The Pyramid Builders of Ancient Egypt: A Modern Investigation of Pharaoh's Workforce byRosalie DavidReview by: Ronald J. LeprohonJournal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 119, No. 4 (Oct. - Dec., 1999), pp. 692-693Published by: American Oriental SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/604855 .

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Journal of the American Oriental Society 119.4 (1999) Journal of the American Oriental Society 119.4 (1999)

Thus, C. Meyers says that the Hebrew mispdhah "does not quite fit the general anthropological understanding of a clan" (p. 13), and prefers for it "residential kinship group." Blenkinsopp (p. 50), however, sees "clan" as the "closest English equivalent" for

mispahah. Missed is the opportunity to analyze B. Halpern's theory ("Jerusalem and the Lineages in the Seventh Century B.C.E.:

Kinship and the Rise of Individual Moral Responsibility," in Law and Ideology in Ancient Israel, ed. Baruch Halpern and D. W. Hob-

son, JSOTSup 124 [Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1991]) that the demise of traditional kinship groups led to the rise of the concept of indi- vidual moral responsibility.

In the first chapter, Meyers focuses on the family in "early Israel," by which she means Israel prior to the monarchy. She

acknowledges the difficulty of using biblical sources to reconstruct

family life in pre-monarchic Israel, and, therefore, turns to

archaeology for illumination. Archaeological and ethnoarchae-

ological data reveal that Israelite families spent most of their time on simple subsistence activities. The most salient quality of the early Israelite family was its adaptability to even the harshest circumstances in a diverse environment.

In a study of the family in First Temple Israel, J. Blenkinsopp regards the bet 'ab, rather than the migpaihah, as the basic social unit. Surveying the views of the canonical texts on marriage, divorce, miscarriage, and inheritance, he discusses how the rise of the state eroded the power of Israelite households, though the state also had positive effects as well.

J. Collins focuses on marriage, divorce, and the family in Second Temple Judaism. While he notes the diversity in family arrangements in this period, Collins also finds a certain under-

lying consistency in that marriage was seen as a contract. While

suggesting that the sentiments expressed in Gen. 2:24 reflected an increasingly monogamous lifestyle during the Second Temple, Collins also thinks that divorce was treated as routine. The Dead Sea Scrolls community apparently thought polygamy was wholly unacceptable, but it also supported celibacy.

L. Perdue attempts to find features common to Israelite families

throughout the historical periods studied in the previous essays. He argues that economic survival was bolstered by an ideology of solidarity in which the needs of a household were valued above those of the individual. Reproduction and judiciary func- tions were also a consistent feature of ancient Israelite families.

In a final chapter, Perdue draws out of this some ethical and

theological implications for families today. Modern communities of faith ought not to privilege one type of arrangement (e.g., poly- gamy, celibacy) over others because social factors need to be con- sidered. He argues that "covenant theology... provides the fundamental thematic structure for the teaching of the Hebrew Bible and early Judaism" (p. 246) and that the framework of a cov-

enant, with critical adaptations, still has utility in modern times. But Perdue never specifies what sort of covenant arrange-

ments might be normative today; for example, one might have had covenants that allowed polygamy, celibacy, or strict mono-

Thus, C. Meyers says that the Hebrew mispdhah "does not quite fit the general anthropological understanding of a clan" (p. 13), and prefers for it "residential kinship group." Blenkinsopp (p. 50), however, sees "clan" as the "closest English equivalent" for

mispahah. Missed is the opportunity to analyze B. Halpern's theory ("Jerusalem and the Lineages in the Seventh Century B.C.E.:

Kinship and the Rise of Individual Moral Responsibility," in Law and Ideology in Ancient Israel, ed. Baruch Halpern and D. W. Hob-

son, JSOTSup 124 [Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1991]) that the demise of traditional kinship groups led to the rise of the concept of indi- vidual moral responsibility.

In the first chapter, Meyers focuses on the family in "early Israel," by which she means Israel prior to the monarchy. She

acknowledges the difficulty of using biblical sources to reconstruct

family life in pre-monarchic Israel, and, therefore, turns to

archaeology for illumination. Archaeological and ethnoarchae-

ological data reveal that Israelite families spent most of their time on simple subsistence activities. The most salient quality of the early Israelite family was its adaptability to even the harshest circumstances in a diverse environment.

