Communicating in Wood: Ancient Egyptian ‘Tomb Models’ from a Semiotic Perspective
CERES-Palais, Raum "Ruhrpott" (4.13)
Masterclass with Camilla Di Biase-Dyson (Macquarie University, Sydney)
Abstract
This lecture examines the cognitive processes that may play a role in understanding ancient Egyptian ‘tomb models’, which are miniature scenes made of plastered wood that portray scenes of food preparation, weaving, boating and other activities. The proposed approach draws on semiotics, figurative (i.e., metaphorical and metonymic) thinking and communication theory, taking into account the priorities of both the theoretical sender/artist and the theoretical receiver/viewer. In this way, we can embed the discussion about the production and use of models in a more precise theoretical and methodological framework and gain new insights into the communicative power of these objects.
Target group
The masterclass is designed primarily for advanced MA students and Early Career Researchers. However, it is also open to all interested participants who would like to engage with the topic from a semiotic and cognitive perspective.
Camilla Di-Biase Dyson is a Senior Lecturer in Egyptology at Macquarie University (2020–) and Mercator Fellow of CRC 1475 “Metaphors of Religion”. She was formerly Junior Professor for Egyptology at the University of Göttingen (2012–2019) and a research fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation (2010–2012) and Excellence Cluster TOPOI (2009–2010). Her research focuses on the linguistic, script-based and archaeological markers of cognition in ancient contexts, via models from metaphor theory, semiotics and cognitive science.
