Papers by Daniel Takacs
Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean, 2025
This paper analyzes the ceiling inscriptions of Theban tomb No. 82. As part of the decorative pro... more This paper analyzes the ceiling inscriptions of Theban tomb No. 82. As part of the decorative program, these texts were selected from the textual corpus of contemporary tombs and other related mortuary sources but were modified to create a unique composition for the tomb owner. This study investigates the potential reasons behind the selection and placement of each text. Particular attention is given to the divine names used in the ceiling inscriptions and their likely correlation with other elements of the decoration, as well as the ideal cardinal orientation assumed within the tomb. Based on the presence of such correspondences in the first two chambers, the ceiling inscriptions of the third and innermost chamber are also reexamined and newly interpreted.
The program of the yearly conference 'Sign and Symbol in Comparative Perspective' organized in Wa... more The program of the yearly conference 'Sign and Symbol in Comparative Perspective' organized in Warsaw since 2016.
Fieldwork and Research, 2019
Fieldwork in early 2019 by the Gebelein Archaeological Project encompassed surveys of two cemeter... more Fieldwork in early 2019 by the Gebelein Archaeological Project encompassed surveys of two cemeteries situated south of the ancient town of Per-Hathor/Pathyris in the area of the Eastern Mountain of Gebelein. One of these is dated to the Old Kingdom and the First Intermediate Period, the other tentatively to Fatimid times. The third survey searched for local chert sources on the Western Mountain, investigating a local tradition of lithic tool production.
Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (PAM), 2019
Fieldwork in early 2019 by the Gebelein Archaeological Project encompassed surveys of two cemeter... more Fieldwork in early 2019 by the Gebelein Archaeological Project encompassed surveys of two cemeteries situated south of the ancient town of Per-Hathor/Pathyris in the area of the Eastern Mountain of Gebelein. One of these is dated to the Old Kingdom and the First Intermediate Period, the other tentatively to Fatimid times. The third survey searched for local chert sources on the Western Mountain, investigating a local tradition of lithic tool production.
The Artistic Traditions of Non-European Cultures. Vol.6. Polish Institute of World Art Studies, 2018
In this paper, Walter Ong's ideas about orality and literacy are contrasted to ancient Egyptian m... more In this paper, Walter Ong's ideas about orality and literacy are contrasted to ancient Egyptian material.
Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur, 2019
There is a small rock-cut chapel at the end of the desert valley called Batn el-Baqara, opening b... more There is a small rock-cut chapel at the end of the desert valley called Batn el-Baqara, opening behind the famous Speos Artemidos, about 4 km south from the Beni Hasan tombs of nomarchs in Middle Egypt. The two monuments are separated by a mere 15 minutes of walking distance, and were both dedicated to Pakhet, the cat/lioness goddess of the region. The small chapel was documented in detail by Ahmed Fakhry in 1938, and due to its size, the whole material was published in a single article, where the inscriptions surrounding the entrance, the layout and the decoration program of the walls were drawn and described. However, Fakhry did not carry out an in-depth analysis of the decoration and neither has it been conducted ever since. There is ample ground to surmise that the Pakhet of this chapel and of the great speos nearby both had the special aspect of the returning solar Eye, emphasized by Pharaoh Hatshepsut, and that the two monuments are to be treated together, as one complex created at the same time for the same purpose, rather than being two separate entities.
Continuing the yearly custom of exploring different graphic communication systems at the Sign and... more Continuing the yearly custom of exploring different graphic communication systems at the Sign and Symbol Conferences, this year, a workshop was organized where our former presenters engage in longer workshop sessions to explain problems, remarks, methodology and terminology they work with.
Gebelein and the Cult of Hathor - An Overview. In: Kajzer, M., Miszk Ł., WacŁawik, M. (eds), The Land of Fertility II: Origin and functioning of ancient cities in South-East of Mediterranean from the beginning of the Bronze Age to the Muslim Conquest. (In press)
The interdisciplinary conference "Sign and Symbol in Egypt and Mesoamerica" seeks to address a qu... more The interdisciplinary conference "Sign and Symbol in Egypt and Mesoamerica" seeks to address a question that has received little attention up to now: how graphic communication systems relate to, interact with, and influence each other. The focus of the conference will be on the civilizations of Egypt and Mesoamerica, where there is abundant evidence for the interplay of systems in books and on monuments. The interdisciplinary nature of the conference will profit from additional contributions relating to cultures and systems beyond the bounds of this focal area. Thus, proposals are welcome, and actively sought, from specialists with other regional interests, such as Mesopotamia, Anatolia, India, and China.
