Three-dimensional reconstruction of an ancient Egyptian mummy

A complete series of cross-sectional computed tomography (CT) scans were obtained of a mummy of an Egyptian priestess, Tjenmutengebtiu, (Jeni), who lived in the twenty-second Dynasty (c. 945-715 BC). The purpose of this joint British Museum and St. Thomas’ Hospital project was effectively to ‘unwrap’ a mummy using cross-sectional X-rays. Jeni is encased in a beautifully decorated anthropomorphic cartonnage coffin. The head and neck were scanned with 2mm slices, the teeth with 1mm slices and the rest of the body with 4 mm slices, a 512 x 512 matrix was used. The 2D CT images, and 3D surface reconstruction’s, demonstrate many features of the embalming techniques and funerary customs of the XXII Dynasty. The presence of cloth protruding from the nasal cavities into the otherwise empty cranial cavity indicates that the brain was extracted via the nose. The remains of the heart can be seen as well as four organ packs corresponding to the mummified and repackaged lungs, intestines, stomach and liver. Each of the organ packs encloses a wax figurine representing one of the four sons of Horus. The teeth are in very good condition with little signs of wear, which, considering the gritty diet of the Egyptians, indicates that Jeni must have been very young when she died. A young age of death is also suggested by analysis of the shape of the molar teeth. The body is generally in very good condition demonstrating the consummate skill of the twenty-second Dynasty embalmers.

Death, Destruction and Commemoration : Tracing ritual activities in Finnish Late Iron Age cemeteries (AD 550-1150)

The thesis is connected with death, memory and ancestor commemoration during the Merovingian Period, the Viking Age and the beginning of the Crusade Period (AD 550-1150) in Finland. During this time, cremation was the dominant burial rite. It was not until the end of the Viking Age that inhumation became more common but both cremations and inhumations are performed even at the same sites throughout the time. Three different burial types 1) cremation cemeteries below level ground, 2) inhumation burials and 3) water burials are discussed in five articles. I consider these burial forms from three different viewpoints; collectivity-individuality, visibility-invisibility and cremation-inhumation. The thesis also discusses the topics of memory, memorialisation and monument re-use, which have been neglected subjects in Finnish archaeology until now. Both cremation cemeteries below level ground and inhumation burials have been re-used during their time of usage, and on most occasions are situated in a landscape that is overlaid by other monuments as well. The main questions of the thesis are: What kinds of ritual behaviour can we detect in the burials during the period (AD 550-1150)? How did people perceive the moraine hills that functioned as burial places? What kind of re-use can be detected in the Iron Age cemeteries? Why have ancient sites and artefacts been re-used? This thesis shows that it is possible to claim that both artefact and site re-use is a much more widespread phenomenon than has previously been thought in Finnish archaeology. It is also a conscious and deliberate behaviour that can be related to an ancestor cult and commemoration of the dead. The funerary rituals during this time period show great variation and complex, both regionally and nationally. Not only have the dead been buried using elaborate rituals, they have also been mourned and commemorated in intricate ways that proves that death was not an end product, but the start of something new.

Towards the Breaking Day : An Ethnography of Belian Curing Rituals among the Luangans of Indonesian Borneo

Towards the Breaking Day is an ethnography of belian, an exceptionally lively tradition of curing rituals performed by the Luangans, a politically marginalized population of swidden cultivators of Indonesian Borneo. The principal purpose of the study is to explore the significance of belian rituals in practice. It asks what belian rituals do socially, politically, and existentially for particular people in particular circumstances. Departing from conventional conceptions of rituals as ethereal liminal or insulated traditional domains, it demonstrates the importance of understanding rituals as emergent within their specific historical and social settings, and highlights the irreducibility of lived reality to epistemological certainty. Each chapter of the book represents an analysis of a concrete ritual performance, exemplifying a diversity of ritual genres, stylistic modalities and sensual ambiences, ranging from low-keyed, habitual affairs to drawn-out, crowd-seizing community rituals and innovative, montage-like cultural experiments. The study is based on eighteen months of ethnographic fieldwork in non-Christian Central Luangan communities in which ritual and everyday life are complexly intermixed. It is intended as a contribution to the anthropological study of ritual and to the ethnography of Borneo religion in which the study of shamanistic life rituals has been overshadowed by a long-standing fascination with death and funerary rites.

