PYRAMID Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

ABSTRACT: This lecture covers the First Intermediate Period (FIP), spanning Dynasties (7)/8 through early/mid-11 (ca. 2,200-2,040 BCE), but includes periodic discussion regarding the late Old Kingdom leading up to this period and the Middle Kingdom emerging from it. The lecture begins with a summary of what we know about the decline of, albeit continuity of the (increasingly nominal) Memphite royal rule in, Egypt’s early First Intermediate Period (Dyns. 7-8), which can be considered part of the late Old Kingdom (e.g., King Ibi/Aba). It proceeds with the transition from Dyn. 8-9 (including the nomarch Ankhtifi [southern Egypt]), and continues with the rise and establishment of the Herakleopolitan (northern kingdom) and Theban (southern kingdom), incorporating a summary of historical events, art, architecture, material culture, and other aspects (e.g., King Khui; Nomarch Intef; Montuhotep I [the founder]; Kings Intef I-III; Montuhotep II). The lecture then furnishes selected selected contemporary (FIP) texts --and some later, early, key Middle Kingdom (propagandistic) texts-- to illustrate some trends and characteristics attested and alleged during this period (sometimes called a "Dark Age"). It gives an initial introduction to the roots and rise of the Osiris cult (at Abydos), the deity Osiris, and his nature and changing roles in the FIP through Middle Kingdom (and later). In the concluding section, the lecture covers the main characteristics of mortuary customs and practices during the First Intermediate Period (and into the Middle Kingdom), including (1) regional variance in burials (e.g., furnishings and decoration), (2) a few known royal tomb forms (e.g., saff/row tombs; small pyramids), selected poor to elite tombs (e.g., pit graves; rock-cut; mastaba tombs), a rise in rural burial wealth (e.g., Qau-Mostagedda cemetery), regional art (e.g., new/different and poor to good quality tomb decoration; an emerging Theban art style), false door stelae and offering slabs, different scenes with tomb owners (e.g., banquet scene; couples; other), coffins, the Coffin Texts (including roots in the Pyramid Texts and new spells), and guide maps (to the afterlife), cartonnage mummy masks (new), human-headed canopic jars, ka-spirit statues and statuettes, amulets, jewelry, seals, soul houses, models (including illustrations of diverse types: FIP-Dyn.12), and paddle dolls. The lecture concludes with a series of summary slides. UPDATED: 28 March, 2023, adding bibliography, some new text, revised/edited text, and some re-formatting.