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Papers by Hannah Sonbol
In Egyptian archaeology the gap between academics and non- academics is as big as on construction... more In Egyptian archaeology the gap between academics and non- academics is as big as on construction sites. While archaeologists are able to analyse and interpret the archaeological material, it often is the workmen who sit in the pits and excavate mummies, temples and other ancient structures.
The subject of this article are the different workmen depending on their regional location, their skills and their social status. The most known among these are the „Quftis“ who were tought by the egyptologist Sir Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) and are considered today the most skilled workmen to be found in Egypt. On the other hand average workmen who actually had apart from the excavation a vocational training are brought to do the rough work. Furthermore the article issues the welfare of the workmen depending on the archaeological mission they join. If they are part of an Egyptian mission the sallary is lower, but they are part of the Egyptian welfare which on the other hand is outdated in its financial payment. With foreign missions a welfare is usually not included, but the sallary is higher.
Finally the problem of a missing fixed term of archaeological workmen in the Egyptian system is discussed.
The article is online accessible on the following homepage (scroll down):
https://depositonce.tu-berlin.de/handle/11303/4446
Books by Hannah Sonbol
كتيب تعليمي لمدرسين المرحل الثانوية الأولى عن الكتابة واللغة فى مصر الفرعونية. الكتيب يتكون من نص... more كتيب تعليمي لمدرسين المرحل الثانوية الأولى عن الكتابة واللغة فى مصر الفرعونية. الكتيب يتكون من نصفين. فى النصف الأول يوجد نص للمدرسين والمدرسات. النصف الثانى يتكون من تدريبات يمكن طبعها واستخدامها كنشاط مع التلاميذ فى الفصل.
Narrative: Geschichte – Mythos – Repräsentation. Beiträge des achten Berliner Arbeitskreises Junge Ägyptologie (BAJA 8) 1.12.–3.12.2017, Göttinger Orientforschungen Ägypten Band 65, 2019
Die Teilnehmer waren dazu eingeladen, sich mit dem Thema „Narrative“ auseinanderzusetzen, das in ... more Die Teilnehmer waren dazu eingeladen, sich mit dem Thema „Narrative“
auseinanderzusetzen, das in dieser Form in der ägyptologischen Theorienbildung noch kaum Beachtung gefunden hat. Das breite Anwendungsspektrum dieses Themenbereichs zeigte sich in Form von geschichtswissenschaftlichen und forschungshistorischen Ansätzen, aber auch kultur-, bild- und textwissenschaftlichen Beiträgen, die sich mit Beispielen aus dem
Alten Reich bis ins Mittelalter befassten. Die Autoren präsentieren nicht nur eine umfassende,
zeitlich übergreifende Einführung in das Thema, sondern auch innovative Einzelstudien,
die in ihren spezifischen zeitlichen und räumlichen Kontexten Einblicke in die
aktuelle Forschung des Faches zu diesem interdisziplinären Thema bieten.
Conference Presentations by Hannah Sonbol
This conference contribution will be published in the near future as proceedings of the colloquiu... more This conference contribution will be published in the near future as proceedings of the colloquium (edited by Prof. A. Abdelhalim / D. Budde).
The following article is part of the ongoing Ph. D. research concerning the complete royal and divine birth cycles from ancient Egypt. In the publication presented, the author focuses on the birth cycles predating the later periods and puts them in context. For the case of Hatshepsut as well as Amenhotep III., we can state that both birth cycles are closely connected with the Heb-Sed and therefore one perspective would be to interpret it from a rebirth point of view. In addition, both birth cycles were destroyed during the Amarna period, and later restored between the end of the 18th Dynasty and Ramesses II. This is surprising, since Hatshepsut had fallen under the damnatio memoriae. Interesting enough, her birth cycle was reinterpreted to serve the cult of Ahmose Nofretari, whose temple, the Mn-js.t, lies on the processional way in front of the Ḏsr-Ḏsr.w connecting it with Karnak. Finally, we observe that the birth cycles of Hatshepsut and Amenhotep III. do not only differ in details, but specifically in their place of depiction. While Hatshepsut’s birth cycle was erected in a portico with a large open courtyard in front of it, Amenophis’ III. birth cycle was in a closed room only accessible for the ones who could enter and pass by the sanctuary of the Luxor Temple. It demonstrates that these birth cycles were not copies of one another, but were each time changed to serve in detail a different purpose.
In the following presentation the depiction of a queen giving birth from the so-called “birth-cyc... more In the following presentation the depiction of a queen giving birth from the so-called “birth-cycle” will be discussed. This image with parallels from the New Kingdom to the Roman era (ca. 1479 BC – 117 AD) was often used in Egyptological and non-Egyptological discussions as evidence to show how birth took place in ancient Egypt. According to the author of this paper, the interpretations have so far rather reflected the cultures of the researchers on the topic and shed light on their own background as well as their time. The two standard publications about this topic are written by two male researchers at a time, in which it was uncommon for men to attend child births.
The author suggests in contrast to previous interpretations to read the image from another perspective and with a deeper focus on its context in royal or divine temples. The “birth chair” often described in the image is strictly speaking a throne on which the queen is sitting. The discussion will include the only evidence in question of a “birth chair”, opening the discussion on problems of such unclear interpretations and their transmission outside of academia into recent medical discourses on maternity.
