Royal Festivals in the Late Predynastic Period and the First Dynasty

by Alejandro Jiminez Serrano

This book studies the royal festivals in the Egyptian Late Predynastic period and the First Dynasty. (The chronological beginning here is the Naqada IId period and the author includes a brief account of royal festivals in the contemporary Lower Nubia and the Second Dynasty.) The Egyptian kings developed a complex system of ceremonies and rituals that served them as a form of expression before society. The ways were complex and varied, but so effective that most of these festivals continued to be performed for more than three thousand years. The author begins with an historical outline of the unification process and the First Dynasty before exploring the main themes of kingship and festivals. The points of discussion include temple structures (Abydos, Saqqara, Hierakonpolis), festival traditions, the sed festival, victory festivals, the festival of Sokar, and symbolic topography.

Paperback

First published December 31, 2002

Reviews

[Astrid Tanebet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great source when you are interested in festivals and the Predynastic and First Dynasty.
The book is divided into 4 parts:
1) Historical Outline: The Unification Process and the First Dynasty;
2) Festivals, Kings and Temples;
3) Royal Festivals in the Late Predynastic period and the First Dynasty;
4) General Conclusions.
The core of the book is Chapter 3 which is divided into 4 parts with focus on the Sed festival:
A) The Coronation and the Ceremony of the "Appearance of the King";
B) Sed Festival;
C) Festivals of Victory
D) The Festival of Sokar.