Dr. Katja Weiß - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Dr. Katja Weiß

Two greek paintings on a ›situla‹ and a votive pinax of the 6th century B.C. from Memphis and Saq... more Two greek paintings on a ›situla‹ and a votive pinax of the 6th century B.C. from Memphis and Saqqara
with depictions of Apis and his mother are analysed. The painter of the ›situla‹, found in precinct of Apis
in Memphis, performs a ceremony in front of the sacred cattle in Memphis, an offering of water for cleansing,
as is due to Egyptian divinities. The painter of the pinax, found in the catacombs of the mother of Apis
in Saqqara, depicts how the cattle are led out by cult attendants from the precinct of Apis at Memphis,
and how, during the procession from Memphis to Saqqara at the New Year’s festival, they are fed by a
Greek, as it appears. While it can be proven that the ›situla‹ was produced in the second quarter of the
6th century B.C. outside Egypt in a Rhodian workshop, one may assume that the painter of the wooden
object only worked for a short time in Egypt, probably in Memphis. Experts have connected the style of
this painter with northern Ionia. Traces of his activity in Egypt are not known. One may expect that participation
in the great New Year’s procession from Memphis to Saqqara, perhaps connected with a request
for a divine omen, was common for the members of the Egyptian army, and therefore also for the Greek
mercenaries and the Hellenomemphites of Memphis, as is indeed transmitted related the ekphora of Apis.
In the case of the votive pinax the client was a privileged Greek mercenary who was permitted to approach
the sacred cattle, which without doubt represented a great honour for him and was also probably decisive
for his future. The high-quality painting on the pinax can be evaluated as authentic evidence for the cult in
Memphis/Saqqara, at least during the Saite period or during the reign of Amasis. This is particularly valid
for the mother of Apis, venerated as Isis, who was also respected as a protective goddess by the soldiers.

Books by Dr. Katja Weiß

Two greek paintings on a ›situla‹ and a votive pinax of the 6th century B.C. from Memphis and Saq... more Two greek paintings on a ›situla‹ and a votive pinax of the 6th century B.C. from Memphis and Saqqara
with depictions of Apis and his mother are analysed. The painter of the ›situla‹, found in precinct of Apis
in Memphis, performs a ceremony in front of the sacred cattle in Memphis, an offering of water for cleansing,
as is due to Egyptian divinities. The painter of the pinax, found in the catacombs of the mother of Apis
in Saqqara, depicts how the cattle are led out by cult attendants from the precinct of Apis at Memphis,
and how, during the procession from Memphis to Saqqara at the New Year’s festival, they are fed by a
Greek, as it appears. While it can be proven that the ›situla‹ was produced in the second quarter of the
6th century B.C. outside Egypt in a Rhodian workshop, one may assume that the painter of the wooden
object only worked for a short time in Egypt, probably in Memphis. Experts have connected the style of
this painter with northern Ionia. Traces of his activity in Egypt are not known. One may expect that participation
in the great New Year’s procession from Memphis to Saqqara, perhaps connected with a request
for a divine omen, was common for the members of the Egyptian army, and therefore also for the Greek
mercenaries and the Hellenomemphites of Memphis, as is indeed transmitted related the ekphora of Apis.
In the case of the votive pinax the client was a privileged Greek mercenary who was permitted to approach
the sacred cattle, which without doubt represented a great honour for him and was also probably decisive
for his future. The high-quality painting on the pinax can be evaluated as authentic evidence for the cult in
Memphis/Saqqara, at least during the Saite period or during the reign of Amasis. This is particularly valid
for the mother of Apis, venerated as Isis, who was also respected as a protective goddess by the soldiers.