Ancient Egyptian Royal Circumcision from the Pyramid Complex of Djedkare • XLIX/2 • pp. 155–164 • 2011 mohAmED mEGAhED, hAnA VYmAZALoVÁ ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ROYAL CIRCUMCISION FROM THE PYRAMID COMPLEX OF DJEDKARE ABSTRACT: Male circumcision in ancient Egypt is well documented in representative scenes in tombs, as well as in physical remains of Egyptian people from various periods. Scenes showing the operation of circumcision are however very rare and only a few examples have been preserved from the millennia of Egyptian history. This paper presents another example of such a scene, which was found on a relief fragment discovered in the pyramid complex of the Fifth Dynasty king Djedkare. At the moment, it is the oldest preserved depiction of this operation known so far, and it probably played a ritual function within the king's pyramid complex decoration program. KEY WORDS: Ancient Egypt – Djedkare – Relief – Circumcision INTRODUCTION numerous fragments of reliefs have been found in the late Fifth Dynasty pyramid complex of Djedkare in As well as the other old Kingdom pyramid complexes, South Saqqara (Figure 1) by the Egyptian archaeological Djedkare's pyramid complex was badly damaged over missions between the 1940s and 1980s, when limited and time, and as a result of the reuse of its building materials unsystematic excavations were carried out in the funerary throughout succeeding generations. modern excavation temple under the direction of Abdel Salam mohamed of the monuments have however begun to reveal the hussain, Ahmed Fakhry, and mahmoud Abdel Razek. architectural plan of the sites and have brought to light Results of this work were never fully published and the fragments of decoration programs of the individual fragments of relief decoration have not been available complexes; these provide us with partial information about for the scientific public (see Fakhry 1959: 10, 30, Leclant the kings and their reigns. For instance, the outstanding 1982: 67[q]). state of preservation of the fragments of relief decoration Recent research on the relief fragments by the present of king Sahure's pyramid complex in Abusir allow us to author revealed that the fragments include parts of scenes learn a good deal about that king's time, some of his deeds, typical for the royal funerary temple, showing for instance and also have provided us with details about his family the king with gods, celebration of certain festivals, divine and officials (Borchardt 1910–1913, El Awady 2009). on shrines, funerary estates, officials, offering bearers, etc. the other hand, only a little is known about Khufu, the (megahed 2011, megahed in preparation), themes known builder of the Great pyramid in Giza, because not many from other pyramid complexes of the time (see for instance fragments of reliefs survived from his badly damaged Ćwiek 2003, Stockfisch 2003). pyramid complex (see, e.g., Lehner 1997: 108–119, Verner one fragment, however, seems to contain part of a quite 2001: 189–216, for fragments of reliefs see, e.g., Goedicke extraordinary scene and, so far, no comparable example 1971, Flentye 2011). is known from the pyramid complexes of kings from the Received 10 September 2012; accepted 22 october 2012 155 Mohamed Megahed, Hana Vymazalová FIGuRE 1. pyramid complex of Djedkare in south Saqqara, Fifth Dynasty. photo m. megahed. entire old Kingdom period. It appears to be the oldest of this figure, it seems to be a male, sitting or kneeling attested scene of circumcision, comparable only to one opposite the boys. his hands are reaching out to the first similar example a thousand years younger. boy, the left hand holding the boy's little penis while his right hand holds a long tool. the tool is narrower at one end and slightly thicker in the end touching the boy. the DESCRIPTION OF THE SCENE FROM male is apparently shown at the moment of the operation DJEDKARE'S FUNERARY TEMPLE of circumcision. this scene, even though preserved only in a small this fragment from the funerary temple of Djedkare was fragment, provokes many questions. only a few ancient found by Fakhry; it is 11×15 cm and bears excav. no. 426. It Egyptian "circumcision scenes" have been preserved, shows part of a scene carved in low relief, with the remains none of them associated with a royal funerary monument. of pigments (Figure 2). Four figures can be recognised in therefore, both the meaning of this scene, and its ritual the scene, two small children in the centre, and one larger context within the pyramid complex of Djedkare call for figure on each side of the fragment. the small figures some discussion. facing right (→) are two boys, depicted naked and standing behind each other. the boys' heads and shoulders are lost, while parts of their bodies and their legs have survived CIRCUMCISION IN ANCIENT EGYPT on the