Ancient Egyptian ritual practice, ir-ht and nt-t

The ancient Egyptian terms <math> <f> <rm>i<sup><hsp sp="0.167"><sup><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167">,</sup></sup>r<phr>-</phr>h<inf><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><inf><hsp sp="0.167"><inf><a><ac> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> </ac><ac>&d11;</ac></a></inf><hsp sp="0.167"></inf></inf></rm> <rm><hsp sp="0.167">t</rm></f> </math> and nt-` commonly are understood as being technical terms pertaining to the performance of cultic rituals. In using these terms to study ritual in ancient Egypt, a problem arises in that these terms are not always translated as ritual when the context of their use is not cultic. A similar pattern is observed in the translation of the royal title nb <math> <f> <rm>i<sup><hsp sp="0.167"><sup><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167">,</sup></sup>r<phr>-</phr>h<inf><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><inf><hsp sp="0.167"><inf><a><ac> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> </ac><ac>&d11;</ac></a></inf><hsp sp="0.167"></inf></inf></rm> <rm><hsp sp="0.167">t</rm></f> </math>, which is derived from the term <math> <f> <rm>i<sup><hsp sp="0.167"><sup><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167">,</sup></sup>r<phr>-</phr>h<inf><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><inf><hsp sp="0.167"><inf><a><ac> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> </ac><ac>&d11;</ac></a></inf><hsp sp="0.167"></inf></inf></rm> <rm><hsp sp="0.167">t</rm></f> </math>. Consequently, this thesis conducts a survey of the uses and contexts of the terms <math> <f> <rm>i<sup><hsp sp="0.167"><sup><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167">,</sup></sup>r<phr>-</phr>h<inf><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><inf><hsp sp="0.167"><inf><a><ac> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> </ac><ac>&d11;</ac></a></inf><hsp sp="0.167"></inf></inf></rm> <rm><hsp sp="0.167">t</rm></f> </math>, nb <math> <f> <rm>i<sup><hsp sp="0.167"><sup><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167">,</sup></sup>r<phr>-</phr>h<inf><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><inf><hsp sp="0.167"><inf><a><ac> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> </ac><ac>&d11;</ac></a></inf><hsp sp="0.167"></inf></inf></rm> <rm><hsp sp="0.167">t</rm></f> </math>, and nt-` in order to map the semantic field of these words. From this survey, it is possible to conclude that <math> <f> <rm>i<sup><hsp sp="0.167"><sup><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167">,</sup></sup>r<phr>-</phr>h<inf><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><inf><hsp sp="0.167"><inf><a><ac> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> </ac><ac>&d11;</ac></a></inf><hsp sp="0.167"></inf></inf></rm> <rm><hsp sp="0.167">t</rm></f> </math> and nt-` were technical terms in ancient Egyptian language. They referred to a distinct group of activities within ancient Egyptian cultural practice that included cultic rites, funerary rites, aggressive actions, the performance of career duties, and customary behaviours. These activities had specific characteristics such as physical performance, formality, traditionalism, rule governance, and sacral symbolism. Additionally, it was found that there was an intimate connection between the performance of these activities and the Egyptian concept of ma`at, especially in relation to the preservation of order. In making conclusions concerning the meaning of these technical terms, it is proposed that they did indeed refer to ritual and the semantic fields of these words could be used to reconstruct the ancient Egyptian cognitive category "ritual." In testing this theory, the academic analysis of ritual across cultures was examined. It was found that the activities and their characteristics, which were outlined based on the analysis of <math> <f> <rm>i<sup><hsp sp="0.167"><sup><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167">,</sup></sup>r<phr>-</phr>h<inf><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><inf><hsp sp="0.167"><inf><a><ac> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"> <hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> <hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"><hsp sp="-0.167"><hsp sp="0.167"> </ac><ac>&d11;</ac></a></inf><hsp sp="0.167"></inf></inf></rm> <rm><hsp sp="0.167">t</rm></f> </math> and nt-`, were consistent with the kinds of activities and characteristics that other cultures understood as ritual.