In a study of the family in First Temple Israel, J. Blenkinsopp regards the bet 'ab, rather than the migpaihah, as the basic social unit. Surveying the views of the canonical texts on marriage, divorce, miscarriage, and inheritance, he discusses how the rise of the state eroded the power of Israelite households, though the state also had positive effects as well.

J. Collins focuses on marriage, divorce, and the family in Second Temple Judaism. While he notes the diversity in family arrangements in this period, Collins also finds a certain under-

lying consistency in that marriage was seen as a contract. While

suggesting that the sentiments expressed in Gen. 2:24 reflected an increasingly monogamous lifestyle during the Second Temple, Collins also thinks that divorce was treated as routine. The Dead Sea Scrolls community apparently thought polygamy was wholly unacceptable, but it also supported celibacy.

L. Perdue attempts to find features common to Israelite families

throughout the historical periods studied in the previous essays. He argues that economic survival was bolstered by an ideology of solidarity in which the needs of a household were valued above those of the individual. Reproduction and judiciary func- tions were also a consistent feature of ancient Israelite families.

In a final chapter, Perdue draws out of this some ethical and

theological implications for families today. Modern communities of faith ought not to privilege one type of arrangement (e.g., poly- gamy, celibacy) over others because social factors need to be con- sidered. He argues that "covenant theology... provides the fundamental thematic structure for the teaching of the Hebrew Bible and early Judaism" (p. 246) and that the framework of a cov-

enant, with critical adaptations, still has utility in modern times. But Perdue never specifies what sort of covenant arrange-

ments might be normative today; for example, one might have had covenants that allowed polygamy, celibacy, or strict mono-

gamy at different times. Since the notion of a covenant can be so flexible, its application may be of little value in the modern world. Intentionally or not, the book demonstrates the difficulty of transposing onto modern contexts any of the various ancient Israelite models for the family.

HECTOR AVALOS IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

The Pyramid Builders of Ancient Egypt: A Modern Investigation of Pharaoh's Workforce. By ROSALIE DAVID. London: ROUT-

LEDGE, 1996. Pp. x + 264, 12 illus., 32 plates. $19.95 (paper [cloth ed., 1986]).

This paperback edition of a book first published in 1986 is little

changed from the original edition, save for a few passages removed from the chapter on textiles (see pp. 241-45, and first

paragraph of p. 246), and one item added to the bibliography on

p. 251. The book is a multi-disciplinary study of the objects of

daily life found by Flinders Petrie in 1888-89 at Kahun, the town where the workmen who toiled in Senwosret II's mortuary complex lived, situated just north of the king's Valley Temple, half a mile to the east of the pyramid. A major discovery in the annals of Egyptian archaeology, it was the first time that a com-

plete plan of an Egyptian town was uncovered. The objects of

everyday life excavated at Kahun-ranging from tools, weap- ons, and furniture to pottery, textiles, and so forth-were distrib- uted among various museums, but the lion's share of the finds went to the Petrie Museum in University College, London, and to the Manchester Museum of the University of Manchester, where David is Keeper of Egyptology.

The impetus for the present study was the scientific investi-

gation of a mummy carried out in the mid 1970s (see David's Manchester Mummy Project: Multidisciplinary Research on Ancient Egyptian Mummified Remains [Manchester: Manchester

Museum, 1979]). A logical development of this work was to assemble another team of scientists, each able to extract relevant information from the objects to be studied. Thus, the book is divided into three parts, on general background, the town of

Kahun, and the scientific investigation, respectively. David was

responsible for the first two parts, with other scholars contributing to the final three chapters (pp. 207-52).

The first part presents a chapter on geography and a general history of Egypt up to the end of the Middle Kingdom. A second

chapter describes the pyramid of Senwosret II at Lahun in the

Fayum area, its construction and architectural features, and a brief account of the famous Lahun Treasure, the hoard of jewelry belonging to Sat-Hathor-Iunet, a daughter of Senwosret II. A third chapter, entitled "The Towns of the Royal Workmen," covers

gamy at different times. Since the notion of a covenant can be so flexible, its application may be of little value in the modern world. Intentionally or not, the book demonstrates the difficulty of transposing onto modern contexts any of the various ancient Israelite models for the family.

