The sarcophagus and the coffin of Aaschyt from the 11th dynasty (Cairo JE 47267 and JE 47355/T3C) - edition, commentary and cultural-historical analysis

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Burkhard Backes
• Subject Area: Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies
• Term: from 2015 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 287242299

The first aim of the project is to provide an appropriate edition and analysis of the stone sarcophagus and the inner wooden coffin of Aashyt, a wife of king Montuhotep II (approx. 2009-1959 BCE). In spite of its fame only parts of the decoration of the outer sarcophagus have been published so far in photographs of very uneven quality; this is similarly true for the less famous coffin. Still, the importance of both objects as testimonies of Egyptian culture during the transition from the First Intermediate Period to the Middle Kingdom is out of question. As for their analysis, a combination of different perspectives is envisaged. These include: 1) A thorough philological analysis of the inscriptions (Coffin texts, decorative texts and captions). 2) Detailed description of the images. Identifications of scenes and motifs. 3) Analysis of the content of texts and images: themes, motifs, and their significance for the deceased (and eventually other persons). 4) Reconstruction of the programme of decoration, i.e. identification of relations between decorative elements and between a text or image and its position in space. 5) Observation of Details which might reveal aspects of the production of the two objects. Incorporation of information on Aashyts burial (archive of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. 6) Studies on the transmission of texts and images. 7) Studies on the cultural-historical background: the possible influence of the specific historical situation (foundation of the Middle Kingdom) and the deceaseds royal status. 8) Comparison with the results of earlier contributions a) on the principles of decoration of coffins from the Middle Kingdom and other periods. b) on the pictorial decoration, mainly from an art-historians perspective. 9) Methodological reflections. 10) Palaeography.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants