Journal papers by Lauren Dogaer
Le Bulletin de lāInstitut franƧais dāarchĆ©ologie orientale 124: p. 165-192, 2024
This paper examines an undernoticed theme of the papyrus archive of the Theban royal bank, contex... more This paper examines an undernoticed theme of the papyrus archive of the Theban royal bank, contextualizing data on Amun's Userhat boat and the Theban religious festivals in the later Ptolemaic period. The bank archive reveals the fraudulent use of money deposits destined for the replacement of two iron anchors for the Userhat and for the maintenance of this sacred riverine ship which transported Amun's sacred bark twice a year (during the Opet and the Valley Festivals). The Userhat is well attested in the pharaonic period, while the information for the Ptolemaic era, though scarce, shows that the main Theban festivals were still organized and that the Userhat still played a major role. The documentary evidence offers more detail on royal investment in the ship's maintenance even during a civil war, its outer appearance, on the saline basin where it was moored and the storage place of its removable parts. The association of the Ptolemaic Userhat with the Opet temple, as suggested by the bank records, fits with a shift in focus towards this sanctuary in the later Ptolemaic period.
The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 106 (1-2): p. 205-214, 2020
The pharaonic Beautiful Festival of the Valley has already been studied extensively by various sc... more The pharaonic Beautiful Festival of the Valley has already been studied extensively by various scholars. However, no adequate research has hitherto been carried out into the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods. This paper proposes what the final phase of the festival would have looked like and argues that it did not merge with the Decadal Festival, as became the opinio communis. The Graeco-Roman archaeological data from the Theban necropolis were plotted in GIS (ArcGIS 10.7.1) to determine that these finds can still be linked to the processional paths used for the Valley Festival, as was the case in older periods. The indications provided by the spatial distributions together with papyrological sources and landscape analysis support the hypothesis that the Valley Festival continued to be celebrated into the Graeco-Roman Period.
Edited Books by Lauren Dogaer
The twenty-third Current Research in Egyptology conference took place at the University of Basel,... more The twenty-third Current Research in Egyptology conference took place at the University of Basel, Switzerland on 10th-15th September 2023. This international event was attended by more than 70 young Egyptologists in person, with additional participants joining online, making for a vibrant and dynamic exchange of ideas. The conference featured a rich program of 87 paper presentations and 17 poster presentations, showcasing some of the latest research and developments made by early career researchers in the field. The present volume collects 22 selected papers from the conference, which cover a wide range of topics, reflecting the diverse interests and expertise of the contributors. The topics include language and literature, archaeology and material culture, society and religion, archival research, intercultural relations, reports on archaeological excavations and methodological issues, regarding all periods of Ancient Egypt.
Conferences by Lauren Dogaer
CRE 2023, University of Basel, 10-14 September 2023. Organising Committee: Alexis Den Doncker, La... more CRE 2023, University of Basel, 10-14 September 2023. Organising Committee: Alexis Den Doncker, Lauren Dogaer, Cyprian H.Ā W. Fong, Elena Hertel, Charlotte Hunkeler, Jacqueline M. Huwyler, Marwan Kilani, Geirr Lunden, Tarek Khalil Mohamed, Sayed Mamdouh Soliman. Current Research in Egyptology (CRE) is a postgraduate conference set up to facilitate research and promote bonds between British and international universities worldwide who are conducting research in Egyptology, Egyptian Archaeology, or any other related field of study.
International Conference organized in Basel, 14th-16th September
This event is part of the PRI... more International Conference organized in Basel, 14th-16th September
This event is part of the PRIMA research project Beyond the Text. New Funerary Compositions in the Graeco-Roman Period: Textualities and Archaeology in Thebes and is sponsored by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
The Ptolemaic period (332 - 30 BC) saw the emergence of new funerary compositions with diversified contents and formats that would gradually supplant the famous Book of the Dead, particularly in the Theban area.