HECTOR AVALOS IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

The Pyramid Builders of Ancient Egypt: A Modern Investigation of Pharaoh's Workforce. By ROSALIE DAVID. London: ROUT-

LEDGE, 1996. Pp. x + 264, 12 illus., 32 plates. $19.95 (paper [cloth ed., 1986]).

This paperback edition of a book first published in 1986 is little

changed from the original edition, save for a few passages removed from the chapter on textiles (see pp. 241-45, and first

paragraph of p. 246), and one item added to the bibliography on

p. 251. The book is a multi-disciplinary study of the objects of

daily life found by Flinders Petrie in 1888-89 at Kahun, the town where the workmen who toiled in Senwosret II's mortuary complex lived, situated just north of the king's Valley Temple, half a mile to the east of the pyramid. A major discovery in the annals of Egyptian archaeology, it was the first time that a com-

plete plan of an Egyptian town was uncovered. The objects of

everyday life excavated at Kahun-ranging from tools, weap- ons, and furniture to pottery, textiles, and so forth-were distrib- uted among various museums, but the lion's share of the finds went to the Petrie Museum in University College, London, and to the Manchester Museum of the University of Manchester, where David is Keeper of Egyptology.

The impetus for the present study was the scientific investi-

gation of a mummy carried out in the mid 1970s (see David's Manchester Mummy Project: Multidisciplinary Research on Ancient Egyptian Mummified Remains [Manchester: Manchester

Museum, 1979]). A logical development of this work was to assemble another team of scientists, each able to extract relevant information from the objects to be studied. Thus, the book is divided into three parts, on general background, the town of

Kahun, and the scientific investigation, respectively. David was

responsible for the first two parts, with other scholars contributing to the final three chapters (pp. 207-52).

The first part presents a chapter on geography and a general history of Egypt up to the end of the Middle Kingdom. A second

chapter describes the pyramid of Senwosret II at Lahun in the

Fayum area, its construction and architectural features, and a brief account of the famous Lahun Treasure, the hoard of jewelry belonging to Sat-Hathor-Iunet, a daughter of Senwosret II. A third chapter, entitled "The Towns of the Royal Workmen," covers

692 692

This content downloaded from 195.78.108.147 on Fri, 13 Jun 2014 17:07:15 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

Reviews of Books Reviews of Books

the New Kingdom workmen's villages at Tell el-Amarna in Middle Egypt, Deir el Medina on the west bank at Thebes, and Gurob in the Fayum.

The second major section focuses on the town of Kahun itself.

Chapter four describes the discovery of the site by Petrie and details its overall layout. Chapter five examines the legal admin- istration of the town, as detailed in the Kahun Papyri (where Ankh-reni, the first author of the famous will, is unexpectedly called Sahu [p. 116]) and tells what is known of the educational

system at the site. It includes a treatise on the medical and vet-

erinary practices and concludes with a description of the religious beliefs at Kahun. Chapter six describes the objects of everyday life found at the site, including those associated with hunting, fowling, and fishing; agriculture, animal husbandry, and horti-

culture; houses and furniture; clothing, personal possessions, and adornment; toys and games; craftsmen and their tools; and

weights and measures. Chapter seven analyzes the foreign pop- ulation at the site. The conclusion to this section, chapter eight, traces the decline of the town and its fate in later periods.

The third part contains the scientific analysis of the objects found at the site. G. W. A. Newton comments in chapter nine on the advantages of neutron activation for the analysis of pottery; the results clearly indicate that some of the pottery was imported. In the next chapter, G. Gilmore shows that the main metal used at Kahun was copper, and advances a hypothesis that it was

mined, smelted, and formed locally. In the longest of the three scientific studies, J. A. McDowell describes in chapter eleven the textile and leather working from the site and presents as well an overall study of this industry in ancient Egypt.

My only reproach is that the bibliographical apparatus should have been thoroughly updated in this paperback edition. One item was in fact added in the section on the Lahun pyramid; why just one is beyond fathoming. Accepting David's mandate to write for an English-speaking general readership, here are a few recent bibliographical entries.

On the logistics of the administration of Kahun, see B. J. Kemp, Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilization (London: Routledge, 1989), 149-57.

For a discussion of the furniture found at Kahun, see G. Killen, Ancient Egyptian Furniture, II: Boxes, Chests and Footstools (Warminster: Aris & Phillips, 1994), especially chapter three, which studies the jewel box from the tomb of Princess Sat- Hathor-Iunet.

