posted
I made this thread for Horemheb, any ABAZAites, or any other person arguing that Egypt, geography notwithstanding, has nothing in common with the rest of tropical Africa.
quote:This list of cultural correspondence between African and Egyptian culture is preliminary and due for expansion. Much of the material is taken from J.O. Lucas' Religions in West Africa and Ancient Egypt, 1970, Nigerian National Press.
Contributions to this list are encouraged.
1. Similarity of Nigerian bronze work related to the Oni (Ife ruler) with that found in ancient Egypt.
2. Similarity of the root word for the Supreme God, or another deity or idol, in many West African countries (e.g., Orisa, Orise, Olisa, Lisa, Leza, Arusi, Aruosa, Alusi, etc.) with the Egyptian god, Horu-sa-ast.
3. A Supreme God is recognized but local deities and ancestors are worshipped.
4. Egyptian gods have survived in name and/or attribute in West Africa. These include Osiris, Ra, AMen, Ptah, Min and Horus.
5. Similar concepts on divine kingship.
6. Ideas relating to life after death. Practice of making provision for this life, and of the concepts of Ka and Khu.
7. Ideas related tot he pig and other sacred animals, festivals, dancing, singing and efficacy of offerings. The survival of the Mock King of ancient Egypt.
8. Similar ideas concerning magic and magical practices. Related types of amulets are found. The amulet of the head-rest in ancient Egypt survives in the Sika Gua "Golden Stool," of the Ashantis and other emblems of the West. Khnum, the potter god of Egypt survives as Khnum "Creator God, a Potter," in West Africa.
Headrest from tomb of Tutankhamom (http://www.tulane.edu/lester/images/Ancient.World/Egypt/A86.gif)
9. The following religious practices show resemblances: 1) places of worship 2)services in groves and shrines 3)lustrations 4) use of music 5) training for prieshood 6) priest and their functions 7) dedicated objects and 8) oracles. Specifically noteworthy are the performance of mystery plays similar to those at Abydos, the wearing of the leopard's skin by the Chief Priest, and the "templum" idea.
10. Circumcision, including female circumcision.
11. Excision.
12. Piercing of ears and nose and tatooing.
13. Shaving as a restriction of the priest.
14. The funeral practice of dismembering and unfleshing the body.
15. The practice of skull or heart removal of the corpse and wrapping the body in cloth as in the Egyptian practice of mummification.
16. The survival of metal, stone, glaze and glass, and pottery work resembling that of dynastic Egypt.
17. The four-day, eight-day and sixteen-day weeks are based on Egyptian ideas. The seven day week is a survival of the udjat of the full moon, or division of the fortnight into two periods.
...
31. Women pass water [pee] standing up, men sitting down. (Gloria Emeagwali)
32. Similar types of leather shoe design. (Gloria Emeagwali)
33. From Budge's Osiris, and the Egyptian resurrection (Gloria Emeagwali):
1. marriage p.212 2. respect for the aged, p.216 3. circumcision, p.219 4. snake worship,p.236 5. the crocodile, p.238 6. names,p.242 7. figures and counting, p.246 8. the head-rest,p252 9. the underworld,p.253 10. red body colouring, p.257
34. Small harp of the Azande and peoples of southern Sudan and Uganda. (Shinnie)
35. Ostrich feather fans like those at Wadia, Bagirmi and near Lake Chad. (Shinnie)
...
41. Caste system of warriors, blacksmiths, hunters and priests. (Diriye Mohame Abdullahi)
42. Sprinkling of water on graves and mourners.(Diriye Mohame Abdullahi)
43. Spraying of libation or blood of sacrifice on new houses. (Diriye Mohame Abdullahi)
44. Ram as symbol of divinity. (Diriye Mohame Abdullahi)
45. Ritualistic killing of monarchs, and the ceremony of the regeneration of the king (Egyptian, sed). (Diop)
46. Divine royal blood was passed through Egyptian queens; West African matriarchal tradition. Aside from usurption, any claimant to the throne had to have an Egyptian mother of royal blood.(Diop)
I omitted some stuff so I wouldn't spoil everything for you.
Egypt belongs to Africa, not to the Near East or Middle East or what have you.
Posts: 7069 | From: Fallbrook, CA | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
The only problem here is that Egypt is somewhat listed as the ORIGIN of many of the ideas. The point is NOT that Egypt is the ORIGIN. Egypt is just the oldest DOCUMENTED example of such cultural artifacts. However, the evidence indicates that many of these artifacts are from an even OLDER tradition that came into Egypt as an African civilization. Therefore, we need to go PAST Egypt and trace the ORIGINS of many of the African aspects of Egyptian culture.
Another point to make is that there are mummies that have been found all over Africa and the sahara that predate Egypt. Therefore, this indicates that the practice of mummification PRE DATES Egypt. Likewise, many of the customs and rituals on which Egyptian culture is BASED, pre date dynastic Egypt. We need to look at this as evidence of a much LARGER complex of African culture, of which Egypt was the last in a LINE of cultures, not the BEGINNING. Unfortunately, by trying to tie everything to Egypt, as if it ORIGINATED there, you are MISSING OUT on the LARGER part of the story of how things came to be PRIOR to Egypt, as well as cultures and civilizations that existed in Africa PRIOR to Egypt.
Posts: 8889 | Registered: May 2005
| IP: Logged |
quote:The only problem here is that Egypt is somewhat listed as the ORIGIN of many of the ideas. The point is NOT that Egypt is the ORIGIN. Egypt is just the oldest DOCUMENTED example of such cultural artifacts. However, the evidence indicates that many of these artifacts are from an even OLDER tradition that came into Egypt as an African civilization. Therefore, we need to go PAST Egypt and trace the ORIGINS of many of the African aspects of Egyptian culture.
True, the similarities probably suggest that Egypt shares fraternity with other tropical Africans rather than maternity.
QUESTION: Why do so many universities continue teach Egypt as "Near Eastern" or "Middle Eastern", since Egypt has no more in common with the Near/Middle East than does Mali or India? Do they want to avoid a large-scale Afro/Eurocentic controversy?
EDIT: I wonder if modern Egypt's politics have any connection to how universities teach ancient Egypt. Modern Egypt associates itself with the modern Middle East, so colleges figure that they should do the same with ancient Egypt and the ancient Middle/Near East.
Posts: 7069 | From: Fallbrook, CA | Registered: Mar 2004
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Doug M: The only problem here is that Egypt is somewhat listed as the ORIGIN of many of the ideas. The point is NOT that Egypt is the ORIGIN. Egypt is just the oldest DOCUMENTED example of such cultural artifacts. However, the evidence indicates that many of these artifacts are from an even OLDER tradition that came into Egypt as an African civilization. Therefore, we need to go PAST Egypt and trace the ORIGINS of many of the African aspects of Egyptian culture.
Agreed! The cultures of Africa are very ancient, one should not assume one culture gave birth to another one on the other side of the continent. Some Afrocentrics make this diffusionist mistake of attributing local cultural aspects or customs to those of Egypt. They don't realize it but this only supports the old debunked theories of Hamitic "caucazoids" spreading civilization throughout the rest of Africa starting with Egypt!
Posts: 26238 | From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged |
Actually, that West African headrest doesn't resemble the Egyptian one as closely as those used by Afrasian speaking nomads in East Africa like Somalis. Sometime in the future I will show these.
Posts: 26238 | From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA | Registered: Feb 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I absolutely agree with this post! Some of you guys are so informed and knowledgeable about Ancient Egypt and the disciplines associated with the study of history and pre-history that I honestly think you should consider a career in the field(s). It would be nice to establish a scholarship fund for rural Egyptians or people of African Descent to study African History or fields associated with it. Does anyone know if The elite and wealthy African-Americans are doing any such thing? It would be an honour to be in a position to establish such a fund!
Posted by Doug M: The only problem here is that Egypt is somewhat listed as the ORIGIN of many of the ideas. The point is NOT that Egypt is the ORIGIN. Egypt is just the oldest DOCUMENTED example of such cultural artifacts. However, the evidence indicates that many of these artifacts are from an even OLDER tradition that came into Egypt as an African civilization. Therefore, we need to go PAST Egypt and trace the ORIGINS of many of the African aspects of Egyptian culture.
Another point to make is that there are mummies that have been found all over Africa and the sahara that predate Egypt. Therefore, this indicates that the practice of mummification PRE DATES Egypt. Likewise, many of the customs and rituals on which Egyptian culture is BASED, pre date dynastic Egypt. We need to look at this as evidence of a much LARGER complex of African culture, of which Egypt was the last in a LINE of cultures, not the BEGINNING. Unfortunately, by trying to tie everything to Egypt, as if it ORIGINATED there, you are MISSING OUT on the LARGER part of the story of how things came to be PRIOR to Egypt, as well as cultures and civilizations that existed in Africa PRIOR to Egypt. [/QUOTE]
Posts: 318 | From: PA. USA | Registered: Jan 2005
| IP: Logged |
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic