copies de cette thése sous la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. L’auteur conserve la propriété du droit d’auteur qui protége cette thése. Ni la thése ni des extraits substantiels de celle-ci ne doivent étre imprimés ou autrement reproduits sans son autorisation. 0-612-59038-0 CanadaABSTRACT: A.wWCIENT EGYPTIAN RITUAL PRACTICE: ir-t AND nt PH.D. DISSERTATION 2001 CAROLYN DIANE ROUTLEDGE DEPARTMENT OF NEAR AND MIDDLE EASTERN CIVILIZATIONS UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO The ancient Egyptian terms ir-ht and nt-‘ commonly are understood as being technical terms pertaining to the performance of cultic rituals. In using these terms to study ritual in ancient Egypt, a problem arises in that these terms are not always translated as ritual when the context of their use is not cultic. A similar pattern is observed in the translation of the royal title nb irt-bt, which is derived from the term ir- ht. Consequently, this thesis conducts a survey of the uses and contexts of the terms ir- ht, nb irt-bt, and nt-‘ in order to map the semantic field of these words. From this survey, it is possible to conclude that ir-bt and nt-‘ were technical terms in ancient Egyptian language. They referred to a distinct group of activities within ancient Egyptian cultural practice that included cultic rites, funerary rites, aggressive actions, the performance of career duties, and customary behaviours. These activities had specific characteristics such as physical performance, formality, traditionalism, rule governance, and sacral symbolism. Additionally, it was found that there was an intimate connection between the performance of these activities and the Egyptian concept of ma‘at, especially in relation to the preservation of order.In making conclusions concerning the meaning of these technical terms, it is, proposed that they did indeed refer to ritual and the semantic fields of these words could be used to reconstruct the ancient Egyptian cognitive category “ritual.” In testing this theory, the academic analysis of ritual across cultures was examined. It was found that the activities and their characteristics, which were outlined based on the analysis of ir-bt and nt, were consistent with the kinds of activities and characteristics that other cultures understood as ritual.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation was completed over a relatively long period of time and saw a couple of radical shifts in topic. Consequently, I am indebted to a number of people spread over time and distance who might not recognize the finished product. While I hope to leave no one unacknowledged, I would like everyone who helped along the way to know I appreciated your contributions. First, I would like to acknowledge my thesis committee. Professor Ronald Leprohon, my Ph.D. adviser, saw me through the entire project with continuous support, patience, and sage advice. I would like to thank Professor Timothy Harrison and Professor Mary Ann Pouls-Wegner for their careful reading of the dissertation and for their many insightful comments. In addition, I would like to thank the external reader, Professor David O*Connor, for his time and effort in the face of shifting deadlines. Second, I would like to thank those who arranged access to various research facilities for me: Dr. Michel Fortin and Dr. Paul-Hubert Poirier of the Université Laval; Drs. Pierre and Patricia Bikai and the staff of ACOR; and Dr. David Silverman and Dr. Richard Zettler of the University of Pennsylvania. Funding for the support of this project came from a variety of sources including the University of Toronto Open Fellowship, the Social Sciences and ivHumanities Research Council of Canada Doctoral Fellowship, and the Frank M. Waddell Fellowship. During my research, I was supplied with substantial assistance and moral support from a variety of friends and colleagues. I want to recognise my colleagues at Richard Stockton College. In particular, I would like to thank the members of the history program: Dr. Robert Gregg, Dr. Michael Hayse, Dr. William Lubenow, Dr. Paul Lyons, Dr. Robert Nichols, and Dr. Lisa Rosner. My friends from Philadelphia provided both scholarly critique and needed social relaxation — thanks especially to Denise Doxey, Ellen Morris, Jennifer Houser-Wegner, and Josef Wegner. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the unfailing support of my family. Thanks to: my parents, Tom and Judy Norman; my in-laws, Harland and Helen Routledge; my sibiings, Susan Clement and Tom Norman; and my Grandmother, Frances Norman. I owe my husband Bruce a debt of gratitude that is difficult to express. Thank you for always being there and giving me the time and support to complete this Ph.D. Your willingness to discuss my writing blocks and “great ideas” made it possible. Lastly, I want to recognise the contribution of my daughter Isobel and dedicate this work to her. She has never known a time when one of her parents was not writing a thesis. [ hope the completion of this project makes a difference and that you and I can be more “sparky” together.TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter One ~ RITUAL IN ANCIENT EGYPT: A WORD STUDY .. Ja The Word Study 1b Ancient Egyptian Terms Meaning “Ritual” 1b-1 - ir-bt 1b.2- nt Je Research Design Chapter Two— THEORIES OF RITUAL 2a Egyptology and Ritual 2b Cross-Cultural Ritual Studies ‘Chapter Three-- ANALYSIS OF Ir-ht 3a The Verb ir 3a.1 - physical performance 3a.2 - work-related activity 3a.3 - aggressive behaviour 3a.4 - religious and ceremonial activities ... 3a.5-ir+ir 3a.6 - interpretation Chart #1 (ir) 3b ht 3b.1 - property 3b.2 - offerings 3b.3 - cultic rites 3b.4 - concepts 3b.5 ~ interpretation 3b.6 - btin compounds Chart #2 (at) 3c irbt 3c.1 - cultic rites 3c.2 - funerary rites 3c.3 - aggressive rites 3c-4 - work 3c5 - interpretation 3c.6 - chronological analysis Conclusion ‘Chart #3 (ir(t)-bt) NoueNn ASRSSPASSSRESRSB . 13Chapter Four — ANALYSIS OF THE ROYAL TITLE Nb rt-t 4a The Nature of the Title 4b The Uses of Nb Irt-bt 4b.1 - the writing and form of the title nb it-be 4.2 - chart #4 . 4b3 - types of sources 4b.4 - position of the title in relation to the titulary .... 177 4b.5 - the character of the context - 182 4b6 - use of the title in royal programs 184 Tutankhamun’s tomb Medinet Habu 4c Analysis and Conclusions 4c.1 - analysis 4c.2 - conclusions Chart #4 (ab irt-ht) Chart #5 (Tutankhamun’s tomb) Chart #6 (Medinet Habu) 162 Chapter Five ~ ANALYSIS OF Nt-* 5a The Composition of the Word Nt-* 5a.1 - the word © 5a.2 - original meaning of nt-* 5b Uses of Nt 5b-1 - cultic ritual 5b.2 - funerary and aggressive rituals 5b.3 - work as ritual 5b.4 ~ custom as ritual 5c Analysis and Conclusions 5c.1 - analysis of the uses of nt-‘ 5c.2 ~ comparision of ni and nb i 5c3 - chronological analysis 5c.4- conclusions Chart #7 (nt-') Chapter Six -- CONCLUSION: ANCIENT EGYPTIAN RITUAL 6a The Nature of Ancient Egyptian Ritual 6b Issues of Translation 6c Conclusion BIBLIOGRAPHY ABBREVIATIONSCHAPTER ONE Ritual in Ancient Egypt: A Word Study “When [ use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a ‘scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean-neither more nor less.” “The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.” “The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master— that’s all.” Lewis Carroll: Through the Looking Glass. This thesis represents an attempt to reconstruct the ancient Egyptian cognitive category, “ritual” during the classical period of ancient Egyptian culture - from the Old through to the end of the New Kingdom. When initiating such a study, it is difficult to know whats the best scholarly approach to the study of the beliefs and activities of another culture as far separated in time and place from us as ancient Egypt. This is particularly true for ritual, which academics in other disciplines most commonly study through ethnographic accounts, participation, and active observation (e.g., Grimes 1995: 5-6, 24-39), These are methods that can be difficult to adapt to the evidence available to Egyptologists. Additionally, the term ritual has come to be applied to a large number of human activities from religious