Un testigo directo de las tensiones religiosas en la Alejandría de los siglos IV y V D.C. : Páladas de Alejandría en la Antología Palatina

Abstract: Although he is the most prolific writer of the Greek Anthology, Palladas’ life is almost unknown. But, in spite of the limited biographical data, his work has fortunately been preserved in the GA. Because of his literary creation, the old times rewarded him with the nickname Μετέωρος, high, since the literary merits of a hundred poems of his authorship was recognized (others are discussed by critics). A dozen of them contains invaluable information about the political, religious and social situation in Alexandria immediately after the victory of the bishop Theophilus, Cyril’s predecessor and uncle, during the conflict between Christians and Gentiles, each sector backed up by an Alexandrian population segment (cfr. 9.528, 10.82, 10.85) . Resigned at times, constantly demanding, Palladas complains about the decline of the belief professed by him due to the increasing penetration of the new faith. Therefore, four epigrams record the conversion of the temple of Tyche into a tavern (9.180-183) and 10.90 seems to attack the doctrine of the Resurrection. When religion and politics go hand-in-hand, when religious conspiracies link up with palace intrigues, consequences are predictable: a man called Doroteo denounced him for his negative response to the new dogma, which caused him the loss of his teacher paid work. His annoyance was even greater with further sufferings, chiefly economic, and he had to sell his books (9.171 and 9.175) among other desperate decisions Forewarned about his radical bitterness against Church, it is just to make clear that he is not fully acquiescent with ancient gods and heroes. Thus, in 5.257 he questions Zeus’ ars amandi, in 9.377 refutes Tantalus’ possibility of thirst and hunger in Hades and 9.773 mischievously points out that Eros has been changed into a pan. The work begins with the selection, personal translation and comprehensive analysis of twenty two epigrams. Through such philological aid, we attempt to verify the frictions and the main perceptible factors in his poetic creation to justify his worldview, according to the pagan sentiment widespread in that time before the twilight already overwhelming of its ailing traditions

Aspectos simbólicos prehispánicos en la Quebrada de la Cueva : una mirada arqueológica

Resumen: El trabajo presenta una aproximación al estudio de algunos aspectos simbólicos arqueológicos en la quebrada de La Cueva, Humahuaca, Jujuy. En primer término se estudian y discuten los contextos funerarios recuperados en el pasado y presente en el Pukara de La Cueva, en el marco de la denominada Arqueología de la Muerte. En segunda instancia, se analiza el hallazgo de un molusco fósil dentro de un contexto habitacional del mismo sitio, para el cual se postulan y discuten posibles connotaciones simbólicas. Con esta investigación buscamos trascender la presentación de datos puramente materiales, para penetrar en la esfera de la ideología, el simbolismo y las relaciones sociales de los grupos prehispánicos que habitaron la quebrada de La Cueva.

Nuevas lecturas de tres inscripciones de Clunia (Hispania Citerior) con repercusión sobre la expresión de algunas agrupaciones familiares celtibéricas

[ES] Revisión de tres inscripciones Funerarias procedentes de la ciudad de Clunia, con propuesta de nuevas lecturas que afectan a la interpretación de nombres personales y de agrupaciones familiares indígenas

Sugli epigrammi latini del Petrarca

[IT] Un gruppo di tre manoscritti trasmette una piccola e assai curiosa collezione di epigrammi latini del Petrarca: a proposito di una recente edizione di alcuni di essi (F. Petrarca, Gabbiani, ed. F. Rico, Milano, Adelphi, 2008), in questo articolo vengono illustrati vari aspetti testuali che potrebbero essere rilevanti per determinare l’origine controversa della tradizione degli epigrammi.

