Eine vergleichende Analyse altägyptischer und rezenter ägyptischer Totenbräuche : eine phänomenologische Studie / eingereicht von Nadja El-Shohoumi

• VerfasserIn: El-Shohoumi, Nadja
• Place / Publishing House: Wien, 1996
• Year of Publication: 1996
• Language: German
• Contents/pieces: 2 records
• ac_no: AC01945227
• Hierarchical level: Monograph
• Statement of Responsibility: eingereicht von Nadja El-Shohoumi

eng: The purpose of the present thesis is to reveal the manner in which modern Egyptian rites related to death have their origin in ancient Egyptian traditions. The research is divided into two main sections. The first is the result of field-research carried out in different parts of the country. A variety of phenomena related to modern Egyptian funeral rites with specific reference to different types of tombs and burial sites and to the whole funeral procedure starting from the moment of death until the end of the mourning period are covered. Since the theme of death is directly related to sexuality and fertility, reference is also made to certain magical practices which have the aim of enhancing fertility and of expelling life-endangering evil spirits which appear at the onset of death. A further appendix deals with the worship of and sacrificial offerings to saints - a phenomena specific to Egypt. The second section concentrates on ancient Egyptian death rituals in relation to the traditions observed in the field-research documented in the first section. At the end of each thematic area (e.g. tomb architecture, funeral processions, mourning rites, funeral dances, offerings for the dead, etc.), there is passage comparing the main characteristics of the modern and ancient rituals. At the same time, the extent to which ancient traditions were integrated and modified in the Islamic culture is demonstrated. The research ends with a chapter showing how some of the imagery relating to the ancient Egyptian gods, in particular to Osiris, the god of death and fertility, is taken up in the modern worship of the saints. The research, into modern Egyptian customs - particularly as observed in popular culture - allows us to conclude that birth and death - determine everyday life and that many of the rituals related to them can indeed be traced back to ancient Egypt. The study of the documented rituals is above all of qualitative nature and took place from a purely phenomenological standpoint. However, whilst we may assume that recent customs for which analogies ancient Egypt can be found and documented represent a continuation of ancient beliefs, this cannot be proved.