On the presence of foreigners at the site, see U. Luft, "Asiatics in Illahun: A Preliminary Report," in Atti di sesto Congresso Internazionale di Egittologia, vol. II, ed. S. Curto et al. (Turin: Comitato Organizzativo del Congresso, 1993), 291-97.

On the recently discovered workmen's village at Giza, see Z. Hawass and M. Lehner, "Builders of the Pyramids," Archae-

ology 50 (1997): 30-38; Z. Hawass, "Tombs of the Pyramids," ibid., 39-43; and M. Lehner, The Complete Pyramids (London: Thames and Hudson, 1997), 236-39.

the New Kingdom workmen's villages at Tell el-Amarna in Middle Egypt, Deir el Medina on the west bank at Thebes, and Gurob in the Fayum.

The second major section focuses on the town of Kahun itself.

Chapter four describes the discovery of the site by Petrie and details its overall layout. Chapter five examines the legal admin- istration of the town, as detailed in the Kahun Papyri (where Ankh-reni, the first author of the famous will, is unexpectedly called Sahu [p. 116]) and tells what is known of the educational

system at the site. It includes a treatise on the medical and vet-

erinary practices and concludes with a description of the religious beliefs at Kahun. Chapter six describes the objects of everyday life found at the site, including those associated with hunting, fowling, and fishing; agriculture, animal husbandry, and horti-

culture; houses and furniture; clothing, personal possessions, and adornment; toys and games; craftsmen and their tools; and

weights and measures. Chapter seven analyzes the foreign pop- ulation at the site. The conclusion to this section, chapter eight, traces the decline of the town and its fate in later periods.

The third part contains the scientific analysis of the objects found at the site. G. W. A. Newton comments in chapter nine on the advantages of neutron activation for the analysis of pottery; the results clearly indicate that some of the pottery was imported. In the next chapter, G. Gilmore shows that the main metal used at Kahun was copper, and advances a hypothesis that it was

mined, smelted, and formed locally. In the longest of the three scientific studies, J. A. McDowell describes in chapter eleven the textile and leather working from the site and presents as well an overall study of this industry in ancient Egypt.

My only reproach is that the bibliographical apparatus should have been thoroughly updated in this paperback edition. One item was in fact added in the section on the Lahun pyramid; why just one is beyond fathoming. Accepting David's mandate to write for an English-speaking general readership, here are a few recent bibliographical entries.

On the logistics of the administration of Kahun, see B. J. Kemp, Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilization (London: Routledge, 1989), 149-57.

For a discussion of the furniture found at Kahun, see G. Killen, Ancient Egyptian Furniture, II: Boxes, Chests and Footstools (Warminster: Aris & Phillips, 1994), especially chapter three, which studies the jewel box from the tomb of Princess Sat- Hathor-Iunet.

On the presence of foreigners at the site, see U. Luft, "Asiatics in Illahun: A Preliminary Report," in Atti di sesto Congresso Internazionale di Egittologia, vol. II, ed. S. Curto et al. (Turin: Comitato Organizzativo del Congresso, 1993), 291-97.

On the recently discovered workmen's village at Giza, see Z. Hawass and M. Lehner, "Builders of the Pyramids," Archae-

ology 50 (1997): 30-38; Z. Hawass, "Tombs of the Pyramids," ibid., 39-43; and M. Lehner, The Complete Pyramids (London: Thames and Hudson, 1997), 236-39.

For the workmen's village of Deir el Medina, see L. H. Lesko, ed., Pharaoh's Workers: The Villagers of Deir el Medina (Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press, 1994); A. G. McDowell, Jurisdiction in the Workmen's Community of Deir el-Medina (Leiden: Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten, 1990), and R. Ventura, Living in a City of the Dead: A Selection of Topographical and Adminis- trative Terms in the Documents of the Theban Necropolis, Orbis Biblicus 69 (Freiburg: Universitatsverlag, 1986).

These few quibbles aside, the book is a valuable introduction to the study of ancient Egyptian daily life that will certainly repay careful reading and study. Pleasant, compact, and easy to read, the book strikes a good balance between a strictly scholarly and a more general approach. Now in a more affordable paperback format, this book is certain to attract a broader readership.