fragment. the left hand of the first (right) boy is most probably reaching up to his mouth because his arm Even though male circumcision was practised in Egypt is bending towards his head, and we can also presume that from the predynastic times, very little direct evidence the second boy (left) was depicted with the same gesture about the operation itself is available from the millennia of sucking his finger, a gesture typical for the depiction of of Egyptian history. the reliefs and statues showing both Egyptian children in ancient times. the boys' right arms noble and lower classes of the society circumcised, and hang alongside their bodies and it is worth noting that the physical mummified remains from all periods of the first boy's arm is longer than the second boy's arm. this Egyptian history indicate that circumcision was generally may indicate that the first boy was taller or older than the practiced among the Egyptian population (Bailey 1996, de other one. Wit 1972, Feucht 1995: 245–255, Spiegelman 1997: 91). the left side of the fragment shows part of a female Discussions have taken place however concerning figure (→), bearing the remains of yellow ochre pigment. the age of the circumcised boys. According to generally She is shown kneeling or sitting behind the boys and she accepted opinion the operation was performed at puberty stretches her arms to touch and/or hold them with her hands in the old Kingdom, but starting from the new Kingdom, in a tender calming way. her right arm reaches to the second infant circumcision is also attested (Bailey 1996: 24–25, boy's knees while her left arm is shown behind the boys. 26). It is presumed that the practice could have changed the fourth figure on the right side of the fragment over time, and the ages at which the operation was is facing left (←), directly facing the three previously performed had a relatively wide range (Bailey 1996: 25). mentioned figures. Even though not much is preserved It is worth mentioning that, in modern Egypt today, the 156 Ancient Egyptian Royal Circumcision from the Pyramid Complex of Djedkare FIGuRE 2. Fragment of relief discovered by Fakhry in the funerary temple of Djedkare. photo and drawing m. megahed. operation is performed (by both muslims and Christians) 1995, Spiegelman 1997: 96–98). herodotus refers to the at a very young age, in most cases during the first week hygienic advantage of male circumcision, writing about after birth. the Egyptians: "They are religious to excess, far beyond the operation of circumcision is not mentioned in the any other race of men, and use the following ceremonies: ancient Egyptian medical papyri (nunn 1996: 169–171), They drink out of brazen cups, which they scour every even though a few medical cases have been discussed as day: there is no exception to this practice. They wear linen relating to complications after circumcision (e.g., Bailey garments, which they are especially careful to have always 1996: 19, Spiegelman 1997: 92). It cannot be excluded that fresh washed. They practice circumcision for the sake of the operation itself was not in the hands of physicians, but cleanliness, considering it better to be cleanly than comely. rather the priesthood (Bailey 1996: 25). The priests shave their whole body every other day, that the origin of the practice of circumcision in ancient no lice or other impure thing may adhere to them when Egypt is not known, but various medical reasons can they are engaged in the service of the gods…" (Histories be suggested as an advantage for the operation (Feucht II, §37). From Egypt, this practice seems to have spread to 157 Mohamed Megahed, Hana Vymazalová other nations too (herodotus, Histories II, §104), including, transl. based on Faulkner 1972: 45, see also de Wit 1972: as is well known, among the Jews through Abraham's 42). the gods hu and Sia were closely associated with covenant (Genesis 17:10–14), and probably also Islam the Creator (Re, Atum, and later also other gods) and they where circumcision is recommended (Bukhari, Book 72, personified the concepts of powerful Words and thought Hadith 779) for ritual cleanliness. as the prerequisites for the act of creation. For this reason, the relationship between circumcision and the Egyptians they also accompanied the solar god in his daily journey, being religious, mentioned by herodotus, indicates that as the daily sunrise was understood as repetition of the act circumcision could possibly have a specific religious of Creation. Similarly, Creation was also repeated at the connotation (see also de Wit 1972: 41–42). this would moment of re-birth of the deceased in the other world, and correspond quite well to the magical-religious framework therefore hu and Sia appear in funerary texts and funerary of the ancient Egyptian culture in general, where most scenes (Janák 2005: 88, 157).