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In the article "Two Coptic grammatical morphemes of unknown origin" Carsten Peust discusses the etymology of two Coptic morphemes whose origin has remained unclear until today. These are the n-prefix of the so-called adjective verbs and the particle ⲡⲉ, which often accompanies the preterite converter. It is suggested that both have arisen through a false segmentation of contexts in which their predecessors typically occurred. The use of these morphemes is a distinguishing criterion between Demotic and Neo-Egyptian Egyptian. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Learning Through Practice: On How Kemyt Contributed to Crafting and Transmitting Scribal Knowledge" by Aurore Motte examines the practices of ancient Egyptian scribes and how they transmitted their knowledge. It analyzes the structure of the Kemyt text and the choice of ink and writing direction used. It is determined that there was a complex network of scribes who contributed to the development and transmission of written knowledge. The Kemyt text has been found in various materials and regions of Egypt and describes different features of the Kemyt specimens found in Deir el-Medina. Various types of corrections and revisions in Egyptian literary texts are also described. The texts demonstrate the changes in literary culture during the New Kingdom. Various aspects of Egyptian script and language are also addressed. [Extracted from the article]

In this paper, it is intended to put a spotlight on some of the more interesting sections of the Coffin Texts, originating from human error, visible in the variation between the witnesses. Besides showing the sections of text with these variations, explanations are provided on how the distinct variations could have occurred. For this paper, three topics of variation will be discussed: Variation due to errors caught by the scribes, variation due to redaction, by replacing pronouns with the name of the owner or changing double columns into singular columns or by abbreviating sections of text and finally variations due to homophony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ancient Egyptian herbal literature is sparsely documented, but recently an herbal treatise has been discovered that provides new information about ancient Egyptian medical practice. The treatise deals exclusively with a single plant and its seed, representing a specialized subtype of the herbal genre. There are also demotic papyri and isolated herbal entries that use similar constructions. The herbal books contain information about the use of herbs for treating snake bites and other injuries. It is believed that the herbal books belong to the Egyptian tradition and were already standardized in the New Kingdom. There are also indications of the use of non-native plants in Egypt. The social contexts of the herbal books are largely unknown, but they were likely used both in temples and in private households. It is believed that knowledge about plants was mainly transmitted orally, but was also documented in writing. The article also discusses the identification of plants and seeds in ancient Egyptian remedies. However, the exact identification of some plants remains unclear. The article also discusses the plant snw-p.t in ancient Egypt, which may have been imported from abroad. The article provides an overview of the herbal genre in ancient Egypt and presents various sources and texts on this topic. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Four Coptic Letters from Thebes" publishes four Coptic letters from Thebes that were found on ostraka. The letters are kept in a warehouse called Abou El-Goud in Luxor. Although the exact origin of the letters is unknown, they were definitely written in the Theban area, particularly in a monastic environment. The letters address topics such as the shipment of wheat, the request for craftsmen, and the inquiry about a specific person named Samuel. The letters are written in Sahidic Coptic and likely date back to the 6th to 8th century. [Extracted from the article]

The study by Georgia Barker examines the representation of the tomb owner in wall paintings and burial models in ancient Egypt. In wall paintings, the tomb owner plays a dominant role, while in models, he rarely appears. The differences are attributed to technical characteristics and the location of the two media in the tomb. The representation of the tomb owner in the models is mainly limited to boats, accounts, and music. The study shows that the representation of the tomb owner depends on cultural and technical factors. [Extracted from the article]

The article describes hieratic ostraca from Gurna, which are kept in the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo. These ostraca probably date back to the 18th Dynasty and the Ramesside period and deal with various administrative topics. The article also provides information about the temple of Thutmose IV in Gurna and the archaeological mission of Edda Bresciani. Various titles and terms related to gemstone manufacturers and chariot builders are discussed. Additionally, ostraca are described that contain lists of goods and employee markings. The list also includes a variety of sources and publications on various aspects of ancient Egypt. [Extracted from the article]