The throne was later on removed when the mother was replaced with a goddess beginning from the 26th dynasty (ca. 705 BC). Thereafter she was depicted sitting on her bed or kneeling on the ground, probably because the goddess fulfilled another purpose in the temple than the queens from the New Kingdom.
In regard with these arguments and others, the author will discuss this scene in its context and how it evolved in detail during time.
(engl.: "Using Archaeology and Culture in International Politics"; 21.–23.09.2018 in Berlin). Hi... more (engl.: "Using Archaeology and Culture in International Politics"; 21.–23.09.2018 in Berlin).
History and archaeology have always served political interests. For instance, history is used to legitimise the prior existense of countries by creating a national epos. Other monuments, such as Palmyra in Syria are used for propagandistic interests from different actors. Ancient heritage consequently becomes a game in debates of foreign policy.
In this seminar we discussed different case studies of how cultural heritage is used, as well as how to deal with the colonial legacy. We also discussed Germany's approach (Ministry of Foreign Affairs / UNESCO) and it's strategic investments in foreign cultural policy.
The program is available upon request.
(engl.: Digging out the Ancient Egyptians: An Introductive Workshop into Anthropolgy - held in Ar... more (engl.: Digging out the Ancient Egyptians: An Introductive Workshop into Anthropolgy - held in Arabic)
Talks by Hannah Sonbol
In this talk presented to students of archaeology at the LMU Munich, the author tried to explain ... more In this talk presented to students of archaeology at the LMU Munich, the author tried to explain the current complex post-colonial society in Egypt from an Egyptian perspective. Based on archival correspondances, as well as global politics in the 17th until 20th century, the author showed the linkage between the history of egyptology and it's entanglement with the politics of the day.
In the last part of the presentation, the author critically discussed current problems of egyptology, including the absence of Arabic in the field and travel restrictions for Egyptian scholars.
Hatshepsut's birth cycle has been destroyed first under the reign of Thutmosis III. and later Am... more Hatshepsut's birth cycle has been destroyed first under the reign of Thutmosis III. and later Amenophis IV. (Akhenaten), only to be restored under Ramses II. This restauration was however not identical to the original relief done by Hatshepsut's workmen, resulting in deliberatly changing the content and serving other purposes.
This preliminary presentation is part of the ongoing Ph. D. thesis "Die königlichen und göttlichen Geburtszyklen im Alten Ägypten" / "Les cycles de naissance royale et divine en Égypte ancienne". A paper on the same topic is expected in 2020.
In Egyptian archaeology the gap between academics and non- academics is as big as on construction... more In Egyptian archaeology the gap between academics and non- academics is as big as on construction sites. While archaeologists are able to analyse and interpret the archaeological material, it often is the workmen who sit in the pits and excavate mummies, temples and other ancient structures.
The subject of this article are the different workmen depending on their regional location, their skills and their social status. The most known among these are the „Quftis“ who were tought by the egyptologist Sir Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) and are considered today the most skilled workmen to be found in Egypt. On the other hand average workmen who actually had apart from the excavation a vocational training are brought to do the rough work. Furthermore the article issues the welfare of the workmen depending on the archaeological mission they join. If they are part of an Egyptian mission the sallary is lower, but they are part of the Egyptian welfare which on the other hand is outdated in its financial payment. With foreign missions a welfare is usually not included, but the sallary is higher.
Finally the problem of a missing fixed term of archaeological workmen in the Egyptian system is discussed.
The article is online accessible on the following homepage (scroll down):
https://depositonce.tu-berlin.de/handle/11303/4446
كتيب تعليمي لمدرسين المرحل الثانوية الأولى عن الكتابة واللغة فى مصر الفرعونية. الكتيب يتكون من نص... more كتيب تعليمي لمدرسين المرحل الثانوية الأولى عن الكتابة واللغة فى مصر الفرعونية. الكتيب يتكون من نصفين. فى النصف الأول يوجد نص للمدرسين والمدرسات. النصف الثانى يتكون من تدريبات يمكن طبعها واستخدامها كنشاط مع التلاميذ فى الفصل.
Narrative: Geschichte – Mythos – Repräsentation. Beiträge des achten Berliner Arbeitskreises Junge Ägyptologie (BAJA 8) 1.12.–3.12.2017, Göttinger Orientforschungen Ägypten Band 65, 2019
Die Teilnehmer waren dazu eingeladen, sich mit dem Thema „Narrative“ auseinanderzusetzen, das in ... more Die Teilnehmer waren dazu eingeladen, sich mit dem Thema „Narrative“
auseinanderzusetzen, das in dieser Form in der ägyptologischen Theorienbildung noch kaum Beachtung gefunden hat. Das breite Anwendungsspektrum dieses Themenbereichs zeigte sich in Form von geschichtswissenschaftlichen und forschungshistorischen Ansätzen, aber auch kultur-, bild- und textwissenschaftlichen Beiträgen, die sich mit Beispielen aus dem
Alten Reich bis ins Mittelalter befassten. Die Autoren präsentieren nicht nur eine umfassende,
zeitlich übergreifende Einführung in das Thema, sondern auch innovative Einzelstudien,
die in ihren spezifischen zeitlichen und räumlichen Kontexten Einblicke in die
aktuelle Forschung des Faches zu diesem interdisziplinären Thema bieten.