Mário Quintana em verso e prosa: uma teoria do poético e da leitura

O maior diferencial entre o trabalho aqui proposto e outros já realizados por doutorandos em literatura brasileira é o olhar voltado para os aspectos lingüísticos. Em outros termos, esta tese visa provar que Mário Quintana foi um poeta da língua, pois soube, como poucos, manejar os recursos expressivos do nosso vernáculo com a finalidade de transmitir sua mensagem poética. Outro objetivo desta pesquisa seria o resgate da obra de Quintana para as novas gerações. Assim, busco analisar de que forma a morfossintaxe, a semântica, a fonética e a estilística em Mário Quintana contribuem para a construção da sua poética. O corpus constitui-se de poemas, prosas poéticas e epigramas pertencentes aos livros Apontamentos de história sobrenatural e Caderno H (não exclusivamente) que são trabalhados estilisticamente nos aspectos lingüístico-literários essenciais. As características principais estudadas são: a intertextualidade, as marcas de oralidade, a poética e a linguagem em Mário Quintana

Nuevos monumentos funerarios de Belorado (Burgos)

[ES] En el siguiente trabajo se dan a conocer cuatro nuevas estelas funerarias de época romana de Belorado (Burgos). Como la inmensa mayoría de las estelas localizadas en este lugar, estas también guardan una serie de peculiaridades externas e internas comunes que han llevado a considerarlo un conjunto epigráfico específico del lugar. Es por ello que en las siguientes páginas presentaremos una descripción y análisis de las mismas a la vez que las contextualizamos dentro del conjunto y el lugar donde fueron localizadas.

Inscripciones sepulcrales latinas de la Hispania cristiana: algunas correcciones

[ES] En el trabajo que sigue presentamos una serie de correcciones y modificaciones de veintiocho lecturas del corpus de inscripciones cristianas latinas de la Península.

Ídolos-espátulas del País Vasco: fabricación, cronología y paralelos

[ES] La industria ósea postpaleolítica, por lo general, pocas veces ha merecido la atención que se le ha concedido a la fabricada durante el Paleolítico Superior. No obstante una de dichas excepciones serán los denominados ídolos-espátulas con decoración acanalada en su mitad proximal, trabajados sobre tibias de "Capra/Ovis" y procedentes por lo que hasta ahora conocemos de contextos sepulcrales megalíticos. En su morfología deben de señalarse el extremo activo romo, al modo de otras espátulas tan comunes en contextos neolíticos, y el extremo proximal decorado con profundos acanalamientos que conforman motivos geométricos más o menos complejos (espiral, zig-zag, etc.) en unos casos y en menos alguna figura antropomorfa femenina. Los primeros hallazgos se realizaron en la provincia de Álava durante la década de los sesenta, destacando entre ellos los procedentes del sepulcro de corredor de San Martín (Laguardia), a los que se sucedieron otros como los de Kurtzebide, Los Llanos, etc. en el mismo territorio y los importantes conjuntos hallados en distintas provincias de la Meseta Norte y en La Rioja. Todos ellos debido al tipo de contexto del que proceden y las características de los ídolos-espátula ritual dan cierto grado de homogeneidad ideológico o religioso a todo el territorio. No obstante, fuera de este territorio y muy alejados desde el punto de vista geográfico existen otros ejemplares (Tell Halula -Siria-, Sesklo, Agios Petras -Grecia-) que muestran gran similitud tipológica aunque no un nexo de unión entre ambas zonas. Por otra parte, hay que subrayar la notable mayor antigüedad del foco oriental y que el contexto del que proceden no es funerario como en el caso de los ejemplares occidentales.