The goal of this international conference is to connect textual, religious, socio-economical and historical backgrounds. The conference will bring together egyptologists, papyrologists and archaeologists, involved in research related to the Theban area during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, to discuss funerary, documentary and archaeological sources and examine the socio-cultural factors and the influence of local cults, that could have contributed to the evolution of late funerary literature.
Talks by Lauren Dogaer
Second Swiss Workshop on Sociolinguistics, Language Contacts and Historical Linguistics in the Ancient World, 13-14 February, 2025
The multicultural and multilingual society of Ptolemaic Thebes (332-30 BCE) provides an excellent... more The multicultural and multilingual society of Ptolemaic Thebes (332-30 BCE) provides an excellent case study for investigating linguistic interactions between Egyptian, particularly Demotic, and Greek. In this regard, the bilingual (Demotic-Greek) archives of the priests who worked on the west bank of Thebes are of particular interest. These priests were engaged in either the funerary business, specifically the mummification process or the maintenance of the cult of the dead, or in the daily rituals of small temples or sanctuaries, in charge of the cult of the god or one of the sacred animal cults. In order to ascertain the precise functions performed by these priests, it is necessary to examine their titles, which are often preserved in both Demotic and Greek, due to the bilingual archives. In some instances, the Greek titles even clarify the Egyptian ones, thereby offering a greater understanding of the specific functions attributed to the priests in question. While numerous title equations between the two scripts/languages have been previously identified and examined by PESTMAN, MARTIN and BAETENS, the socio-cultural context in which these equations were established, as well as the potential role of linguistics, remain understudied. This paper will therefore analyse the complex issue of priestly title equations from Demotic into Greek by distinguishing between (1) cultural and loan translations; (2) transcriptions, including foreignisms and loan words; and (3) descriptions, focusing on how certain functions can be described in Greek. An examination of the aforementioned three categories will assist in determining the extent of familiarity of the scribes writing in Greek with the functions of the priests, as well as the degree to which a Greek perspective influenced the perception of the titles by the multilingual population of Thebes and by modern scholars.
Swiss Papyrology Day, Jan 31, 2025
Current Research in Egyptology, 2-6th September 2024
Documentary and funerary papyri from Ptolemaic Thebes (332 BC-30 BC) contain a wealth of informat... more Documentary and funerary papyri from Ptolemaic Thebes (332 BC-30 BC) contain a wealth of information on mortuary priests, such as embalmers and libation pourers, and the functional titles they held. A Theban embalmer was called wyt in Hieratic, įŗry-įø„b in Demotic, and ĻĪ±ĻĪ¹ĻĪµĻ
ĻĪ®Ļ in Greek. The Hieratic įŗry-įø„b on the other hand was still functioning as a lector-priest, a high-clergy function, responsible for reading out passages of funerary and ritual texts. Therefore, one should always be careful of the language, script and context in which a source is written. This paper will study the complex matter of priestly title equations in the multicultural and multilingual society that was Ptolemaic Thebes. Many Egyptian titles of mortuary priests and their equivalents in Greek are already known and have been studied by PESTMAN, MARTIN and BAETENS. Nonetheless, the socio-cultural context in which these equations were established and perceived remains an understudied aspect. Firstly, this paper will address the various ways in which the titles could be equated, be it via translation or transcription from Egyptian into Greek, or via making a new description in Greek. Whether or not the Greeks were familiar with the particular function a priest was performing might have played a role. Secondly, this paper will examine the extent to which a Greek perspective had a hand in how the titles were perceived. Mortuary priests are often placed quite low on the social ladder by modern scholars, something that potentially can be attributed to the influence and descriptive view of Greek sources.
