Contextualizing the Osiris Shaft at Rosetau (Giza) in Archaeological History
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University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2021 The Lost Histories of the Shetayet of Sokar: Contextualizing the Osiris Shaft at Rosetau (Giza) in Archaeological History Nicholas Edward Whiting University of Montana, Missoula Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Part of the Archaeological Anthropology Commons, Folklore Commons, and the Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Whiting, Nicholas Edward, "The Lost Histories of the Shetayet of Sokar: Contextualizing the Osiris Shaft at Rosetau (Giza) in Archaeological History" (2021). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 11693. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/11693 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. 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The Lost Histories of the Shetayet of Sokar: Contextualizing the Osiris Shaft at Rosetau (Giza) in Archaeological History By Nicholas Edward Whiting Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 2015 Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies, Kaplan University, Chicago, Illinois, 2009 Thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology/Archaeology Option The University of Montana Missoula, MT Official Graduation Date January 2021 Approved by: Scott Whittenburg, Dean of The Graduate School Graduate School Dr. Kelly Dixon, Chair Professor of Anthropology Dr. Anna Prentiss, Regents Professor of Anthropology Dr. Hipólito Rafael Chacón Professor of Art History and Criticism © COPYRIGHT by Nicholas Edward Whiting 2021 All Rights Reserved ii ABSTRACT The Lost Histories of the Shetayet of Sokar: Contextualization of The Osiris Shaft at Rosetau (Giza) in Archaeological History Nicholas Edward Whiting University of Montana 2021 The Osiris Shaft is one of many archaeological signatures associated with Egypt’s Giza Plateau, the most well-known of which are the Great Pyramids. However, the role(s) the Osiris Shaft feature played in the religious and daily practices of ancient Egyptians remain(s) unknown. This research seeks to contextualize the Osiris Shaft in Egyptian history to learn more about this feature’s story. In order to achieve this goal, this thesis examines funerary deities associated with Memphis theology and explores archaeological investigations related to the Osiris Shaft, including the work of Dr. Zahi Hawass and investigations by the Giza Mapping Project. Thanks to modern technology, archaeological discoveries in Egypt are advancing at an exponential rate, and opportunities to solve some of the mysteries associated with the Osiris Shaft (e.g., its original date of construction) are now emerging. After analyzing existing archaeological evidence in tandem with the evolution and transformation of funerary deities leading up to/synonymous with Osiris, the Osiris Shaft may represent the successor of the Shetayet of Sokar. iii Table of Contents Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... iii List Of Figures ............................................................................................................................ vi Abbreviations .............................................................................................................................. ix Part I: Avidyā Chapter 1: Project Overview Introduction .......................................................................................................................11 Chapter 2: The Excavation Introduction .......................................................................................................................15 Dr. Hawass’s Excavation: The Layout ..............................................................................15 Archaeological Evidence Produced from the Excavation ................................................19 Part II: The Osiris Shaft in Cultural, Geological, and Historical Context Chapter 3: A Comprehensive Glance into the Transformation of Early Ancient Egyptian Religion Introduction .......................................................................................................................23 A Brief Overview into Religion of Ancient Egypt .......................................................... 23 How has Religion Evolved Through the Dynasties of Ancient Egypt ? ............................32 Chapter 4: The Amalgamation of Ptah-Tatenen-Sokar-Osiris Introduction .......................................................................................................................40 The Symbolism .................................................................................................................41 The Man Behind the Myth: Osiris ....................................................................................43 The Man Behind the Myth: Ptah .......................................................................................48 The Man Behind the Myth: Sokar ....................................................................................50 Who is Ptah-Sokar-Osiris? ................................................................................................55 Chapter 5: Giza—Geological Landscape of Marvelous Mysteries Introduction .......................................................................................................................59 Geomorphology of the Giza Plateau .................................................................................59 African Humid Period .......................................................................................................61 The Giza Plateau and the Nile River .................................................................................66 The Giza Plateau Before the Fourth Dynasty .................................................................. 66 The Giza Plateau after the Pyramids the Old Kingdom ....................................................70 The Giza Plateau after the Pyramids; The First Intermediate Period and the Middle Kingdom ........................................................................................................................................72 The Giza Plateau after the Pyramids the New Kingdom ...................................................73 Reshaping into Modern-Day Giza Plateau .......................................................................74 Chapter 6: A Proverbial Summary of Old Kingdom Introduction .......................................................................................................................76 An Overture into the History of Pyramid Building: Pre-Fourth Dynasty .........................78 The Grand Scheme of the Giza Plateau: Envisioned by the Fourth Dynasty ...................80 The Construction of the Pyramids at Giza ........................................................................85 Chapter 7: History of Like Tombs, Shafts, Temples and Other Relevant Sites: A Comparative Study to Understand the Function(s) of the ‘Osiris Shaft’ Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 91 iv Temple of Seti I: Fate or Destiny ......................................................................................91 The Osirian: The Power of The Cult is Strong .................................................................95 Tomb of Osiris ...................................................................................................................98 Chapter 8: The Osiris Shaft Through Time The Osiris Shaft Through Time: Herodotus ...................................................................103 The Osiris Shaft Through Time: Napoleon ....................................................................104 The Osiris Shaft Through Time: Vyse and Perring ........................................................106 The Osiris Shaft Through Time: Recent Endeavors ........................................................107 Part III: A Scrupulous Framework of Festivals, Text, Lore & Myths Chapter 9: Ancient Egyptian Underworld Literature Introduction .....................................................................................................................112 The Book of Two Ways/Book of the Ways of Rosetau ..................................................113 Book of the Dead ............................................................................................................114 The Amduat ....................................................................................................................115 Chapter 10: Ancient Egyptian Creation Myths In the begging – The Primordial Hill .............................................................................118 The God Behind the Myth: Tatenen ...............................................................................119 The God Behind the Myth: Ptah-Tatenen .......................................................................121 Ptah in All ........................................................................................................................123