Book contents
- Kinship and Family in Ancient Egypt
- Kinship and Family in Ancient Egypt
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Acknowledgements
- Map of Egypt
- Part I Ancient Egyptian Kinship in Context
- Part II On Koinographic Analysis
- Six The Birth of a Kin Group
- Seven The Summit of a Developmental Cycle
- Eight Displaying Decline
- Nine Conclusions
- Appendix: ANOC Table
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
Eight - Displaying Decline
Survival Strategies and Marriage Patterns
from Part II - On Koinographic Analysis
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 February 2020
- Kinship and Family in Ancient Egypt
- Kinship and Family in Ancient Egypt
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Acknowledgements
- Map of Egypt
- Part I Ancient Egyptian Kinship in Context
- Part II On Koinographic Analysis
- Six The Birth of a Kin Group
- Seven The Summit of a Developmental Cycle
- Eight Displaying Decline
- Nine Conclusions
- Appendix: ANOC Table
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
Chapter 8 explores the elusive representation of kin groups in decline, when association with powerful upcoming groups would be pursued. ANOC IV commemorates the union of a scribe and the daughter of the vizier's doorkeeper, demonstrating how marriage could be seen as survival strategy.
There is no evidence for preferential or prescriptive unions in ancient Egyptian sources, nor is there explicit evidence for any proscription. Incest as a regulation of abhorrent sexual behaviour is hence not applicable to ancient Egypt, and evidence for the existence of consanguineous marriages, particularly brother–sister marriages, is outlined. The importance of rank, hierarchy, identity and economic considerations need consideration when analysing marriage as a survival strategy.
The chapter finally discusses the role of rites of passage in the construction of individual identity, in the strengthening of existing social links and the creation of new groups. The socialising aspect of rites of passage is brought to the forefront when age groups are considered; these are difficult to identify in the ancient Egyptian sources, but they are a productive approach to assess the relational nature of personhood.
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- Kinship and Family in Ancient EgyptArchaeology and Anthropology in Dialogue, pp. 167 - 188Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2020