Demotic Summer School Leiden, 14-16th August, 2023
XIIIth International Congress of Egyptologists, 6-11th August, 2023
Graeco-Roman Egypt was ruled by foreigners with a diverse cultural background. However, longstand... more Graeco-Roman Egypt was ruled by foreigners with a diverse cultural background. However, longstanding religious traditions were still honoured and sometimes even expanded. This contradiction has somehow led to a separate approach regarding the study of this period. Traditional Egyptian practices, especially when it comes to religious affairs, are mainly studied by Egyptologists. On the other hand, economic and political matters are regularly being looked into by papyrologists. This has certainly to do with the nature of the sources, as information about Egyptian religion can more easily be deduced from funerary papyri or temple texts than from documentary sources. However, the latter can also instruct us about the performance and organisation of religious practices. One such occasion was the yearly celebrated Valley Festival, which crossed the Nile from Karnak to Deir el-Bahari. Various source-types, either papyrological or Egyptological, give a different view on what this festival in the Graeco-Roman Period might have looked like. Especially the duration of this celebration is a much debated issue. Pharaonic sources usually indicate a short stay of the god Amun in the temple of Deir el-Bahari, but sources dating to the Ptolemaic and Roman periods suggest a longer duration. The bark chapel of Amun in the temple of Deir el-Bahari was restored as late as the reign of Ptolemy VIII, but how many nights Amun spent there remains unclear. This paper will discuss possible reconstructions of the duration of the Valley Festival by using an interdisciplinary approach. It will serve as a case study and theoretical basis for combining Egyptological and papyrological data and methods, a crucial approach when studying religious celebrations taking place in a multicultural society.
UniversitĆ© Libre de Bruxelles, Workshop āDu Rouleau au cartonnage. Les differentes vies du papyrus en Egypteā, April 17, 2023
Huis van Horus, The Netherlands, Feb 16, 2023
Thebe, het huidige Luxor, is gedurende de Egyptische geschiedenis altijd een belangrijk religieus... more Thebe, het huidige Luxor, is gedurende de Egyptische geschiedenis altijd een belangrijk religieus centrum geweest. Verschillende tempels, zoals die van Karnak of Medinet Habu vormden het hart van het religieuze gebeuren in Thebe. Dagelijkse, wekelijkse of jaarlijkse religieuze festivals en rituelen kleurden de kalender, waarbij verschillende types priesters betrokken waren. Deze priesters konden zowel in de necropool als dodenpriester werken of in de tempel als hoge clerus priester. De religieuze festiviteiten in Thebe bleven lange tijd floreren, ook onder Grieks-Romeins gezag (332 v.Chr. ā 285 n.Chr.). De praktische en organisatorische aspecten van de Thebaanse festivals in deze periode, en met name de functies die werden bekleed door verschillende priesters, zullen het onderwerp vormen van deze lezing.
Schweizer Papyrologentag, University of NeuchĆ¢tel, Jan 27, 2023
From the train station, take the stairs downwards towards the lake. Once you have reached the lak... more From the train station, take the stairs downwards towards the lake. Once you have reached the lakeshore, turn left and follow the shore. You will reach the University building.
Graduiertentagung University of Basel Ā«Wer bin ich?Ā» Kulturkontakt und IdentitƤt (Entstehung, Pflege und VerƤnderung) in der Antike, Nov 28-29, 2022
The multicultural society of Ptolemaic Egypt (332 BC ā 30 BC) was very vibrant and can be used as... more The multicultural society of Ptolemaic Egypt (332 BC ā 30 BC) was very vibrant and can be used as an excellent example for the study of cultural contact and identity. One of Egyptās most prominent cities, Thebes, had long been the religious capital of the country. The city itself as well as its surroundings was intertwined with various cults, festivals, rites and rituals. During the Ptolemaic Period the religious life in Thebes continued, although new people, Greeks, brought with them their own culture and religion. An interesting aspect to investigate is how the traditional religious practices were still standing in such a vivid cultural environment. This paper will address this issue and analyse the cultural contact between the Greeks and the traditional Egyptian religious practices, more specifically the various priesthoods existing in the area. Although Egyptian priests are often seen as a very niche group of society, they did interact with Greek people, either for official matters or as parties in a sale contract or opponents in a lawsuit. Did it matter whether you were Greek or Egyptian? Another aspect will address how Egyptian priests identified themselves in both Greek official documents as well as Egyptian funerary or documentary sources and how this identification is addressed by scholars. A theoretical basis will be provided to become more aware of certain (modern) notions regarding identification and what identity meant for the people in Ptolemaic Thebes.
