Burial and Mortuary Practices in Late Period and Graeco-Roman Egypt

Description

The aim of the International Conference was to present and discuss recent research and current themes on (human and animal) Egyptian burial and mortuary practices from the Late Period onwards.

Presented paper: Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figures: evolving tradition through space and time

Wooden funerary figures, representing the deceased with the features of the triune god Ptah-Sokar-Osiris, became a distinctive element in the funerary furniture of elite burials dating from the Third Intermediate Period onward. Such artefacts, usually placed next to the coffin and inscribed with specific invocations, were considered an element of deep connection with the deceased, granting her/him resurrection and life everlasting beyond death. The custom of placing Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figures inside the tombs reaches a climax during the Late and Ptolemaic periods during which they were often mass-produced, falling eventually into disuse with the approaching of the Roman era. During this time frame, Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figures are subject to changes in typology, style and religious significance.

This paper intended to present a brief analysis of these changes, focusing on the morphological, structural, and typological aspects involved in this evolution. Local variations were considered and discussed.

Period	17 Jul 2014
Event type	Conference
Location	Budapest, HungaryShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International