R. Pirelli, M.D. Pubblico, S. Ikram (eds.), Animals in Religion, Economy and Daily Life of Ancient Egypt and beyond, Serie Egittologica 4, 2023
The texts of Domitian’s two obelisks in Benevento inform us that in 88/89 AD,
Rutilius Lupus had... more The texts of Domitian’s two obelisks in Benevento inform us that in 88/89 AD,
Rutilius Lupus had a temple built in the Samnite city and dedicated it to the
goddess Isis to celebrate the emperor's victorious conclusion of the Dacian
Wars.
Although none of the ancient buildings found so far in the city can be attributed
to an Iseum, the existence of such a temple is confirmed by a large
number of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic statues, a few epigraphs and
some architectural elements, most of which were found in a section of the
foundations of the ancient city walls; most of the fragments of the two obelisks
and another group of objects were found scattered in different areas of the
city.
Of the approximately fifty artefacts, numerous statues represent ‘pharaohs’,
in both human and sphinx form; two are anthropomorphic deities, three depict
priests, and several statues represent sacred animals: four falcons, two
baboons and three Apis bulls; another bull is carved in high relief on an architectural
frieze.
This extraordinary set of artefacts – belonging to different historical periods,
from the Pharaonic to the Ptolemaic and finally the Roman era – represents
one of the largest concentrations of Egyptian and Egyptianising materials belonging
to a single cultic context of the imperial period outside Egypt.
Beginning with the publication that Hans W. Müller devoted to the analysis
of the Benevento 'Iseum’ in 1969, a lively debate (not yet concluded) has arisen
on the nature of the temple, its possible location and the relationship of this
monument to the other temples dedicated to Isis scattered throughout the
Empire.
In order to provide an interpretative key to answer, even partially, some of
these questions, my paper will briefly present all the Isiac sculptures in the
Samnite Iseum, with a particular focus on the symbolism expressed by the zoomorphic deities, especially in relation to their role in the representation of
Domitian’s imperial image.
Durant la saison de fouilles 2004-2005, la mission archeologique italo-americaine de Mersa Gawasi... more Durant la saison de fouilles 2004-2005, la mission archeologique italo-americaine de Mersa Gawasis a retrouve de nouvelles steles dans la zone sud-ouest du site. Cet article presente les deux steles inscrites, la troisieme est incomplete et seulement decoree de la representation d’un homme assis. La premiere des steles inscrites est en tres bon etat de conservation et est datee par le cartouche de Nymaatrâ (Amenemhat III). La seconde est tres endommagee et on ne peut y reperer ni un cartouche ni une date; toutefois, sur la base de l’onomastique et de criteres paleo-epigraphiques, stylistiques et historiques, une datation fin de la 12e dynastie peut etre suggeree.
The Italian-Egyptian project at the Monastery of Abba Nefer at Manqabad started in 2011. The firs... more The Italian-Egyptian project at the Monastery of Abba Nefer at Manqabad started in 2011. The first three campaigns, carried out between 2011 and 2013, were actually brief surveys, strongly affected by the political instability of the country. During these surveys, the mission identified most of the structures already brought to light and recorded by previous investigations. Finally, during the campaign of autumn 2014, it was possible to work longer and to start the topographical survey and the investigation of the numerous structures still extant on the site. The town wall, overall enclosing an area of about 92.000 square meters, was acquired and measured with a Total Station. From the satellite images of the site, it was possible to identify a series of alignments in the NW quarter of the site, running EW at an average distance of 25m from each other. These alignments are very likely to correspond to the foundations or the lower courses of buildings for military cantonment of the Roman phase. Differently from monumental buildings of Roman time and churches of the early Christian period in Egypt, which were the object of in-depth studies during the last century, and are rather well known, the domestic architecture of the early Christian time still deserves further attention. For this reason, the mission put a particular focus on the Northern Sector of the site, characterized by a long row of housing units – 90 were recorded – and a first typology was set up. During the same season, the study of the previously discovered findings was also started. From the analysis of the two inventories kept in el-Ashmunein and Asyut (Shutbi), it was possible to determine the number and nature of all the findings and their conservation status. Unfortunately, however, only very vague information exist on the systems of grids and squares used by previous excavators and on the provenance of these findings. After the inventory survey, the study of the materials was undertaken at el-Ashmunein, where 152 specimens were analysed, catalogued and photographed. The preliminary observation of the finds (especially ceramics, paintings and architectural elements) and inscriptions allowed us to suggest an outline of the history of the site, divided into three main phases of life and at least three others of less regular human presence, which can be summarized as follows: a) Pharaonic Period (?); b) Ptolemaic Period (?); c) Late Roman Period; d) First Christian phase: end of the 5th/6th century; e) Second Christian phase corresponding to the first phase of the Islamic Period: 8th century; f) Second Islamic phase: 19th century (Mahmud II) (Pirelli 2015). However, this paper presents the results achieved so far by the Mission, on only four specific subjects: general features of the housing units; stone architectural elements; pottery; and inscriptions
R. Pirelli, M.D. Pubblico, S. Ikram (eds.), Animals in Religion, Economy and Daily Life of Ancient Egypt and beyond, Serie Egittologica 4, 2023
The texts of Domitian’s two obelisks in Benevento inform us that in 88/89 AD,
Rutilius Lupus had... more The texts of Domitian’s two obelisks in Benevento inform us that in 88/89 AD,
Rutilius Lupus had a temple built in the Samnite city and dedicated it to the
goddess Isis to celebrate the emperor's victorious conclusion of the Dacian
Wars.