Egyptologica Vlaanderen VZW, Nov 8, 2022
Thebe, het huidige Luxor, is doorheen de Egyptische geschiedenis altijd een belangrijk religieus ... more Thebe, het huidige Luxor, is doorheen de Egyptische geschiedenis altijd een belangrijk religieus centrum geweest. Verschillende tempels, zoals deze van Karnak of Medinet Habu vormden het hart van het religieuze gebeuren in Thebe. Dagelijkse, wekelijkse of jaarlijkse religieuze festivals en rituelen kleurden de kalender, waarbij verschillende types priesters betrokken waren; zowel diegenen die in de necropool aan de slag gingen als dodenpriester en de libaties voor de overledenen uitvoerden, als diegenen die rechtstreeks aan een tempel verbonden waren. De momenten waarop deze priestergroepen samenwerkten kwamen doorgaans overeen met de vele religieuze festivals en in het bijzonder de processies die er aan verbonden waren. We beschikken maar over weinig informatie die ons kan helpen de praktische en organisatorische kanten van deze feesten te begrijpen. Ze bleven lange tijd floreren, ook onder Grieks-Romeins gezag (332 v.Chr. ā 285 na Chr.), toen Egypte geen inheemse faraoās meer kende. De bronnen die uit deze periode dateren, kunnen ons heel goed helpen de vaak onderbelichte aspecten van de religieuze festivals te begrijpen. Hoe werden deze praktisch georganiseerd? Welke priestergroepen waren hierbij betrokken en bestond er zoiets als een taakverdeling?
Symposium Ritual, Performance, Mystery, University of Leipzig, Nov 4, 2022
The Valley and Opet Festivals constituted two of the most important and prominent festivals of th... more The Valley and Opet Festivals constituted two of the most important and prominent festivals of the Theban area (modern Luxor). Originated in the Middle Kingdom and peaked in the New Kingdom, both festivals still existed in the Graeco-Roman Period. During these yearly celebrations the god Amun travelled from Karnak to Deir el-Bahari (Valley Festival) or from Karnak to Luxor (Opet Festival). We have built up quite a good knowledge on the performative aspects of these religious celebrations in the Pharaonic period, but for the Ptolemaic and Roman periods direct indications often lack. However, a combination of archaeological, papyrological and Egyptological sources will allow a reconstruction of a few important performative and organisational aspects of the two festivals in the concerned period. Moreover, this detailed approach will also shed light on some currently lesser known aspects of these festivals in the Pharaonic period. This paper will present an analysis of the roles of the priests involved in the organisation, such as the maintenance of the Userhat-boat or bark of Amun, as well as how these various priesthoods worked together during the festivals. Finally, an overview will be given of the different rites and rituals performed throughout both festivals in the Graeco-Roman Period.
International Conference "From One Shore to the Other: New Perspectives on Funerary and Religious Practices in Ptolemaic and Roman Thebes, University of Basel, 2022
When one studies the priesthoods of Graeco-Roman Thebes, two groups emerge: the mortuary priests,... more When one studies the priesthoods of Graeco-Roman Thebes, two groups emerge: the mortuary priests, mainly choachytes, and the high clergy of Amun-Ra, generally attached to the temple of Karnak. Information about the former can be found in Demotic and Greek documentary sources, while the latter group is primarily known from hieratic and hieroglyphic funerary sources. Moreover, priests working in the mortuary cult in the necropolis are often seen as lower clergy in comparison to the priests attached to the temple. But were they? In addition, many sources indicate that a strict distinction between two separate groups did not exist. How were the tasks divided and how can this distribution contribute to a better knowledge of the ways of working of different priestly functions? This paper will review the socio-cultural connections between various priesthoods by analysing the interactions they had, as well as by combining the often separately studied documentary and funerary sources. A new view upon Theban priesthoods will be presented showing that they had personal and professional connections.
