Aspects of religion and ritual in the ancient Near East and Egypt: The introduction of foreign deities into the Egyptian pantheon in the Late Bronze Age
One of the most deeply rooted modern assumptions pervading accounts of ancient Egyptian religion is the importation of foreign deities in Egypt.Several studies have been analyzed the Syro-Palestine deities under the prism of polytheism in the ancient Levant. However, a comprehensive study of foreign deities from Anatolia, Mesopotamia and Syro-palestine and their importation into the Egyptian pantheon is still missing. This doctoral research project dealing with the presence, development, contribution and assimilation of foreign deities in the region of Egypt by analyzing the cultic and mythic texts in Ugarit and their contribution and development on glyptic art such as scarabs, seals and plaques and royal and non-royal religious beliefs and practices in temples and tombs, revealing the official setting and refuge in private life. The aim of this research is to interpret the religion of Near East, the importation of foreign deities and their influences in Egypt, analyze various aspects of polytheism and devotion in Near East and Egypt and the contribution of Egyptian policy in the religion, examine the manifestation of foreign deities on texts and documents such as cultic and mythic texts, papyrus and stelae, re-evaluate the archaeological material and iconography in Near East and Egypt (scarabs, seals, plaques, bronze figures) and reveal the official setting and refuge in private life of Egypt.The examination of the archaeological material, context provide us with a clearer understanding of Egyptian devotion and the assimilation of foreign deities into the Egyptian pantheon.
Anna Kalaitzaki