The Role of the Lector in Ancient Egyptian Society.
- 1st ed.
- 1 online resource (179 pages)
- Archaeopress Egyptology Series ; v.5 .
- Archaeopress Egyptology Series .
Book cover -- Title page -- Copyright page -- Table of contents -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- Abbreviations -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- 1. The 'lector priest' -- 2. Previous Studies Relating to the Lector -- 3. Methodology -- Chapter 1 -- Recognition, Origin and Hieroglyphic Representation -- 1. Recognition -- 2. Origin and Evolution of the Role of the Lector -- 3. Hieroglyphs -- Chapter 2 -- Magic and Performance -- 1. Magic -- 2. Word, 'Spell' -- 3. Performance -- 4. Execration Rituals -- Chapter 3 -- Equipment of the Lector -- 1. Old Kingdom Inscriptional Evidence -- 2. The Burial Assemblage of Tomb No. 5 at the Ramesseum -- Chapter 4 -- Remuneration -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Old Kingdom -- 3. Middle Kingdom -- 4. New Kingdom -- 5. Late and Ptolemaic Periods -- 6. Conclusion -- Chapter 5 -- Temple and Festival Ritual -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Temple Ritual -- 3. Festival Rituals -- Chapter 6 -- Royal Involvement -- 1. Introduction -- 2. The Lector in the Royal Palace -- 3. The King and the Sons of the King Acting as Lector -- 4. Role of the Lector in Establishing the Royal Titulary -- 5. Role in Royal Purification -- 6. The Sed-Festival -- Chapter 7 -- Funerary Ritual and Provisioning the Dead -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Old Kingdom -- 3. Middle Kingdom -- 4. New Kingdom -- 5. Post-New Kingdom -- 6. Transfiguration and the Nature of Texts used by the Lector -- 7. Interpretation and Conclusion -- Chapter 8 -- The Opening of the Mouth Ceremony -- 1. Introduction -- 2. History and Development of the Ritual -- 3. New Kingdom Version of 'Opening of the Mouth' -- 4. Actors/Officiants -- 5. Ritual Implements -- 6. Choice of Scenes in Stelae and in Tomb Depictions -- 7. Case Study: -- 8. Opening of the Mouth in Other Tomb Scenes -- 9. Conclusion -- Chapter 9 -- The Involvement of the Lector in Healing -- 1. Introduction. 2. Medical Papyri -- 3. Temple Evidence -- 4. Documentary Evidence -- 5. Literary Evidence -- 6. Summary and Conclusion -- Chapter 10 -- The Title of Lector Recorded in Expedition Inscriptions -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Trading and Military Expeditions -- 3. Mining Inscriptions -- 4. Interpretation -- Chapter 11 -- The Lector and the Law -- 1. Introduction to the Ancient Egyptian Legal System -- 2. The Role of the Lector on Temple Councils -- 3. The Lector as a Judge -- 4. The Harem Conspiracy -- 5. The Lector as a Witness - 'A marriage settlement' -- 6. 'Great Tomb-Robberies of the 20th Dynasty' -- 7. Summary and Conclusion -- Chapter 12 -- Literary Evidence -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Papyrus Westcar (tales of wonder at the court of King Khufu) -- 3. Papyrus St. Petersburg (the prophecies of Neferty) -- 4. Papyrus Vandier (the tale of Meryre) -- 5. Papyrus Cairo 30646 and Papyrus British Museum 604 (Setna Khaemwase Cycle) -- 6. Papyrus Chester Beatty -- Summary and Conclusions -- Appendix 1 -- The objects comprising the burial assemblage of Tomb No. 5 at the Ramesseum -- Appendix 2 -- The papyri from the burial assemblage of Tomb No. 5 at the Ramesseum -- Appendix 3 -- List of the books inscribed on the walls of the 'House of Books' (pr-mDAt) at Edfu Temple -- Appendix 4 -- Occurrences of a lector performing rituals during water crossings -- Appendix 5 -- Episodes in the Opening of the Mouth Ritual in which it is possible to identify the presence of the lector -- Appendix 6 -- Presence of the episodes of the Opening of the Mouth ceremony in the seven major sources -- Appendix 7 -- Lectors who additionally carried the title of physician -- Appendix 8 -- Lectors present on mining expeditions -- Appendix 9 -- Papyrus BM 10054 -- Bibliography -- Fig. 1: Wilkinson's illustration of a procession of priests -- Fig. 2: Representations of lectors. Fig. 3: Scene from the Middle Kingdom tomb-chapel of Ukh-hotep -- Fig. 4: Falcon-headed bronze statue, a 'Soul of Pe' from the Late Period -- Fig. 5: A group of three lectors depicted in the characteristic hnw-gesture. -- Fig. 6: Middle Kingdom tomb of Amenemhat -- Fig. 7: A depiction of the sem-priest meditating on a couch -- Fig. 8: Fragment of a 2nd Dynasty vase showing the earliest attested inscription of a lector -- Fig. 9: Scene from the Temple of Sahure -- Fig. 10: Sarenput I, a chief lector inspecting the cattle count -- Fig. 11: Wall-scene from the pyramid temple of Pepy II -- Fig. 12: Tomb No. 2, Beni Hasan. -- Fig. 13: A chief lector skewering figures before the king -- Fig. 14: Detail of the 'skewering' in figure 13 -- Fig. 15: Wall inscription in the south burial chamber of the 6th Dynasty tomb -- Fig. 16: Frieze from the Middle Kingdom coffin of Netjeruhotep displaying red vessels -- Fig. 17: Breaking the red pots as depicted in the tomb of Horemheb at Saqqara -- Fig. 18 Vignette showing destruction of political and divine enemies 'in vile jug' -- Fig. 19: Schematic drawing of the 'vile jug'. -- Fig. 20: Funerary procession from the 6th Dynasty Mastaba of Mereruka -- Fig. 21: Detail from fig. 20 above showing equipment and goods stacked on the 'landing stage' -- Fig. 22: Funeral scene from the tomb of Qar (G 7101) -- Fig. 23 Funeral scene from the tomb of Pepyankh Heny-Kem -- Fig. 24: Funeral scene from tomb of Idu (G 7102) -- Fig. 25: The funeral procession of Sneferu-Inshetef -- Fig. 26: Plan of the Ramesseum -- Fig. 27: Objects found in Tomb No. 5 -- Fig. 28: Squatting baboon -- Fig. 29: Small squatting baboon -- Fig. 30: Lion -- Fig. 31: Fragment of an apotropaic wand -- Fig. 32: Fragments of an apotropaic wand -- Fig. 33: Apotropaic wand -- Fig. 34: Apotropaic wand -- Fig. 35: Wooden figurine -- Fig. 36: Serpent Wand. Fig. 37: Female fertility figurine -- Fig. 38: Female fertility figurine -- Fig. 39: Female fertility figurine -- Fig. 40: Female fertility figurine -- Fig. 41: Flat wooden preformal figure -- Fig. 42: Statuette of a naked dwarf -- Fig. 43: White faience cucumber -- Fig. 44: Bunch of grapes/body of an animal -- Fig. 45: Miniature blue faience lotus shaped cup -- Fig. 46: Ivory clapper -- Fig. 47: Ivory clapper -- Fig. 48: Pair of ivory clappers -- Fig. 49: Section of ivory magical rod -- Fig. 50: Glazed steatite magic rod from a 12th Dynasty tomb near Heliopolis, adorned with figures of animals. -- Fig. 51: Ivory djed column -- Fig. 52: Burnisher -- Fig. 53: Scribe's outfit, Tomb 37 -- Fig. 54: Plan of the Temple of Horus at Edfu -- Fig. 55: Relief from the sun-temple of Niuserre depicting a possible purification scene -- Fig. 56: The purification of Djehutyhotep -- Fig. 57: The tomb of Sennefer (TT 96) -- Fig. 58: A scene from the Hypostyle Hall of the Temple of Amun at Karnak, -- Fig. 59: Foundation ceremony at the sun-temple of Niuserre -- Fig. 60: The king presents offerings to Sokar -- Fig. 61: The king performs a censing for deities -- Fig. 62: The king performs a 'Litany of Offerings to Sokar in all his forms' -- Fig. 63: The king follows the bark of Sokar in procession -- Fig. 64: The lector reciting from a scroll whilst following the symbol of Nefertum -- Fig. 65: The ceremonies of the feast of Sokar -- Fig. 66: The king wearing the Sed-robe accompanied by his attendants and priests -- Fig. 67: Anointing/presenting the standards in front of the king -- Fig. 68: Enthronement of the king in the pavilions of Upper and Lower Egypt -- Fig. 69: Upper Egypt procession scene -- Fig. 70: The king and queen going to the palace preceded by the chief lector, Nebmerutef -- Fig. 71: Chief lector reciting the Htp-di-nsw formula before the king. Fig. 72: Chief lector, Nebmerutef before the king -- Fig. 73: Chief lector, Nebmerutef holding a clepsydra before the king -- Fig. 74: The king offering the clepsydra to Nekhbet -- Fig. 75: Image of a 'Clepsydra' - Karnak -- Fig. 76: Image of a 'Clepsydra' - Dendera -- Fig. 77: A scene from the tomb of Kheruef (TT 192) showing the Sed-festival -- Fig. 78: Schematic representation of the walls -- Fig. 79: Showing a figure (assumed to be a lector) passing a clepsydra to the king (Wall A) -- Fig. 80: Showing a figure (assumed to be a lector) passing a clepsydra to the king (Wall D) -- Fig. 81: The lector in front of the king, shown bent slightly forwards -- Fig. 82: The lector in front of the king -- Fig. 83: The chief lector with hand outstretched -- Fig. 84: The lector immediately in front of the king -- Fig. 85: The lector in a procession -- Fig. 86: Two groups of lectors, the right group is without papyrus rolls -- Fig. 87: Two lectors in procession without papyrus rolls -- Fig. 88: Two princesses gesturing to the lector -- Fig. 89: The lector receiving/recording the offerings -- Fig. 90: Funeral Procession of the vizier Mereruka -- Fig. 91: The funeral procession of Ankhmahor -- Fig. 92: The funeral procession of Qar -- Fig. 93: The funeral procession of Nebkau-Hor -- Fig. 94: The funeral procession of Sneferu-Inshetef -- Fig. 95: The false door of Ptahhotep from his tomb at Saqqara -- Fig. 96: Detail from the above figure -- Fig. 97: Water voyage from the tomb of Djau with a lector in the first boat being towed -- Fig. 98: Funeral procession from the tomb of Qar showing the wabet -- Fig. 99: Funeral scene from the tomb of Debehen at Giza -- Fig. 100: Scene of the offering rite from the tomb of Kagemni -- Fig. 101: Various actions performed by the officiants in the offering ritual -- Fig. 102: Offering scene from the tomb of Antefoker. Fig. 103: 'Removing the Foot' in the tomb of Qar.
The lector is first attested during the 2nd Dynasty and is subsequently recognised throughout ancient Egypt history. This study challenges previous approaches to studies on the Lector and explores his diverse functions in a wide ranging review of the relevant evidence.