Abstract
This paper aims to approach the cross-cultural contacts between Egypt and the Greek world during the 26th Egyptian “Saite” Dynasty (664 – 525 BC). It shall deal with archaeological and literary sources in order to debate the dynamics of the Greek-Egyptian intercultural relations from the religious perspective.
Polytheistic societies such as ancient Greek and Egyptian are familiar to the phenomenon of “translating” foreign gods and pantheons. Such translation of Greek gods into Egyptian equivalents and vice versa depends on previous awareness of the other’s culture. The acceptance that a given god is the representative of a universal force, rather than a mere cultural element, promotes mutual tolerance and respect. What we may call “interpretatio graeca” or “interpretatio aegyptica” are the product of intercultural relations that can be analyzed under an anthropological perspective of its iconographic and linguistic elements.
Thus, this paper will explore the religious affinity developed between Greeks and Egypt en face a new reality of military and diplomatic ties promoted by the pharaohs of the Saite Dynasty.
Polytheistic societies such as ancient Greek and Egyptian are familiar to the phenomenon of “translating” foreign gods and pantheons. Such translation of Greek gods into Egyptian equivalents and vice versa depends on previous awareness of the other’s culture. The acceptance that a given god is the representative of a universal force, rather than a mere cultural element, promotes mutual tolerance and respect. What we may call “interpretatio graeca” or “interpretatio aegyptica” are the product of intercultural relations that can be analyzed under an anthropological perspective of its iconographic and linguistic elements.
Thus, this paper will explore the religious affinity developed between Greeks and Egypt en face a new reality of military and diplomatic ties promoted by the pharaohs of the Saite Dynasty.
Original language | English |
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Pages | 23 |
Number of pages | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 2019 |
Event | International Congress ’In thy arms I lost myself’.: Images, Preceptipons and Productions in/of Antiquity - NOVA FCSH, Lisboa, Portugal Duration: 9 Oct 2019 → 11 Oct 2019 |
Conference
Conference | International Congress ’In thy arms I lost myself’. |
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Country/Territory | Portugal |
City | Lisboa |
Period | 9/10/19 → 11/10/19 |
Keywords
- Cross-Cultural relations
- Late Period Egypt
- Saite Dynasty
- Ancient Greece
- History of Religion
- Aegyptiaca
- First Millennium BC