Magli: Royal funerary landscapes in the New Kingdom

Giulio Magli
"From Abydos to the Valley of the Kings and Amarna:
the conception of royal funerary landscapes in the New Kingdom"
Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, Vol. 11, No. 2
http://www.maajournal.com/issuesearlyview.html

Abstract 

"Royal funerary landscapes in Egypt show a remarkable continuity in the use
of symbols and in the interplay between natural and man-built features. In
such a context directionality, both in the sense of succession of elements
and of orientation of single buildings and tombs, plays a relevant role in
governing the landscape in accordance with the idea of "cosmic" order, the
basis of the temporal power of the Pharaoh. This paper investigates
cognitive aspects of the funerary royal landscapes of the New Kingdom,
with special emphasis on the connections with astronomy and orientation.
A close similarity between the sacred landscape at western Thebes and
the early dynastic funerary landscape at Abydos comes out and such a
similarity may have been one of the reasons for the choice of Valley of
the Kings as royal Necropolis. The original, actually unique way in which
old symbols and features were re-elaborated by Akhenaten in planning
his funerary landscape at Amarna is also highlighted." 

An earlier online article of the same author in this journal:
G. Magli,
"Topography, Astronomy And Dynastic History In The Alignments Of The Pyramid Fields Of The Old Kingdom",
Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, Vol. 10, No. 2

http://www.maajournal.com/issues2010.html