Exsanguis Umbra: The Development of Funerary Portraiture in Roman Egypt Restricted; Files Only

Abstract

Funerary portraiture in Egypt under Roman rule was profoundly affected by the influence of Roman art, leading to a greater emphasis on representing the likeness of the deceased. This Roman influence is particularly notable in the case of painted panel portraits, but it is not absent from funerary art in other media, including representations in cartonnage, plaster, and painted linen. The result of this process was a major shift in Egyptian funerary practices, which increasingly incorporated the individualized likeness and identity of the deceased that was valued in the Roman tradition. This new emphasis on likeness and individuality in turn contributed to the development of new funerary practices in Egypt under Roman rule, including dining in the presence of the mummified dead. Funerary art varied greatly across Roman Egypt, as elements of Roman funerary art and traditions were adapted to suit local needs; by identifying broader themes and motifs that run through these local traditions, models emerge that are broadly applicable to the development of elite funerary portraiture throughout Roman Egypt.

Table of Contents

I. Funerary Portraiture in Pharaonic and Ptolemaic Egypt - 1

II. Funerary Portraiture in Ancient Rome - 8

III. Funerary Portraiture in Roman Egypt - 17

IV. The Dual Style - 23

V. Divinization and Ritual Function - 26

VI. Literary and Archaeological Evidence - 28

VII. Conclusion - 38

Figures - 41

Bibliography - 47

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Art History
Degree	M.A.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Art History
Keyword	Roman Egypt Funerary Portraiture Mummification
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Eric Varner, Emory University
Committee Members	Rune Nyord, Emory University

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