International Congress of Egyptologists XI - Florence 2015

[Dave Beatty]

Here is a link to the abstracts of papers to be presented at the subject conference 23-30 August:
http://www.ice11florence.org/circulars

A quick perusal of the 183 pages of abstracts reveals not a whole lot of military significance but these stood out:

Louise Bertini - Salima Ikram
American University in Cairo
Food for the Forces: An investigation of military subsistence strategies in New Kingdom border
regions
The frontier regions of ancient Egypt (Nubia, Western and Eastern Nile Delta) have played a multi-
faceted role in the discipline, control, and coordination of many socio-economic aspects of the
territory, including contact with merchants along trade routes, soldiers, envoys, and possibly
caravans. Although the Middle Kingdom fortresses in Nubia are quite well known, attention has
started to be given to the string of New Kingdom fortresses along the borders of the western and
eastern Nile Delta only recently. While the defensive nature of such fortresses may be clear, thus far
little work has been carried out to understand how the forts themselves were provisioned, and the
extent to which these sites may have been self-sufficient.
It is thus the goal of this paper to examine subsistence strategies at the sites of Zawiyet Umm el-
Rakham, Kom Firin, and Tell el-Borg through the analysis of excavated faunal remains. Such
analyses offer the potential to reveal the broader socio-economic infrastructure, which may include
formalized state support. As a comparative study of faunal remains from New Kingdom fort sites
has never been done, this paper seeks to provide a baseline for future research in creating a model
of the socio-economic infrastructure of New Kingdom fortresses.


Dantong Guo
The Institute of the History of Ancient Civilizations, Northeast Normal University, Chanchun
Relations between Egypt and Canaan in the Middle Kingdom(ca. 2000-1650BCE.)
The relations between Egypt and Canaan in the Middle Kingdom is one of the most complex and
least understood subjects in the field of history and archaeology of the two countries. Although this
subject has attracted the attention of Egyptologists as well as of scholars engaging in the studies of
Near Eastern history and the Old Testament ever since the 1920's, no consensus has yet been
reached. However, the subject is a key element for establishing the chronology of Canaanite Middle
Bronze Age and understanding the nature of Canaanite society.
As seen from royal and private inscriptions of the 12th Dynasty as well as archaeological findings,
the Egyptian-Canaanite relations were focused on trade during the Middle Kingdom even though
the stela of Khusobek and the inscription of Memphis mention military activity. The relations in the
early 12th Dynasty went along two different routes: the southern Levant was accessible by land, as
proven by the wall painting of Tomb No. 3 at Beni Hasan and the inscriptions from Serabit el-
Khadim, but the pottery found at Tell Ifshar shows that there were also maritime contacts between
Egypt and the southern Levant. As for the northern Levant, the maritime route was preferred as
suggested by the Memphite inscription and the inscriptions from the Mastaba of Khnumhotep at
Dahshur. Archaeological proof of trade between Egypt and the southern Levant are sealings and
pottery from Ashkelon. The contact with Byblos was renewed about the same time according to the
inscriptions of Khnumhotpe at Dahshur.

Alexander Safronov
Institute for Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow
The lexeme ḏbj as a designation for the troops of Sherden mercenaries in the Egyptian New
kingdom army.
The lexeme ḏbj occurs several times in New Kingdom texts. Its meaning is usually defined by the
Ancient Egyptian dictionaries and lexicographic works as «army, troops». In author's opinion, this
meaning is too broad and indefinite for this word. Analyzing New Kingdom contexts where it is
used he comes to the conclusion that it meant «troops of foreign mercenaries» who served in the
Egyptian army. Their ethnic origin can be identified by the unusual determinative accompanying it
in the inscription of the 5th year of Ramses III's reign from Medinet Habu. Such helmets were
typical headgears of Sherden warriors.

Dmitry Karelin - Tatiana Zhitpeleva - Maria Karelina
Moscow Institute of Architecture
3D reconstruction of the late Roman fortresses in Egypt
The main aim is to present the 3D reconstructions of the late Roman fortresses in Egypt and to
discuss their architectural peculiarities. These monuments were not only the result of military
engineering but masterpieces of classical architecture. Moreover some of their special peculiarities
could be influenced by the Egyptian architecture. It seems that the best way to show and study their
features is to make their 3D reconstructions. The poster demonstrates authors' reconstructions late
Roman fortress at Nag-el-Hagar, the fort at Dionysias in Faiyum oasis and the temple of the Roman
imperial cult at Luxor fortress. Nag-el-Hagar was chosen to represent the typical architectural
features of the large late Roman fortresses – walls, towers, gates, arrow slits etc. However its
principia and the palace are of peculiar interest. Dionysias is the representative example of a small
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late Roman fort for auxiliary troops. The principia with the temple of the Imperial cult inside the
Luxor fortress was unique for Tetrarchic military architecture. It demonstrates the connection
between Egyptian and Roman cultures. Creating 3D reconstruction of these monuments could help
to study late Roman military architecture in Egypt and in the eastern provinces of Roman Empire in
whole.

[Patrick Waterson]

Good bit of sifting there, Dave.

I would point out that the wall painting in 'Tomb no.3 at Beni Hasan' (I usually dignify it with its owner's name, Khnumhotep of Menet-Khufu) represents immigration rather than trade per se, and a 'trade land route' is somewhat dubious.

Serabit el Khadim was a mining town with its own temple of Hathor (instrumental in the Israelite golden calf episode) and although on a viable land route - the one used by the Israelites on their way out - it shows, at least thus far, a certain lack of materials proving trade.  Unless Guo has found something ...

Safronov's idea that 'ḏbj' indicates mercenary contingents is an interesting one, and incidentally allows us to up-size Egyptian armies.

Thanks for posting this.