Seven - The Summit of a Developmental Cycle

Summary

Chapter 7 analyses how groups present themselves at the peak of their developmental cycle through case study ANOC 28a, a subdivision of Simpson’s original ANOC group 28. This group shows how stelae can function both as objects to commemorate and strengthen family links, including the representation of household workers as essential group members, and as networking tools for colleagues seeking integration into a new space. The use of the term sn (‘collateral’) is quite complex here because it is applied to both relatives and colleagues, illustrating the intricacies of non-genealogical relatedness. The head of the group is crucial in this context as he is expected to take care of his subordinates who are, in turn, meant to be loyal to him. Sources often extol the virtues of the head of the group as a self-made man with excellent management and administrative skills, including the distribution of rations. These interactions exemplify the hierarchical nature of social relationships in ancient Egypt, which can be defined in the framework of asymmetric reciprocity. In this sense, the distinction between relatedness and patronage is not clear-cut, as they are both defined by similar practices in performative terms.