Short description and preliminary interpretation of a rock-cut temple at Gebelein, till now unpub... more Short description and preliminary interpretation of a rock-cut temple at Gebelein, till now unpublished. Full presentation of the monument will by published by Daniel Takács. Let's hope sooner than later :)
Cognitive linguistics aims to understand the structure of the systems underlying human cognition ... more Cognitive linguistics aims to understand the structure of the systems underlying human cognition – the perception and conceptualization of the world that surrounds us. Languages and linguistic elements are just one type of subjects of this manifold exploration and at the same time tools themselves employed to scrutinize the ‘backstage’ of the human system of expressions – the thoughts. In many cases it is possible to prove that what once have been thought of as a purely linguistic phenomenon, exists throughout various different fields of our lives. And just as this is true today it was true in ancient times as well. The tools and innovations of cognitive linguistics have been of course already noticed and used by Egyptologist to study their own fields of research. This fast developing discipline can serve us well in exploring new ways of thinking, new attitudes to the reception of ancient cultures. Its research results and comprehensive theories can help us maintain an interdisciplinary approach to ancient minds.
In the present study some of its theories are to be employed in the presentation of different Egyptian materials coming from the fields of writing and art. Of course the two in Egypt was never permanently separated although there were some genres truly where their interaction probably didn’t play a significant part.
1 This essay is a part of a longer one which I submitted for the course 'Art of the Nile Valley'.... more 1 This essay is a part of a longer one which I submitted for the course 'Art of the Nile Valley'. The original essay covered the detailed examination of the building history of the cemetery G7000 and the building history of the Mastaba G7530 as well as the family connections of the tomb owner. These are only discussed in a minor section in this paper and I have decided to describe the peculiarities of the subterranean part of the tomb in more detail. 2 Reisner type IV-i and later on due to the changes IV-iii -REISNER 1942. 3 For the history of the mastaba and the family relations: DUNHAM-SIMPSON 1974.
Thesis Chapters by Daniel Takacs
Liminality in ancient Egypt: Case studies from the Old and New Kingdom - PhD thesis defended at the University of Warsaw 2022.
Two complementary goals are realised in this thesis. The first is investigating liminality in anc... more Two complementary goals are realised in this thesis. The first is investigating liminality in ancient Egyptian culture and the second is the aim of contributing to the different veins of research about liminality that is currently an emerging focus point in many different branches of sciences. The second goal is realized with the help of developing the first one: liminality is investigated in a number of case studies taken from ancient Egyptian material. The conclusions of these case studies not only have consequences for Egyptology but can be put in parallel with other cultures and results of research on liminality from other sciences in order to investigate liminality as a ‘global phenomenon’.
The structure of the thesis is as follows: The work begins with a chapter where the most relevant theoretical ideas are presented in detail. It is followed by two sets of case studies that represent the two main aspects of liminality examined in this thesis. The first is centred on the analysis of an Old Kingdom cemetery at Saqqara that is able to highlight spatial aspects of liminality. The focus of the second case study is on New Kingdom Theban tomb decorations depicting festival events that could potentially highlight the processual/temporal aspect of liminality. Both of these groups are analysed in the light of other similar examples that are able to provide a comparative background for them. The difference in time (Old VS New Kingdom) and in medium (tomb architecture VS tomb decorations) of the two case studies provides the possibility to widen the scope of the research instead of limiting it to a single field of the ancient Egyptian life thereby resulting in a more complete understanding of the phenomenon of liminality in ancient Egypt.
