Provincial Cults during the Eighteenth Dynasty: A Dialectical Relationship between Royal Patronage and Non-Royal Votive Activity by Amber Hutchinson A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations University of Toronto © Copyright by Amber Hutchinson 2019 Provincial Cults during the Eighteenth Dynasty: A Dialectical Relationship between Royal Patronage and Non-Royal Votive Activity Amber Hutchinson Doctor of Philosophy Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations University of Toronto 2019 Abstract This dissertation examines the dialectical relationship between royal patronage and non- royal votive activity associated with provincial cults in Egypt during the Eighteenth Dynasty (1550-1295 BC). The study focuses on the sites of Mendes, Abydos, Elkab, Elephantine, and Sai Island, which represent a range of geographical regions from the Delta to Nubia. By analyzing architecture, material culture, pictorial evidence, and inscriptional data, this thesis incorporates an integrative approach to Egyptian history. The results of this research demonstrate that the sacred landscapes of Eighteenth Dynasty provincial towns delineated by royal cult institutions (provincial cult temples, peripteral temples, and ka chapels) and festival processional routes enabled royal and non-royal individuals to partake in mutual interactions. Royal involvement in provincial cults solidified economic, administrative, and political ties throughout Egypt and allowed the king to benefit from perpetuating the cults of local deities by appeasing the gods that could grant him favor. A significant development in royal temple construction indicates that this activity was both influenced by local aspects of divine cults and further enriched the built environment of sacred landscapes. At the same time, non-royal individuals could display their social status and devotion to their local deities by participating in festival celebrations and by ii leaving physical traces of their activity. This dissertation proves that traditionally assumed binary oppositions, or contrasts, between center and periphery, residence versus province, and state versus private religious systems can be moderated through careful analysis of the integration of material remnants of royal and non-royal votive activity acting within specific historical and geographical settings. iii Acknowledgments The completion of this dissertation would not have been possible without the support and guidance of many individuals. First, I would like to thank my supervisor Prof. Mary-Ann Pouls Wegner for her critical feedback, time, advice, and support throughout the proposal, writing, and editing stages of this thesis, and for providing me with the opportunity to partake in my first archaeological excavation in Egypt, which further spurred my love of Egyptology. It was a real privilege and honor for me to share of her exceptional knowledge. Second, I owe a great deal of gratitude to my thesis advisory committee members Prof. Ronald J. Leprohon and Prof. Katja Goebs whose insightful comments, constructive criticisms, and words of encouragement helped propel the thesis to completion. I wish to thank Prof. Krzysztof Grzymski for his formative feedback and advice during the final stages. Much appreciation to my external examiner Prof. Richard Bussmann of the University of Cologne whose own research inspired much of the theoretical framework and critical analysis of the material examined. His thought-provoking comments and positive reinforcement proved invaluable. Special thanks to Anna Sousa for her tireless efforts to ensure that all my documents were in order over the years and for her ever so friendly presence and kind words of council. My graduate experience was further enriched by the long-lasting friendships made throughout my time at the University of Toronto. To Tracy Spurrier and Janet James who were with me to the end and shared many a laughter and tear. To my colleagues and friends at the Department of Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations, and especially to Christina Geisen, Silvia Zago, Meredith Brand, Sarah Schellinger, and Nick Kraus for our many adventures together both inside and outside the classroom, and for your help with resources and providing a friendly and supportive work atmosphere. To Sana Chughtai, my roommate and friend, who was always so enthusiastic about my academic achievements and helped me see the bigger picture. To Candice iv Gallinger and Edy Rodriguez for helping me take the occasional break from my work and for their friendships throughout the years. And finally, to my undergraduate friends Marion Warnica, Megan Seres, Maryam Nizam, Karla Trewin, and Dana Baj-Loucks who started this post- secondary journey with me. For my family, who has seen its share of ups and downs, I dedicate this dissertation to you. To my dad, Darryl, for always being excited about my unique field of study and for supporting whatever academic avenues I wished to pursue. To my step-mom, Barb, for lending a listening ear. To my step-brothers, Jason and Ryan, and their families. To my brother, Devin, for his witty humor and for being the first to call me “Dr. Jones.” To my sister and best friend, Jocelyn, who will forever be my kindred spirit. Your courage and compassion inspire me every day. To my brother-in-law, Mike, and to my nephew, Kaden, and my niece, Scarlett, who are bundles of joy and love in my life. I am proud to be your aunt. To the memory of my brother, Joel, who was always there to lend a helping hand and who bestowed words of wisdom beyond his years. I will always be grateful that I had the privilege of knowing such a kind and generous soul. Finally, to the memory of my mom, Janice, who raised me in a house full of love and support so that I could blossom and grow. I would not be where I am today without your encouragement, drive, and belief in my abilities, which propelled me to excel at anything I put hard work and determination into. This dissertation is your dream come true too and thus I dedicate it wholeheartedly to you. v Table of Contents Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... vi List of Graphs ............................................................................................................................... xii List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... xiii List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. xiv List of Appendices ..................................................................................................................... xviii PART ONE: BACKGROUND .................................................................................................... xix Chapter 1 Introduction, Research Design, and Definitions .............................................................1 1.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................1 1.2 Thesis Statement, Methodology, and Research Goals .........................................................8 1.3 The Study Corpus ..............................................................................................................11 1.4 Definitions..........................................................................................................................13 1.4.1 Royal and Non-Royal ............................................................................................13 1.4.2 Structure and Agency .............................................................................................14 1.4.3 State and Local Religion ........................................................................................16 1.4.4 Votive Offerings ....................................................................................................17 Chapter 2 Review of Previous Scholarship ...................................................................................20 2.1 Urbanism and Towns in ancient Egypt: Old Debates and Modern Approaches ...............20 2.1.1 Investigations Prior to 1990 ...................................................................................22 2.1.2 Modern Approaches: 1990 – Present .....................................................................30 2.2 Previous Investigations of the Nature and Historical Development of Provincial Cult Temples ..............................................................................................................................40 2.3 Temple, State, and Town during the New Kingdom .........................................................49 2.3.1 Cosmologic and Economic Significance of New Kingdom Temples ...................51 2.3.2 Expressions of Non-Royal Religious Practices and the Rise of Personal Piety ....56 vi 2.4 Summary ............................................................................................................................67 PART TWO: CASE STUDIES .....................................................................................................69 Chapter 3 Mendes (Tell