Death by Water: The Role of Water in Ancient Egypt’s Treatment of Enemies and Juridical Process

Keywords

Ancient Egypt, Water use in Egypt

Abstract

As can be seen from the proceedings of this conference, in ancient Egypt water was a powerful, yet ambivalent image. The regenerative and concomitantly destructive powers of the annual flood were both unmistakable and unavoidable, and must have relentlessly impressed themselves upon the mind and heart of every Egyptian. Moreover, the non-inundated Nile's water and fauna represented a serious and indelible danger throughout the year. While there are many destructive symbols imbued upon water, this paper will focus on the ultimate types of destruction; for surely water represents an immensely frightening element and could bring about the most fearsome kind of death.

Original Publication Citation

“Death by Water: The Role of Water in Ancient Egypt’s Treatment of Enemies and Juridical Process,” in L’Acqua Nell’antico Egitto: Vita, Rigenerazione, Incantesimo, Medicamento, Alessia Amenta, Michela Luiselli, and Maria Novella Sordi, eds., (Rome: L’Erma di Bretschneider, 2005), 173-79.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2005

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/6311

Publisher

Academia

Language

English

College

Religious Education

Department

Ancient Scripture

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Link to Full Text

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