New Kingdom Towns in Upper Nubia: Sai, Soleb and Amara West in prosopographical perspective

Auenmüller Johannes

Abstract

Based on the compilation of prosopographical data from larger archaeological contexts such as cemeteries, settlements and temples, Sai, Soleb and Amara West, three towns that were successive administrative centres of Upper Nubia in the New Kingdom, are evaluated. e prosopographical method is used to undertake a comparative “sociography” in assessing who inhabited and frequented these Pharaonic foundations, discussing the respective social fabric and describing particularities and commonalities. Based on the evidence, only a speci c and quite small group of the ancient people can be characterised. On the one hand, there are the residents, mainly priests and administrative personnel including the deputies of Kush, who were also buried in the elite cemeteries. ey can be considered permanent inhabitants of the towns. On the other hand, there are the viceroys of Nubia, who were only temporarily present at these sites, while they particularly represented themselves in the temple spaces. Although the three sites and the larger contexts provide particular prosopographical data sets, they can be jointly evaluated and compared. e aim of the paper is to provide a general overview of the prosopographies of Sai, Soleb and Amara West. is is then used as basis for drawing a more comprehensive picture of their people and the social fabric of the places.