Reconstructing destruction: Amarna Period erasures in tombs of the Theban Necropolis

The Amarna Period of ancient Egypt, more specifically the reign of Akhenaten, saw a number of unprecedented changes to the religious climate. One of the most exceptional occurrences was the widespread erasure of certain words and images from monuments throughout the land. Although this destruction has been associated with the Amarna Period since the start of the academic analysis of this time, the study of the erasures themselves has developed only slowly. Their interpretation has been hampered by, on the one hand, the subjectivity that accompanies many commentaries of Akhenaten and his reign, and, on the other, the lack of any systematic approach to the recording and publishing of erasures as artefacts. Because of its religio-political context, abundance of monuments, and prolific documentation, the Theban necropolis provides an ideal case study for a close examination of these erasures. This analysis begins with the cataloguing of all examples diagnostic of the Amarna Period erasure program within the private tombs of the necropolis. The resulting corpus of material is then assessed through two different lenses: content and context. Firstly, the erasures themselves are examined to establish what elements were proscribed and why. Secondly, the mechanics behind the destruction are discussed, with a consideration of the identity of the erasers, their interaction with the sacred space of the necropolis, and the positioning of the campaign within the temporal and ideological setting of the Amarna Period. The primary finding of this investigation is that there was extensive variation in what elements were erased, how, and where. This indicates that the erasers did not operate as a uniform body, as is often conveyed in the scholarship, but rather had differing beliefs, instructions, and capabilities, and perhaps even visited the necropolis in different stages. As an underlying conclusion, it is suggested that a more consistent and objective approach to the recording and discussion of erasures by scholars is needed in order for their potential to be fully realised.