6th c. BCE Egypt spawned a key figure of ancient cross-regional diplomacy. The Egyptian politician and physician Udjahorresnet held high innerpolitical functions in the former Egyptian kingship realm and became an important figure in transforming Egypt into a regional centre within the first ‘global’ and exceedingly culturally diverse empire of the Achaemenians. Though the ‘autobiographic’ inscription on his statue in the Musei Vaticani has been discussed in various aspects from an Egyptological perspective, the potential of a cross-regional close reading has not been taken up until now. Similarly, a discussion of the person and function of Udjahorresnet as a diplomat based on the cross-regional contemporary evidence throughout the Achaemenid empire is still missing. The workshop aims at a detailed cross-disciplinary commentary on one of the key sources on early Achaemenid expansion politics. This close reading of a specific primary source for ancient diplomacy in a phase of highly increasing globalisation will be embedded into a set of contributions concerning Udjahorresnet’s personal life and his professional functions as well as on Udjahorrenet as diplomatic figure and as historical mediator.
Venue: Institut für Ägyptologie und Koptologie, Katharina-von-Bora-Str. 10, D-80333 München
Program
Wednesday, 12 Sept. 2018
Musei Vaticani 22690 from an epigraphic perspective
13:30–14:00 welcome reception
14:00–14:45 “The statues of Udjahorresnet as archaeological artefacts” (Melanie Wasmuth, Helsinki)
14:45–16:00 small group session: reading the inscription
16:00–16:30 coffee break
16:30–17:00 plenary discussion of the epigraphic evidence
17:00–18:00 plenary session on key workshop issues
19:00 joint dinner
Thursday, 13 Sept. 2018
Udjahorresnet as historical mediator
09:00–09:45 “The Inscription of Udjahorresnet and Herodotus on Cambyses in Egypt” (Andreas Schwab, Munich)
09:45–10:30 small group discussion on historical mediation
10:30–11:00 plenary discussion of preliminary results
11:00–12:30 visit to the Egyptian Museum
12:30–14:00 joint lunch
14:00–14:30 plenary discussion on the secondary place of erection
Udjahorresnet’s professional functions
14:30–16:00 “The functional context of Udjahorresnet’s offices” (Alexander Schütze, Munich)
“The reforms of the ‘House of Life’ as consequence of medical failure” (Francesco Lopez, Pisa)
16:00–16:30 coffee break
16:30–17:30 small group discussion on the professional functions
17:30–18:00 plenary discussion of preliminary results
19:00 joint dinner
Friday, 14 Sept. 2018
Udjahorresnet as diplomatic figure
09:00–10:30 “The Udjahorresnet inscription from a political science perspective” (Alex Aissaoui, Helsinki)
“Udjahorresnet from an Old Testament perspective – links with Esra and Nehemia” (Bernd Schipper, Berlin)
10:30–11:00 coffee break
11:00–12:00 small group discussion on Udjahorresnet as diplomat I
12:00–12:30 plenary discussion of preliminary results
12:30–14:00 joint lunch
14:00–15:30 “The situation in Babylonia under the reign of Cambyses” (Francis Joannès, Paris)
“The political events of Udjahorresnet’s lifetime and the question of agency from a Greek perspective” (Reinhold Bichler, Innsbruck)
15:30–16:00 coffee break
16:00–17:00 small group discussion on Udjahorresnet as diplomat II
17:00–17:30 plenary discussion of preliminary results
17:30–18:00 plenary session on the publication design
19:00 joint dinner
Saturday, 15 Sept. 2018
Udjahorresnet’s personal life
09:00–10:30 “Udjahorresnet’s family and social background” (Nenad Markovic, Praha)
“Udjahorresnet’s second career” (Damien Agut-Labordère, Paris/Nanterre)
10:30–11:00 coffee break
11:00–12:00 plenary discussion on the Egyptian social setting
12:00–12:30 plenary session on future collaboration
12:30–14:00 joint lunch and departure
Colleagues and students interested in joining us are welcome. Please contact us via m.wasmuth@gmx.net or alexander.schuetze@lmu.de.