Although none of the ancient buildings found so far in the city can be attributed
to an Iseum, the existence of such a temple is confirmed by a large
number of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic statues, a few epigraphs and
some architectural elements, most of which were found in a section of the
foundations of the ancient city walls; most of the fragments of the two obelisks
and another group of objects were found scattered in different areas of the
city.
Of the approximately fifty artefacts, numerous statues represent ‘pharaohs’,
in both human and sphinx form; two are anthropomorphic deities, three depict
priests, and several statues represent sacred animals: four falcons, two
baboons and three Apis bulls; another bull is carved in high relief on an architectural
frieze.
This extraordinary set of artefacts – belonging to different historical periods,
from the Pharaonic to the Ptolemaic and finally the Roman era – represents
one of the largest concentrations of Egyptian and Egyptianising materials belonging
to a single cultic context of the imperial period outside Egypt.
Beginning with the publication that Hans W. Müller devoted to the analysis
of the Benevento 'Iseum’ in 1969, a lively debate (not yet concluded) has arisen
on the nature of the temple, its possible location and the relationship of this
monument to the other temples dedicated to Isis scattered throughout the
Empire.
In order to provide an interpretative key to answer, even partially, some of
these questions, my paper will briefly present all the Isiac sculptures in the
Samnite Iseum, with a particular focus on the symbolism expressed by the zoomorphic deities, especially in relation to their role in the representation of
Domitian’s imperial image.
Durant la saison de fouilles 2004-2005, la mission archeologique italo-americaine de Mersa Gawasi... more Durant la saison de fouilles 2004-2005, la mission archeologique italo-americaine de Mersa Gawasis a retrouve de nouvelles steles dans la zone sud-ouest du site. Cet article presente les deux steles inscrites, la troisieme est incomplete et seulement decoree de la representation d’un homme assis. La premiere des steles inscrites est en tres bon etat de conservation et est datee par le cartouche de Nymaatrâ (Amenemhat III). La seconde est tres endommagee et on ne peut y reperer ni un cartouche ni une date; toutefois, sur la base de l’onomastique et de criteres paleo-epigraphiques, stylistiques et historiques, une datation fin de la 12e dynastie peut etre suggeree.
The Italian-Egyptian project at the Monastery of Abba Nefer at Manqabad started in 2011. The firs... more The Italian-Egyptian project at the Monastery of Abba Nefer at Manqabad started in 2011. The first three campaigns, carried out between 2011 and 2013, were actually brief surveys, strongly affected by the political instability of the country. During these surveys, the mission identified most of the structures already brought to light and recorded by previous investigations. Finally, during the campaign of autumn 2014, it was possible to work longer and to start the topographical survey and the investigation of the numerous structures still extant on the site. The town wall, overall enclosing an area of about 92.000 square meters, was acquired and measured with a Total Station. From the satellite images of the site, it was possible to identify a series of alignments in the NW quarter of the site, running EW at an average distance of 25m from each other. These alignments are very likely to correspond to the foundations or the lower courses of buildings for military cantonment of the Roman phase. Differently from monumental buildings of Roman time and churches of the early Christian period in Egypt, which were the object of in-depth studies during the last century, and are rather well known, the domestic architecture of the early Christian time still deserves further attention. For this reason, the mission put a particular focus on the Northern Sector of the site, characterized by a long row of housing units – 90 were recorded – and a first typology was set up. During the same season, the study of the previously discovered findings was also started. From the analysis of the two inventories kept in el-Ashmunein and Asyut (Shutbi), it was possible to determine the number and nature of all the findings and their conservation status. Unfortunately, however, only very vague information exist on the systems of grids and squares used by previous excavators and on the provenance of these findings. After the inventory survey, the study of the materials was undertaken at el-Ashmunein, where 152 specimens were analysed, catalogued and photographed. The preliminary observation of the finds (especially ceramics, paintings and architectural elements) and inscriptions allowed us to suggest an outline of the history of the site, divided into three main phases of life and at least three others of less regular human presence, which can be summarized as follows: a) Pharaonic Period (?); b) Ptolemaic Period (?); c) Late Roman Period; d) First Christian phase: end of the 5th/6th century; e) Second Christian phase corresponding to the first phase of the Islamic Period: 8th century; f) Second Islamic phase: 19th century (Mahmud II) (Pirelli 2015). However, this paper presents the results achieved so far by the Mission, on only four specific subjects: general features of the housing units; stone architectural elements; pottery; and inscriptions
Now Behold My Spacious Kingdom. Studies Presented to Zoltán Imre Fábián On the Occasion of His 63rd Birthday, 2017
Papers presented with love and appreciation to Zoltán Imre Fábián by several authors, colleagues ... more Papers presented with love and appreciation to Zoltán Imre Fábián by several authors, colleagues and friends from various university/Theban excavational/museum, etc. backgrounds. The papers focus mainly on Ancient Egypt, the Theban necropolis, with a dashing of miscellaneous subjects. A special section portrays graphic artwork from colleagues of the excavation team of the Hungarian Archaeological Mission in Thebes, in TT 184 and the south slope of el-Khokha; as well as other friends working in Thebes.
