Inscriptional Violence and Punishment

in the First Intermediate Period

___________________________________

The threat-formulae of Jt(=j)-jb(=j),

3tj II and anx.tj=fj

Katrina Jane Edwards

Supervisor: Prof. Anthony Spalinger

Dissertation submitted as part of the requirement for the degree of

MA (Honours) in Ancient History
(ANCHIST790, 30 points)

ABSTRACT
Threat-formulae served as an important means of protection against tomb violation
throughout much of ancient Egyptian history. Threats describe devastating punishments for
would-be malefactors, such as debaptism or the loss of a ritual burial. However, in 1990,
Harco Willems argued that threat-formulae could also be viewed as evidence for capital
punishment a theory which has since attracted both critics and supporters, and is now
arguably in need of further review.
This dissertation revisits Willems' theory through analysis of two First Intermediate Period
examples from the 'autobiographical' inscriptions of Siut governors, Ityiby and Khety II,
along with discussion of the No.8 inscription of The Autobiography of Ankhtify. It
provides fresh translations and accompanying commentaries for each of these texts, and
concludes with a debate regarding the nature of punishments described within them. Using
later copies of the Siut texts from Tebtunis, this work argues that past interpretations of
punishments within the Siut formulae require amendment, and now seem less likely to
describe capital punishment. It likewise considers the merits of Arkadi Demidchik's recent
interpretation of Ankhtify's No.8 Inscription, which also challenges capital punishment
theories.

Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
NOTE ON ABBREVIATIONS AND TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................1
2. THE THREAT-FORMULAE OF J6(=J)-JB(=J) AND 36J II.....................................4
2.1 Historical Background...................................................................................4
Fig. 1...............................................................................................................6
Fig. 2...............................................................................................................7
2.1.1 Jt(=j)-jb(=j) Stipulation A............................................................................8
2.2.2 Injunction A: negative threats.....................................................................9
2.2.3 Injunction A: active threats.......................................................................10
Fig. 3.............................................................................................................11
Fig. 4.............................................................................................................12
2.2.4 Jt(=j)-jb(=j) Stipulation B..........................................................................13
Fig. 5.............................................................................................................15
2.2.5 Injunction B: negative threats...................................................................16
2.2.6 Injunction B: active threats.......................................................................18
Fig. 6.............................................................................................................19
Fig. 7.............................................................................................................20
2.3.1 3tj II Stipulation.......................................................................................21
2.3.2 Injunction: negative threats.......................................................................22
2.3.3 Injunction: active threats...........................................................................23
3. THE NO.8 INSCRIPTION IN THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF aN2.6J=FJ...........25
3.1 Historical Background.................................................................................25
Fig. 8.............................................................................................................26
3.2 Stipulation....................................................................................................27
3.3 Injunction: active threats..............................................................................29
3.4 Injunction: negative threats..........................................................................32
Fig. 9..............................................................................................................34
4. THE NATURE OF PUNISHMENT IN THE THREAT-FORMULAE OF
J6(=J)- JB(=J), 36J II AND aN2.6J=FJ............................................................35
4.1 Punishments of Jt(=j)-jb(=j) and 3tj II: previous interpretations.................35
4.2 The curious case of anx.tj=fj.........................................................................40
4.3 Punishments of Jt(=j)-jb(=j), 3tj II and anx.tj=fj: a fresh perspective........44
5. CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................46
BIBLIOGRAPHY...........................................................................................................47