This paper is divided into two main sections. The first section represents the publication of a shabti preserved in the Musée du Louvre in Paris (Inv. No. E 3088). This shabti belonged to a Lady of the House named Iahhetep. It dates to the 18th Dynasty under Pharaoh Thutmosis III. It is notable because it is one of the first known shabtis to exhibit female features in its outer appearance: the Hathor wig. The second section of this paper deals with female shabtis in general. It illustrates their iconographic variety and outlines their role as transitional figurines within the movement from mummiform shabtis towards the production of shabtis in the dress of daily life. Furthermore, female shabtis may have served as a vehicle of the owner's self-presentation and may thus be regarded as a manifestation of the self-confidence and self-awareness of elite women of the period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "À propos du titre jry nfr- ḥȝ. t, « préposé à celui à l'avant parfait »" examines the title jry nfr- ḥȝ. t in ancient Egypt. The goal is to identify all individuals who held this title from the Old Kingdom to the Late Period. The investigation of the individuals who held this title can help understand the meaning of the expression jry nfr- ḥȝ. t. The article also includes an etymological analysis of the title and a list of the individuals who held it. The title was widespread during the 5th and 6th dynasties in the Memphis region and later used in the provinces as well. In the New Kingdom, only two individuals held this title, including Sénenmout, who was closely associated with Queen Hatshepsut. In the Saite period, the title is held by Haroua and Horménekhib, who have close connections to royal authority. In the Ptolemaic period, the title no longer has significance but is mentioned as one of the seven creation words of the goddess Neith. The title is also used in connection with the goddess Tasentnéféret. There are various interpretations of the title, including its meaning as a wig or as a designation for the wearer of the diadem in royal attire. This study examines the title "jry nfr- ḥȝ. t" and its bearers. It is determined that this title is associated with the king and his court and is associated with the care of the royal headdress. The bearers of the title could be either hairdressers or stylists. The title "jry nfr- ḥȝ. t" has been used since the 5th Dynasty and was associated with political-religious functions. In the Saite period, the title was also bestowed upon relatives of the divine worshippers. The title was mainly used in connection with royal temples and cults. The article includes a list of references to various publications and research works in the field of Egyptian archaeology and Egyptology. It lists various authors, books, and journal articles that deal with topics such as Egyptian statues, theology, Egyptian dictionaries, excavations in Giza and Saqqara, official titles in the Old Kingdom, hieroglyphic texts, and other Egyptian subjects. It also features some illustrations of Egyptian artifacts. [Extracted from the article]

Unlike the principal Coptic dialects Sahidic and Bohairic, in which the two verbs for "to sit" and "to stand" possess just a single form each, the Southern Coptic dialects (Akhmimic, Lycopolitan, dialect P) have preserved a formal distinction between the infinitive and the stative in both verbs. This information remains hidden in a few text editions, is not widely known and not reflected in current handbooks. The present paper traces the original morphological distinction for both verbs in the major textual witnesses of the South, as well as the progressive morphological collapse that lead to the uniform shapes of these verbs in the dominant dialects. Finally, an etymology is suggested for the puzzling Sahidic standard form ϩⲙⲟⲟⲥ "to sit". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examines the title holders in the Old Kingdom. The first part of the study has already been published in the Journal of Egyptian Language and Antiquity. The second part contains a prosopographic list with 37 entries that support the contents of the first part. The list is divided into two parts: the first part contains the names of individuals whose identity is clear, while the second part contains references to individuals whose names are unknown. The list is mainly based on tomb inscriptions and other documents. The study also provides information about the titles and kinship relationships of the individuals. [Extracted from the article]