Nuevos epígrafes del "ager Celtitanus"

[ES]Se presentan seis nuevos epígrafes funerarios hallados en La Puebla de los Infantes (Sevilla), la mayoría en mármol, todos ellos asignables al municipio de "Celti", y un grafito en cerámica.

Aqui se jaz, aqui se paga : o mercado da morte e do morrer em tempos de imortalidade

Esta tese busca compreender o que os rituais funerários contemporâneos revelam sobre as maneiras com as quais as pessoas têm lidado com a morte e o morrer na atualidade. Desse eixo central se ramificam reflexões sobre a relação dos homens com o tempo, com o envelhecimento e com a finitude. Evidenciando que os modos atuais de lidar com a morte e o morrer envolvem flagrantes processos de mercantilização, patologização, medicalização e espetacularização. O crescente uso de serviços funerários de tanatoestética apontam não somente técnicas de maquiagem dos mortos, mas também estratégias de maquiagem da morte. O investimento financeiro, antes direcionado às preocupações transcendentes com o futuro da alma do morto, se reverte em intervenções físicas no corpo morto, de maneira que ele não emita sinal algum da morte que o tomou e proteja os sobreviventes do contato com a finitude. Essa dissimulação é sinalizada pela redução progressiva do espaço que a sociedade contemporânea tem destinado ao luto e ao sofrimento, categorias com cada vez mais frequência equiparadas a condições patológicas. Utilizando metodologia qualitativa, com pesquisa de campo realizada tanto no Brasil como em Portugal, durante período de doutorado sanduíche no exterior, observou-se um acentuado estreitamento entre as realidades morte e consumo. Indicando uma transposição da lógica comercial de mercado às práticas funerárias tradicionais. Assim, funções simbólicas dos rituais fúnebres vem sendo modificadas e regidas pela lógica do consumo, apresentado na atualidade como alternativa unidimensional para a imperativa vivência initerrupta do prazer e da felicidade. Constatou-se que - apesar da crescente popularização de discussões sobre o tema morte no meio acadêmico, na área da saúde e na mídia - não há aceno de ruptura no seu enquadramento como tabu. Apenas é permitido socialmente que ela ocupe locais determinados: o lugar de espetáculo, de produto, da técnica, da banalização ou mesmo do humor publicitário. As observações e as reflexões realizadas em todo o processo de construção desta tese nos inclinam a considerar que continua vedado o aprofundamento de questões ligadas à expressão de sentimentos de dor e de pesar diante das perdas. Assim como se acentuam os processos de patologização do luto e de distanciamento das demandas existênciais promovidas pela consciência da própria finitude e da passagem do tempo; do tempo de vida de cada um

Herod Wielki i „nowa” Jerozolima

Summary: Herod the Great (73-4 B.C.E.) was a Roman client king of the small Jewish state Judaea in the last three decades before the common era. An essential aspect of Herod's reign was his role as a builder. Remarkably innovative, he created an astonishing record of architectural achievement, not only in Judaea but also throughout Greece and the Roman East. Herod’s own inclinations caused him to engage in a building program that paralleled that of his patron, Augustus. The most famous and ambitious project was the expansion of Jerusalem and rebuilding of the Second Temple. Josephus Flavius, a 1st-century Jewish historian, in his descriptions of the visual structure of Jerusalem delivers the picture of the Jewish society in the latter Second Temple Judaea, who were fundamentally antagonistic toward images. For Josephus, Roman iconography, such as Herod’s eagle from the Jerusalem Temple, represents not only political domination but also an unambiguous religious abomination. Visual conservatism in the public realm finds important verification in the excavated remains of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount and the Herodian Quarter (Upper City). Geometric patterns and forms predominate on the floor mosaic, stone furniture, in architectural detail and funerary remains. No human imagery is present in the Jewish context. However, Herodian structures in Jerusalem reflect the architectural and visual vocabulary of their time which contains popular elements of Roman domination in the ancient world.