14th International Conference of Demotic Studies, Heidelberg
Egyptological Conference in Copenhagen "Cultural Contact", University of Copenhagen, 2022
The mu... more Egyptological Conference in Copenhagen "Cultural Contact", University of Copenhagen, 2022
The multicultural society of the Graeco-Roman Period allows for the study of religious interactions between various cultures. Longstanding religious traditions were still honoured and sometimes even expanded. Simultaneously the country was ruled by ethnic foreigners with a diverse cultural background. This contradiction has somehow led to a separate approach regarding the study of this period. Traditional Egyptian practices, especially when it comes to religious affairs, are mainly studied by Egyptologists. On the other hand, economic matters are regularly being looked into by papyrologists. This has certainly to do with the nature of the sources, as information about Egyptian religion can more easily be deduced from funerary texts than from documentary papyri. However, the latter can also instruct us about religious practices and more specifically about sacerdotal titles held by priests. These titles not only appear in various documents and languages but also in different cultural contexts, either Greek or Egyptian. Therefore, this paper will assemble and analyse attestations of priestly titles in both funerary and documentary papyri originating from the Theban area. In addition, a first attempt will be made to assimilate the aforementioned attestations in Greek/Demotic, often referred to by papyrologists, with Egyptian jargon used by Egyptologists.
International Workshop "Individuals behind Documents: Papyri and Inscriptions as a Socio-cultural Source?", University of Manchester, 2021
In 133 BC the inheritance of the choachyte Horos was divided amongst his heirs. Choachytes (ĻĪæĪ±ĻĻ... more In 133 BC the inheritance of the choachyte Horos was divided amongst his heirs. Choachytes (ĻĪæĪ±ĻĻĻĪ±Ī¹ - wAH.w mw) were priestly undertakers who worked in the Theban necropolis (present day Luxor). As it was a choachyteās job to take care of the deceasedās mortuary cult after the funeral, the inheritance of Horos included mummies and the associated liturgies written on a Greek tomb-list (P. Survey 54). At first glance it seems that only names and titles could be retrieved from the list. However, some of the deceased mentioned, belonged to the high clergy of Amun-Ra and were, amongst others, responsible for the administration of Karnak temple as well as the organisation of religious festivals in the Theban area. Moreover, members of the priesthood of Amun-Ra could be buried with a Document of Breathing, a type of Late Funerary Literature that gradually supplanted the more famous Book of the Dead. On the other hand, Horos, as a choachyte, belonged to the lower clergy and apart from looking after the deceased, he and his family also participated in religious festivals and were dependent on the administration of Karnak temple. Hence, various connections between the high and low clergy can be established on the basis of P. Survey 54, which, although a documentary text, stood at the centre of the funerary activities in Thebes. Therefore, this paper will discuss how documentary and funerary texts can be integrated to reconstruct the lives of those involved in the Theban mortuary practices.
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Journal papers by Lauren Dogaer
Edited Books by Lauren Dogaer
Conferences by Lauren Dogaer
This event is part of the PRIMA research project Beyond the Text. New Funerary Compositions in the Graeco-Roman Period: Textualities and Archaeology in Thebes and is sponsored by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
The Ptolemaic period (332 - 30 BC) saw the emergence of new funerary compositions with diversified contents and formats that would gradually supplant the famous Book of the Dead, particularly in the Theban area.
