“Inscriptional Violence” and Punishmentin the First Intermediate Period

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The threat-formulae of Jt(=j)-jb(=j), 3tj II and anx.tj=fj

Katrina Jane EdwardsSupervisor: Prof. Anthony Spalinger

Dissertation submitted as part of the requirement for the degree of MA (Honours) in Ancient History

(ANCHIST790, 30 points)

ABSTRACT

Threat-formulae served as an important means of protection against tomb violation

throughout much of ancient Egyptian history. Threats describe devastating punishments for

would-be malefactors, such as debaptism or the loss of a ritual burial. However, in 1990,

Harco Willems argued that threat-formulae could also be viewed as evidence for capital

punishment – a theory which has since attracted both critics and supporters, and is now

arguably in need of further review.

This dissertation revisits Willems' theory through analysis of two First Intermediate Period

examples from the 'autobiographical' inscriptions of Siut governors, Ityiby and Khety II,

along with discussion of the No.8 inscription of “The Autobiography of Ankhtify.” It

provides fresh translations and accompanying commentaries for each of these texts, and

concludes with a debate regarding the nature of punishments described within them. Using

later copies of the Siut texts from Tebtunis, this work argues that past interpretations of

punishments within the Siut formulae require amendment, and now seem less likely to

describe capital punishment. It likewise considers the merits of Arkadi Demidchik's recent

interpretation of Ankhtify's No.8 Inscription, which also challenges capital punishment

theories.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTSNOTE ON ABBREVIATIONS AND TABLESLIST OF FIGURES

1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................1

2. THE THREAT-FORMULAE OF J6(=J)-JB(=J) AND 36J II.....................................42.1 Historical Background...................................................................................4 Fig. 1...............................................................................................................6 Fig. 2...............................................................................................................72.1.1 Jt(=j)-jb(=j) Stipulation A............................................................................82.2.2 Injunction A: negative threats.....................................................................92.2.3 Injunction A: active threats.......................................................................10 Fig. 3.............................................................................................................11 Fig. 4.............................................................................................................122.2.4 Jt(=j)-jb(=j) Stipulation B..........................................................................13 Fig. 5.............................................................................................................152.2.5 Injunction B: negative threats...................................................................162.2.6 Injunction B: active threats.......................................................................18 Fig. 6.............................................................................................................19 Fig. 7.............................................................................................................202.3.1 3tj II Stipulation.......................................................................................212.3.2 Injunction: negative threats.......................................................................222.3.3 Injunction: active threats...........................................................................23

3. THE NO.8 INSCRIPTION IN “THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF aN2.6J=FJ”...........253.1 Historical Background.................................................................................25 Fig. 8.............................................................................................................263.2 Stipulation....................................................................................................273.3 Injunction: active threats..............................................................................293.4 Injunction: negative threats..........................................................................32 Fig. 9..............................................................................................................34

4. THE NATURE OF PUNISHMENT IN THE THREAT-FORMULAE OF J6(=J)- JB(=J), 36J II AND aN2.6J=FJ............................................................354.1 Punishments of Jt(=j)-jb(=j) and 3tj II: previous interpretations.................354.2 The curious case of anx.tj=fj.........................................................................404.3 Punishments of Jt(=j)-jb(=j), 3tj II and anx.tj=fj: a fresh perspective........44

5. CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................46

BIBLIOGRAPHY...........................................................................................................47