Heffernan: Royal images in private tombs at Thebes

Heffernan, Gabrielle (2010)
Royal images in private tombs at Thebes in the early Ramesside period
M.Phil. thesis, University of Birmingham

Abstract
Cultural memory is a relatively new area of study within Egyptology. It is, however, a key issue in the understanding of how society functioned. Important work has been done by scholars such as Assmann on the subject and this study hopes to build on that by taking the case of depictions of kings in Theban tombs, and discussing what they may tell us about the role of the king in the lives of the people. This study will focus on three types of scene; the king as a part of everyday life, the king as a historical figure, and the king as a 'divine' being. This will allow a more detailed study of how the king, and kingship, was understood by people who were not members of the royal court, or holders of high office. Conclusions will be drawn about the scenes both as symbols of how kingship was understood, and as records of the ways in which the king, and the state, played a part in the lives and cultural memory of ordinary Egyptians.