This paper deals with the geography of the region of Sharuna in Middle Egypt. It focuses especially on the toponym wwt-n(y)-Sbk inscribed on P. 10500 A-B, also called "Sharuna Papyrus". Because the document lacks an exact archaeological provenance, this study is of major interest. Similar place names (wt + nominal genitive) are analysed. Based on the results obtained, it is highly conceivable that wwt-n(y)-cbk was in the vicinity of the ancient wt-nsw. The geographical situation of Sharuna, the topography of Middle Egypt, the state policy during the IIIrd millennium in the region and finally the local belief represent elements that fit particularly well with the information conveyed by the place name wwt-n(y)-cbk. Moreover, considering the contents of P. 10500 A-B, an original location of the papyrus in the tomb of one of the of Kom el-Ahmar/Sawaris has been suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The obscure title im has received some scholarly attention, but there is still uncertainty regarding its reading and meaning. Even so, there is something to be attributed to the im holder very clearly: their high, even very high, position within the structure of the Egyptian elite. This paper, articulated in two parts, aims to provide a prosopographical study of the im title from sources dated from the Thinite Age to the end of the Old Kingdom. In this part, the sources of the title are presented in order to examine their nature, their provenance, and the social and historical context of the title's holder. Eventually, some considerations of the field of activity to which the title is related, the function that it implies, if any, and changes that it experienced through time will be offered. The second part, which will be published in the following issue of ZÄS, will contain the actual prosopographical list consisting of 37 entries, namely the documentation which supports the contents of the present part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various words in Late Egyptian texts present a final sequence –ww that is absent in earlier attestations and does not have any obvious etymological justification. No systematic discussion of these –ww, and not explanation for their use, has been offered so far. The present paper aims at filling this gap through a systematic reassessment of the phonological characteristics of a comprehensive corpus of words displaying this marker –ww. The results suggest that this marker is related in function with the so called spacefillers discussed in Kilani 2017; in particular it appears to be added at the end of words characterized by a stressed back vowel adjacent to a labial consonant w, b, p, f or m, and possibly ˓. Some considerations about the possible underlying linguistic reality and the rational for the use of this marker are added at the end of the article. One instance of the marker –ww in a magic spell of P. BM EA 9997 IV, and its possible role in clarifying a potentially ambiguous pronunciation of the associated verb, is discussed in a final Addendum. An appendix with the reconstruction of the vocalization for the words that survive in Coptic is provided here. A second appendix with the whole corpus is provided as online supplement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is part of a diptych. It is conceived as a general theoretical introduction to a forthcoming substantial case study describing the economy of the classifiers system in the Late Period tomb of Menekhibnekau in Abusir. In the first part of the present paper, I shall first go through an overview of the functioning of the classifier system and some suggestions about its evolutive dynamics in diachrony. In the second part, I will introduce five classification strategies that can be encountered in the texts from the end of the Ramesside period down to the Late Period. These strategies will be explained and illustrated by means of two case studies: the manuscript L of the Teaching ofAmenemope and the texts from the tomb of Menekhibnekau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the orthographies of the word rmṯ in the Old Kingdom and the factors impacting them. It is based on a survey of texts that include this word. It aims to identify features of spelling originality and means of dissemination of orthographical forms. The study also urged with its pronunciation, its plurality and singularity, the nature and significance of its determinatives. Finally, the study concluded that there is an obvious orthography-system of this word which could be geographically, and chronology traced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The face (ḥr) is one of the most documented body parts in ancient Egyptian texts and its semantics covers a wide range of meanings. The face is especially involved in bodily perception linked with the facial senses (eyes, ears, nose and mouth). In this paper concepts of the face in connection with perception and communication will be examined. The first part focuses on prototypical considerations about the composition of the face and Egyptian iconographic characteristics. The second part explores textual sources to illustrate the usages of the word ḥr in connection with perception, attention and communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an analysis of the dates found on ostraca containing the literary composition The Teaching of Khety, also known as The Satire of the Trades. Various aspects of these dates are discussed, for example the palaeography and the placement of the dates on the ostracon, for the purpose of outlining some scribal practices in ancient Egypt. From the dates themselves can be deduced that scribes conducted their literary activities all year round, both during the working week and at the weekend. Finally, the presumed educational context of the ostraca is discussed. The high percentage of dates on ostraca with Khety, in comparison to other literary compositions, suggests Khety was the most popular text used in the training of scribes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies royal inscriptions of the Eighteenth Dynasty—a period of extensive military activity in Nubia and the Levant—to examine the prevailing assumption that earthly wars were conceived as mirroring a cosmic struggle between order and chaos. Instead, the sources suggest a more intricate picture, in which royal prerogative and divine will are at play, often ambiguously intertwined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolf Erman is one of the founders of modern Egyptology. His life and achievements are deeply connected with the changes in this field, which starting as a romanticized activity and turned into a modern discpline. His extensive correspondence is as important for the history of Egyptology as it is for the general history of science. Because of family connections, Adolf Erman's estate was almost completely bequeathed to the Bremen State and University Library. Between 2019 and 2021, the whole estate has been described and digitized in a project funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The paper describes the estate, its digitization and the range of its possible usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]