On Friday, Mar. 1, the near eastern languages and cultures department at UCLA will present “Rethinking Divine Kingship in Ancient Egypt” at noon to discuss ancient Egyptian kings, their divine statuses and what their power implied.
Previous theories have argued that an Egyptian king was mortal but gained divine status by merging with the Royal Ka, a singular spirit equivalent with the office of kingship and passed down the line of succession. However, these theories fail to explain scenes of a king before royal ancestors and periods of coregency.
Led by Jonathan Winnerman, lecturer of Egyptology at UCLA, the event will discuss these contradictions and argue for a redefinition of the Royal Ka, one that is more consistent with other aspects of Egyptian theology. It will then conclude by suggesting a new approach to royal divinity that does not attempt to define the king’s nature but instead looks at divinity from the perspective of efficacy.
The event will be in Kaplan Hall room 365 and it is free and open to the public. RSVPs are required.