This conference contribution will be published in the near future as proceedings of the colloquiu... more This conference contribution will be published in the near future as proceedings of the colloquium (edited by Prof. A. Abdelhalim / D. Budde).
The following article is part of the ongoing Ph. D. research concerning the complete royal and divine birth cycles from ancient Egypt. In the publication presented, the author focuses on the birth cycles predating the later periods and puts them in context. For the case of Hatshepsut as well as Amenhotep III., we can state that both birth cycles are closely connected with the Heb-Sed and therefore one perspective would be to interpret it from a rebirth point of view. In addition, both birth cycles were destroyed during the Amarna period, and later restored between the end of the 18th Dynasty and Ramesses II. This is surprising, since Hatshepsut had fallen under the damnatio memoriae. Interesting enough, her birth cycle was reinterpreted to serve the cult of Ahmose Nofretari, whose temple, the Mn-js.t, lies on the processional way in front of the Ḏsr-Ḏsr.w connecting it with Karnak. Finally, we observe that the birth cycles of Hatshepsut and Amenhotep III. do not only differ in details, but specifically in their place of depiction. While Hatshepsut’s birth cycle was erected in a portico with a large open courtyard in front of it, Amenophis’ III. birth cycle was in a closed room only accessible for the ones who could enter and pass by the sanctuary of the Luxor Temple. It demonstrates that these birth cycles were not copies of one another, but were each time changed to serve in detail a different purpose.
In the following presentation the depiction of a queen giving birth from the so-called “birth-cyc... more In the following presentation the depiction of a queen giving birth from the so-called “birth-cycle” will be discussed. This image with parallels from the New Kingdom to the Roman era (ca. 1479 BC – 117 AD) was often used in Egyptological and non-Egyptological discussions as evidence to show how birth took place in ancient Egypt. According to the author of this paper, the interpretations have so far rather reflected the cultures of the researchers on the topic and shed light on their own background as well as their time. The two standard publications about this topic are written by two male researchers at a time, in which it was uncommon for men to attend child births.
The author suggests in contrast to previous interpretations to read the image from another perspective and with a deeper focus on its context in royal or divine temples. The “birth chair” often described in the image is strictly speaking a throne on which the queen is sitting. The discussion will include the only evidence in question of a “birth chair”, opening the discussion on problems of such unclear interpretations and their transmission outside of academia into recent medical discourses on maternity.
The throne was later on removed when the mother was replaced with a goddess beginning from the 26th dynasty (ca. 705 BC). Thereafter she was depicted sitting on her bed or kneeling on the ground, probably because the goddess fulfilled another purpose in the temple than the queens from the New Kingdom.
In regard with these arguments and others, the author will discuss this scene in its context and how it evolved in detail during time.
(engl.: "Using Archaeology and Culture in International Politics"; 21.–23.09.2018 in Berlin). Hi... more (engl.: "Using Archaeology and Culture in International Politics"; 21.–23.09.2018 in Berlin).
History and archaeology have always served political interests. For instance, history is used to legitimise the prior existense of countries by creating a national epos. Other monuments, such as Palmyra in Syria are used for propagandistic interests from different actors. Ancient heritage consequently becomes a game in debates of foreign policy.
In this seminar we discussed different case studies of how cultural heritage is used, as well as how to deal with the colonial legacy. We also discussed Germany's approach (Ministry of Foreign Affairs / UNESCO) and it's strategic investments in foreign cultural policy.
The program is available upon request.
(engl.: Digging out the Ancient Egyptians: An Introductive Workshop into Anthropolgy - held in Ar... more (engl.: Digging out the Ancient Egyptians: An Introductive Workshop into Anthropolgy - held in Arabic)
In this talk presented to students of archaeology at the LMU Munich, the author tried to explain ... more In this talk presented to students of archaeology at the LMU Munich, the author tried to explain the current complex post-colonial society in Egypt from an Egyptian perspective. Based on archival correspondances, as well as global politics in the 17th until 20th century, the author showed the linkage between the history of egyptology and it's entanglement with the politics of the day.
In the last part of the presentation, the author critically discussed current problems of egyptology, including the absence of Arabic in the field and travel restrictions for Egyptian scholars.
Hatshepsut's birth cycle has been destroyed first under the reign of Thutmosis III. and later Am... more Hatshepsut's birth cycle has been destroyed first under the reign of Thutmosis III. and later Amenophis IV. (Akhenaten), only to be restored under Ramses II. This restauration was however not identical to the original relief done by Hatshepsut's workmen, resulting in deliberatly changing the content and serving other purposes.
This preliminary presentation is part of the ongoing Ph. D. thesis "Die königlichen und göttlichen Geburtszyklen im Alten Ägypten" / "Les cycles de naissance royale et divine en Égypte ancienne". A paper on the same topic is expected in 2020.