The goal of this international conference is to connect textual, religious, socio-economical and historical backgrounds. The conference will bring together egyptologists, papyrologists and archaeologists, involved in research related to the Theban area during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, to discuss funerary, documentary and archaeological sources and examine the socio-cultural factors and the influence of local cults, that could have contributed to the evolution of late funerary literature.
Talks by Lauren Dogaer
The multicultural society of the Graeco-Roman Period allows for the study of religious interactions between various cultures. Longstanding religious traditions were still honoured and sometimes even expanded. Simultaneously the country was ruled by ethnic foreigners with a diverse cultural background. This contradiction has somehow led to a separate approach regarding the study of this period. Traditional Egyptian practices, especially when it comes to religious affairs, are mainly studied by Egyptologists. On the other hand, economic matters are regularly being looked into by papyrologists. This has certainly to do with the nature of the sources, as information about Egyptian religion can more easily be deduced from funerary texts than from documentary papyri. However, the latter can also instruct us about religious practices and more specifically about sacerdotal titles held by priests. These titles not only appear in various documents and languages but also in different cultural contexts, either Greek or Egyptian. Therefore, this paper will assemble and analyse attestations of priestly titles in both funerary and documentary papyri originating from the Theban area. In addition, a first attempt will be made to assimilate the aforementioned attestations in Greek/Demotic, often referred to by papyrologists, with Egyptian jargon used by Egyptologists.
This event is part of the PRIMA research project Beyond the Text. New Funerary Compositions in the Graeco-Roman Period: Textualities and Archaeology in Thebes and is sponsored by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
The Ptolemaic period (332 - 30 BC) saw the emergence of new funerary compositions with diversified contents and formats that would gradually supplant the famous Book of the Dead, particularly in the Theban area.
The goal of this international conference is to connect textual, religious, socio-economical and historical backgrounds. The conference will bring together egyptologists, papyrologists and archaeologists, involved in research related to the Theban area during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, to discuss funerary, documentary and archaeological sources and examine the socio-cultural factors and the influence of local cults, that could have contributed to the evolution of late funerary literature.
The multicultural society of the Graeco-Roman Period allows for the study of religious interactions between various cultures. Longstanding religious traditions were still honoured and sometimes even expanded. Simultaneously the country was ruled by ethnic foreigners with a diverse cultural background. This contradiction has somehow led to a separate approach regarding the study of this period. Traditional Egyptian practices, especially when it comes to religious affairs, are mainly studied by Egyptologists. On the other hand, economic matters are regularly being looked into by papyrologists. This has certainly to do with the nature of the sources, as information about Egyptian religion can more easily be deduced from funerary texts than from documentary papyri. However, the latter can also instruct us about religious practices and more specifically about sacerdotal titles held by priests. These titles not only appear in various documents and languages but also in different cultural contexts, either Greek or Egyptian. Therefore, this paper will assemble and analyse attestations of priestly titles in both funerary and documentary papyri originating from the Theban area. In addition, a first attempt will be made to assimilate the aforementioned attestations in Greek/Demotic, often referred to by papyrologists, with Egyptian jargon used by Egyptologists.
Door de eeuwen heen evolueerde het dalfeest en werd de route die de god Amon volgde van Karnak naar Dayr al-Bahri steeds complexer. De oudste vermeldingen dateren uit het Middenrijk (2040 ā 1780 v.Chr.), en algemeen wordt aangenomen dat het feest in de Grieks-Romeinse periode (ca. 332 v.Chr. ā 285 na Chr.) niet meer als dusdanig gevierd werd. Recent onderzoek toont echter iets anders aan.
These mortuary priests called "choachytai" were responsible for pouring the libations for the deceased
buried in the Theban necropolis on a weekly basis (Decade Festival) as well as during all major festivals
celebrated in Thebes. During these so-called drinking days the choachytai did not only pour the libations
for the deceased but also drank themselves in honor of the gods. Not following the rules resulted in the
payment of a fine to the temple cash register.