Published by L'Harmattan, Budapest, 2017/2019. ISBN 978-2-343-13743-8
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Papers by Rosanna Pirelli
Rutilius Lupus had a temple built in the Samnite city and dedicated it to the
goddess Isis to celebrate the emperor's victorious conclusion of the Dacian
Wars.
Although none of the ancient buildings found so far in the city can be attributed
to an Iseum, the existence of such a temple is confirmed by a large
number of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic statues, a few epigraphs and
some architectural elements, most of which were found in a section of the
foundations of the ancient city walls; most of the fragments of the two obelisks
and another group of objects were found scattered in different areas of the
city.
Of the approximately fifty artefacts, numerous statues represent ‘pharaohs’,
in both human and sphinx form; two are anthropomorphic deities, three depict
priests, and several statues represent sacred animals: four falcons, two
baboons and three Apis bulls; another bull is carved in high relief on an architectural
frieze.
This extraordinary set of artefacts – belonging to different historical periods,
from the Pharaonic to the Ptolemaic and finally the Roman era – represents
one of the largest concentrations of Egyptian and Egyptianising materials belonging
to a single cultic context of the imperial period outside Egypt.
Beginning with the publication that Hans W. Müller devoted to the analysis
of the Benevento 'Iseum’ in 1969, a lively debate (not yet concluded) has arisen
on the nature of the temple, its possible location and the relationship of this
monument to the other temples dedicated to Isis scattered throughout the
Empire.
In order to provide an interpretative key to answer, even partially, some of
these questions, my paper will briefly present all the Isiac sculptures in the
Samnite Iseum, with a particular focus on the symbolism expressed by the zoomorphic deities, especially in relation to their role in the representation of
Domitian’s imperial image.
Rutilius Lupus had a temple built in the Samnite city and dedicated it to the
goddess Isis to celebrate the emperor's victorious conclusion of the Dacian
Wars.
Although none of the ancient buildings found so far in the city can be attributed
to an Iseum, the existence of such a temple is confirmed by a large
number of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic statues, a few epigraphs and
some architectural elements, most of which were found in a section of the
foundations of the ancient city walls; most of the fragments of the two obelisks
and another group of objects were found scattered in different areas of the
city.
Of the approximately fifty artefacts, numerous statues represent ‘pharaohs’,
in both human and sphinx form; two are anthropomorphic deities, three depict
priests, and several statues represent sacred animals: four falcons, two
baboons and three Apis bulls; another bull is carved in high relief on an architectural
frieze.
This extraordinary set of artefacts – belonging to different historical periods,
from the Pharaonic to the Ptolemaic and finally the Roman era – represents
one of the largest concentrations of Egyptian and Egyptianising materials belonging
to a single cultic context of the imperial period outside Egypt.
Beginning with the publication that Hans W. Müller devoted to the analysis
of the Benevento 'Iseum’ in 1969, a lively debate (not yet concluded) has arisen
on the nature of the temple, its possible location and the relationship of this
monument to the other temples dedicated to Isis scattered throughout the
Empire.
In order to provide an interpretative key to answer, even partially, some of
these questions, my paper will briefly present all the Isiac sculptures in the
Samnite Iseum, with a particular focus on the symbolism expressed by the zoomorphic deities, especially in relation to their role in the representation of
Domitian’s imperial image.
The papers focus mainly on Ancient Egypt, the Theban necropolis, with a dashing of miscellaneous subjects.
A special section portrays graphic artwork from colleagues of the excavation team of the Hungarian Archaeological Mission in Thebes, in TT 184 and the south slope of el-Khokha; as well as other friends working in Thebes.
Published by L'Harmattan, Budapest, 2017/2019.
ISBN 978-2-343-13743-8