For the workmen's village of Deir el Medina, see L. H. Lesko, ed., Pharaoh's Workers: The Villagers of Deir el Medina (Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press, 1994); A. G. McDowell, Jurisdiction in the Workmen's Community of Deir el-Medina (Leiden: Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten, 1990), and R. Ventura, Living in a City of the Dead: A Selection of Topographical and Adminis- trative Terms in the Documents of the Theban Necropolis, Orbis Biblicus 69 (Freiburg: Universitatsverlag, 1986).

These few quibbles aside, the book is a valuable introduction to the study of ancient Egyptian daily life that will certainly repay careful reading and study. Pleasant, compact, and easy to read, the book strikes a good balance between a strictly scholarly and a more general approach. Now in a more affordable paperback format, this book is certain to attract a broader readership.

RONALD J. LEPROHON RONALD J. LEPROHON UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

Die Gottin Ishara: Ein Beitrag zur altorientalischen Religions- geschichte. By DORIS PRECHEL. Abhandlungen zur Literatur

Alt-Syrien-Palastinas und Mesopotamiens, vol. 11. Miinster:

UGARIT-VERLAG, 1996. Pp. xii + 248. DM 102.

Asherah: Goddesses in Ugarit, Israel and the Old Testament. By TILDE BINGER. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Supplement Series, no. 232; Copenhagen International Sem-

inar, vol. 2. Sheffield: SHEFFIELD ACADEMIC PRESS, 1997.

Pp. 190. ?35, $57.50.

The volume by Doris Prechel presents a very thorough and sober analysis of the material presently available for a study of the goddess Isbara. After a brief introduction, Prechel begins with a synchronic presentation of the evidence for Isiara at different sites in the various historical periods where Ishara is at- tested. Prechel arranges this discussion under six main periods from Pre-Sargonic to Neo-Assyrian. Following this extended

survey of the evidence, there is a much shorter diachronic treat- ment of the goddess in which Prechel discusses suggested ety- mologies for the name Isbara, Isbara's place in the godlists, the

geographical and temporal extent of her worship, local mani- festations of the goddess, and cult functionaries associated with her. The book concludes with a helpful summarizing chapter on the essence and cult of the goddess Isbara. There are also useful

appendices, including editions and translations of the Autumn and Spring Festival in her honor in Kizzuwatna (Hittite) and the kissu-Festival for her and NIN.URTA at Emar (Emar Akkadian).

According to Prechel, the distinctive epithets of Ishara stress her functions as a goddess of the oath, the oracle, and the extispicy.

Die Gottin Ishara: Ein Beitrag zur altorientalischen Religions- geschichte. By DORIS PRECHEL. Abhandlungen zur Literatur

Alt-Syrien-Palastinas und Mesopotamiens, vol. 11. Miinster:

UGARIT-VERLAG, 1996. Pp. xii + 248. DM 102.

Asherah: Goddesses in Ugarit, Israel and the Old Testament. By TILDE BINGER. Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, Supplement Series, no. 232; Copenhagen International Sem-

inar, vol. 2. Sheffield: SHEFFIELD ACADEMIC PRESS, 1997.

Pp. 190. ?35, $57.50.

The volume by Doris Prechel presents a very thorough and sober analysis of the material presently available for a study of the goddess Isbara. After a brief introduction, Prechel begins with a synchronic presentation of the evidence for Isiara at different sites in the various historical periods where Ishara is at- tested. Prechel arranges this discussion under six main periods from Pre-Sargonic to Neo-Assyrian. Following this extended

survey of the evidence, there is a much shorter diachronic treat- ment of the goddess in which Prechel discusses suggested ety- mologies for the name Isbara, Isbara's place in the godlists, the

geographical and temporal extent of her worship, local mani- festations of the goddess, and cult functionaries associated with her. The book concludes with a helpful summarizing chapter on the essence and cult of the goddess Isbara. There are also useful

appendices, including editions and translations of the Autumn and Spring Festival in her honor in Kizzuwatna (Hittite) and the kissu-Festival for her and NIN.URTA at Emar (Emar Akkadian).

According to Prechel, the distinctive epithets of Ishara stress her functions as a goddess of the oath, the oracle, and the extispicy.

693 693

This content downloaded from 195.78.108.147 on Fri, 13 Jun 2014 17:07:15 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions