Cosmic Landscapes of Ancient Egyptian Thebes: creating a worldview for Amun-Re, ‘King of the Gods’
Thebes, modern day Luxor and UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the economic and religious centre of ancient Egypt during the New Kingdom (1539–1077 BCE). The region was home to the cult of the sun god and primeval creator, Amun-Re. The entire area was an interconnected landscape dedicated to the worship of this ‘King of the Gods’. Constructed in stone by the New Kingdom kings in honour of their father Amun-Re, the temple complexes of Luxor and Karnak on the East Bank represent his birthplace and his palatial residence. On the West Bank a temple marks his burial place; and the many temples built by the New Kingdom kings are where he was worshipped as the deceased king.
The aim is to produce a book which will illuminate and interpret 500 years of huge New Kingdom building programmes in the Theban region (including delivery of 700 tonne monolithic statues) undertaken to express the elite’s cosmic worldview in the name of Amun-Re. The interpretations will be underpinned by an understanding of the natural and human-induced changes in the floodplain and river channels through geoarchaeological research previously led by the author. The integration and interpretation of Egyptological, archaeological and earth sciences data through the lens of landscape theories has thus far not been done. This monograph is the culmination of many years of research and fieldwork and will be a major step forward in understanding the creation of interconnected ancient Theban land– and waterscapes.
The aim is to produce a book which will illuminate and interpret 500 years of huge New Kingdom building programmes in the Theban region (including delivery of 700 tonne monolithic statues) undertaken to express the elite’s cosmic worldview in the name of Amun-Re. The interpretations will be underpinned by an understanding of the natural and human-induced changes in the floodplain and river channels through geoarchaeological research previously led by the author. The integration and interpretation of Egyptological, archaeological and earth sciences data through the lens of landscape theories has thus far not been done. This monograph is the culmination of many years of research and fieldwork and will be a major step forward in understanding the creation of interconnected ancient Theban land– and waterscapes.