Calcite-correct name for stones historically called travertine, alabaster, Egyptian alabaster, or Oriental alabaster. A mineral composed of hexagonal
crystals of calcium carbonate.
Calendar- Egyptian calendar was composed of three seasons based on the agricultural rhythmn of the Nile, inundation, emergence, and harvest.
The seasons were four months long, composed of thirty days each. There were five additional days added to the year. Some Egyptian festivals
were based on a lunar calendar. Great importance was also given to beginning festival calendars with the rising of the star Sothis (Sirius) after
a disappearance of 70 days.
Canaan-generally, the lands to the
west of the Jordan River; Phoenicia, and part of southern Syria in the second millennium B.C.
Canines-several species of canines were familiar to Egyptians-the Cape hunting Dog (Lycaon pictus), the domestic dog (Canis familiaris), the
common or golden jackal (Canis aureus s. lupaster), the striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), and the red fox (Vulpes vulpes). Egyptians developed
many domesticated dog species and used them as workers and loved them as pets.
Canopic Jars and Chests-Items intended
as containers for the internal organs removed during mummification.
Captions-as today, hieroglyph inscription explaining or related
to a painting or relief.
Carter, Howard (1874-1939)- British Egyptologist and artist, discoverer of Tutankamun’s tomb; worked most
of his life in Egypt.
Cattle-two theories exist on origins Egyptian cattle, first, that they were introduced from the Near East and Levant, or, second, that they came
from native cattle of North Africa. Earliest undisputed evidence of cattle is from Merimde and the Faiyum (c.5000 B.C.) Cattle were raised for
milk and milk products, for meat in a limited
way, and for religious purposes. There were numerous breeds.
Cenotaphs-royal and private tombs without an actual burial, as well
as other buildings of a mortuary nature.
Ceramics-mainly pottery, the single largest category of material culture recovered from most of Egypt. Potsherds, broken pottery, can be used
to date sites fairly closely. Pottery was essential
at all times in Egyptian history and at all economic levels.
Ceremonial Mace Heads-In Predynastic times, a type of weapon; became symbols of authority. Pear shaped and conical mace heads are known
from Naqada I and II; pear shaped became symbolic in Naquada III. “Scorpion”Macehead is the oldest, though only partially preserved.
The “Narmer”
Macehead is the other famous macehead, while the “Bearer” Macehead is less well known.
C-Group-Nubian culture originally discovered
at Shellal, contemporary with the Old Kingdom and lasting into the New Kingdom.
Champollion, Jean-Francois (1790-1832)-Frenchman, Egyptologist, first person to decipher hieroglyphs in modern times. Called the “Founder
and Founder of Egyptology”.
Childhood-boys and girls were equally welcomed; no child was a bastard. Children were never abandoned or exposed; child was considered to
belong to both parents; were breast-fed for up to three years,by mother or wet-nurse; Egyptians feared death of children to disease; birthdays
were celebrated; children were named at birth and were close to parents; wealthy or noble youths were educated at residential schools, but
from 6th Dynasty on, boys from lower classes could attain high office. Sexes played apart; girls always shown dressed; middle and upper-class
women were educated, lower-class learned
life skills. Children were obliged to love, honor, and care for their parents.
Cleopatra VII (69-30 B. C.)-Sixteenth ruler of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, Greco-Roman Period, ruled 51-31 B.C. Famous for her marriages to Julius
Caesar and to MarK Anthony. Ancient sources unanimous in their praise of her intellect and her political acumen. Based the external trappings
of her rule on the precedents of ancient female Egyptian monarachs; was therefore from the Egyptian and Hellenistic Greek point of view a heroine,
and was honored and worshipped for centuries after her death.
Coffins, Sarcophagi, and Cartonnages-containers to protect a mummified corpse. Coffins were wood, metal, or pottery; sarcophagi were usually
stone; cartonnages were made of several layers of linen pasted together and covered by a thin layer of
plaster.
Coffin texts-misleading term referring to religious spells or chapters on the insides of more than 200 Middle Kingdom coffins. Includes only some
texts, excludes those from Old Kingdom Pyramids (Pyramid Texts) and simple lists of offerings. Unified by its positions between the
Old Kingdom Pyramid Texts and the New Kingdom Book of Going Forth By Day (Book of the Dead), and by the fact that these texts were the
earliest known to be used for nonroyals.
Coinage-essentially, there was no money in Ancient Egypt-King Hakoris (392-380 B.C.), 29th Dynasty, offered to pay mercenaries in coin.
Later in the 4th C. B.C. Tachos (362-361 B.C.) struck the first known gold Egyptian coins.
Color symbolism- generally, the symbolism was as follows: black=regeneration and fertility, white=purity, green=fresh vegetation, vigor,
regeneration, blue=later and prestigious color, night sky and primordial waters, red=very potent and ancient, life-giving, protective, blood, heat,
the sun, also regeneration. Later, yellow=sun disc, gold.
Contendings of Horus and Seth-name given to pages 1-16 of Papyrus Chester. Purports to be trial transcript of trial of Horus and Seth before
the court of the Gods, the Ennead, presided
over by Ra-Horakhty.
Copper-Use of copper dates back to Badarian times in jewelry and tools. Deposits of copper present in the Eastern Desert, but vast quantities
imported from Sinai.
Coregency-the practice of recognizing two persons simultaneously as pharaoh.
Creation myths
Memphite theology - Ptah created all things by speaking their names.
Theban theology - Amun is the prime cause of all gods and therefore indirectly the creator of all things.
Hermopolitan theology - The primeval mound was created by four pairs of deities; Nun and Nauset (water), Amun and Amaunet (hiddenness),
Heh and Hauhet (infinity), and Kek and Kauket (darkness).
Heliopolitan theology - Atum, the solar deity, created Shu and Tefnut who gave birth to Geb (the earth) and Nut (the sky).
Crete-Sporadic contacts between Egypt and Crete go back to the third millennium B. C., with sustained contact beginning with the Minoan Age in the
second millennium B. C. Contact flourished during the 18th Dynasty, then declined during the 14th C. B.C. in favor of trade
with the Mycenaeans.
Crocodiles-Nile crocodile (Crocodilus niloticus), lived the entire length of the Nile, in canals and pools, in Lake Moeris, and in the Faiyum. It reaches
20 feet in length and is very strong, and was greatly feared, thus had a powerful role in mythology and magic. Was worshipped as a god, most
often Sobek, but associated with a variety
of other gods.
Crowns-Played a dominant role in the royal and divine images; gods and kings always shown with one. There were quite a number of different
crowns, each with different religious and political significance.
Cults-Ancient Egyptian religion consisted of what people did to interact with their gods, rather than a set of theological principles or canons. These
actions are termed “cults” and are roughly synonymous with “ritual”. Broadly, there were Royal Cults, Private Cults, Divine Cults,and Animal Cults.
Curses-Most famous was that supposedly put on anyone disturbing the tomb of King Tut! Power of curses came from the belief that the written and
spoken word had power. Amulets, magic bricks, offering tables, stelae, temple walls, papyri, and other objects had protective spells involving
threats written on them.
Cyprus- an especially valuable source of copper during the Bronze Age. Commerce with Egypt seems to have been common during the latter half of
the 2nd millennium B.C. Cypriot pottery was important until shortly before the end of the New Kingdom,
perhaps due to the Sea Peoples.