Rock-cut Cult Place from the New Kingdom at Gebelein
This thesis presents the hitherto undocumented rock-cut chapel (speos) at Gebelein, Egypt. The wo... more This thesis presents the hitherto undocumented rock-cut chapel (speos) at Gebelein, Egypt. The work is based on two seasons of field work on site, conducted by the author and the team of the University of Warsaw, Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology. The monument consisting of two rock-cut rooms and three small niches with benches in front, was carved into the Easter Rock mound of Gebelein, below the former temple area. The initial documentation of the speos revealed an extensive decoration program on the west, north and south walls of the inner room.
After introducing the historical and religious background of the area, the speos is described in detail regarding its dimensions, state of preservation (mostly badly preserved surfaces and a crack splitting the room into two) and the decoration program, which was made in shallow sunken relief. The north and south walls have an almost identical offering scene, where a royal figure is presenting offerings and an offering list to Hathor (south wall) and Amun (north wall). The west wall has two decorated panels flanking a chapel niche. On the two panels, traces of decoration is preserved showing the king received by deities. The niche is framed by a chapel façade, which forms a 3D architectural structure around it.
The decoration program held elements that couldn’t be explained initially, hence other rock-cut chapels, temples and tombs were gathered and analysed to form a basis of comparison. After this analysis it was assumed that the currently visible form of the decoration is probably not its original state, but it is a result of multiple changes. The closest resemblance of the details visible inside the speos of Gebelein was to the monuments created by Hatshepsut, a female pharaoh of the New Kingdom (1550 – 1070 BC). The speos commissioned by her might have been never finished and it was later significantly damaged by his successors Thotmes III and Akhenaten, and restored after. In subsequent periods it was probably used as an abode for local people.
Journal Papers & Conference Proceedings by Daniel Takacs
The Gebelein archaeological site complex is located 28 km southwest of Luxor, on the western bank... more The Gebelein archaeological site complex is located 28 km southwest of Luxor, on the western bank of the Nile in the Qena Governorate in Egypt. Practically all kinds of archaeological sites known in Egypt are represented in the site complex, dating from the Paleolithic through the Islamic Period.
Modern expansion of the cultivation zone and settlement development is threatening the survival of many of the sites, hence the project proposes to investigate the site complex with a new form of comprehensive field survey.
The novelty of the method depends on combining the results of gathering, managing, storing, post-processing and interpreting different types of individual data from the field. The team has carried out a magnetic prospection of selected parts of the site and combined the
results with an analysis of data coming from a number of other research and survey methods, including most recently an anthropological and ceramological survey.
Journal Papers & Conference Proceedings on Egypt by Daniel Takacs
Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean , 2017
All periods of Egyptian history are represented at Gebelein and it encompasses many kinds of arch... more All periods of Egyptian history are represented at Gebelein and it encompasses many kinds of archaeological site found in the Nile valley (that is, cemeteries, settlements, fortifications, temples, rock quarries etc.). The area was a significant centre in the history of ancient Egypt, but its exact role and the reasons for its importance still awaits explanation. That is why the Gebelein Archaeological Project was initiated. The field survey of Gebelein, which started in 2014, aims to recognise the topography of the area and the degree of destruction of the sites and to locate archaeological remains as well as to determine their interpretation and dating. This report outlines the results of work conducted during seasons 2014, 2015 and 2016, which encompassed the archaeological and epigraphic field surveys, geophysical prospection as well as work conducted in the rock-cut chapel of Hathor.
Books by Daniel Takacs
This work is the publication of the documentation and analysis of the rock-cut chapel (speos) of ... more This work is the publication of the documentation and analysis of the rock-cut chapel (speos) of Gebelein, Egypt by the author and the team of the University of Warsaw. The sanctuary which was originally built by Pharaoh Hatshepsut went through various modifications in its lifetime and is presently in a greatly deteriorated state. Architectural details and traces of the original decoration program are reproduced and analysed in this work.
A complex interpretation is offered for the presently visible offering scenes and their details in the chapel: Its current state showing Hathor of Gebelein in an offering scene with a Type C list (Barta's classification) is surely a result of subsequent modifications where the originally visible figure of Hatshepsut was removed. The analysis details the presence of the Type C list and bd-natron in typical offering scenes and discusses their possible roles and significance in similar ritual sequences.
In the second part of the book, an interpretation of the religious and ideological role of the monument in Hatshepsut's reign is made. Drawing on numerous different sources and on parallels from times of the Pharaoh, it seems the most likely that the speos was part of a larger program buttressing the legitimacy of Hatshepsut. She utilised the myth of the returning Solar Eye to elaborate on the divine origins of royalty and to create a connection with kings of the past like Mentuhotep II who was called son of Hathor in his temple built at Gebelein.
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Papers by Daniel Takacs
In the present study some of its theories are to be employed in the presentation of different Egyptian materials coming from the fields of writing and art. Of course the two in Egypt was never permanently separated although there were some genres truly where their interaction probably didn’t play a significant part.
Thesis Chapters by Daniel Takacs
The structure of the thesis is as follows: The work begins with a chapter where the most relevant theoretical ideas are presented in detail. It is followed by two sets of case studies that represent the two main aspects of liminality examined in this thesis. The first is centred on the analysis of an Old Kingdom cemetery at Saqqara that is able to highlight spatial aspects of liminality. The focus of the second case study is on New Kingdom Theban tomb decorations depicting festival events that could potentially highlight the processual/temporal aspect of liminality. Both of these groups are analysed in the light of other similar examples that are able to provide a comparative background for them. The difference in time (Old VS New Kingdom) and in medium (tomb architecture VS tomb decorations) of the two case studies provides the possibility to widen the scope of the research instead of limiting it to a single field of the ancient Egyptian life thereby resulting in a more complete understanding of the phenomenon of liminality in ancient Egypt.
After introducing the historical and religious background of the area, the speos is described in detail regarding its dimensions, state of preservation (mostly badly preserved surfaces and a crack splitting the room into two) and the decoration program, which was made in shallow sunken relief. The north and south walls have an almost identical offering scene, where a royal figure is presenting offerings and an offering list to Hathor (south wall) and Amun (north wall). The west wall has two decorated panels flanking a chapel niche. On the two panels, traces of decoration is preserved showing the king received by deities. The niche is framed by a chapel façade, which forms a 3D architectural structure around it.
The decoration program held elements that couldn’t be explained initially, hence other rock-cut chapels, temples and tombs were gathered and analysed to form a basis of comparison. After this analysis it was assumed that the currently visible form of the decoration is probably not its original state, but it is a result of multiple changes. The closest resemblance of the details visible inside the speos of Gebelein was to the monuments created by Hatshepsut, a female pharaoh of the New Kingdom (1550 – 1070 BC). The speos commissioned by her might have been never finished and it was later significantly damaged by his successors Thotmes III and Akhenaten, and restored after. In subsequent periods it was probably used as an abode for local people.
Journal Papers & Conference Proceedings by Daniel Takacs
Modern expansion of the cultivation zone and settlement development is threatening the survival of many of the sites, hence the project proposes to investigate the site complex with a new form of comprehensive field survey.
The novelty of the method depends on combining the results of gathering, managing, storing, post-processing and interpreting different types of individual data from the field. The team has carried out a magnetic prospection of selected parts of the site and combined the
results with an analysis of data coming from a number of other research and survey methods, including most recently an anthropological and ceramological survey.
Journal Papers & Conference Proceedings on Egypt by Daniel Takacs
Books by Daniel Takacs
A complex interpretation is offered for the presently visible offering scenes and their details in the chapel: Its current state showing Hathor of Gebelein in an offering scene with a Type C list (Barta's classification) is surely a result of subsequent modifications where the originally visible figure of Hatshepsut was removed. The analysis details the presence of the Type C list and bd-natron in typical offering scenes and discusses their possible roles and significance in similar ritual sequences.
In the second part of the book, an interpretation of the religious and ideological role of the monument in Hatshepsut's reign is made. Drawing on numerous different sources and on parallels from times of the Pharaoh, it seems the most likely that the speos was part of a larger program buttressing the legitimacy of Hatshepsut. She utilised the myth of the returning Solar Eye to elaborate on the divine origins of royalty and to create a connection with kings of the past like Mentuhotep II who was called son of Hathor in his temple built at Gebelein.