'Lower your arms, bend your back!': Ancient Egyptian 'body behaviour' as an expression of respect towards social superiors

Christos Kekes

doi:10.26247/aura7.2

'Lower your arms, bend your back!': Ancient Egyptian 'body behaviour' as an expression of respect towards social superiors

Christos Kekes

Abstract

In the present study the Egyptian standard of proper social behaviour during the interaction of ancient Egyptians is outlined. This social standard is traced through ancient Egyptian texts and iconography. I am mainly interested in the appropriate social behaviour as it was expressed through various body postures and gestures. This particular ‘body behaviour’ mainly concerned the proper way in which ancient Egyptians approached and interacted with social superiors: higher officials, elders, or the Pharaoh. Aspects of appropriate body behaviour are evidenced in religious contexts, too: when approaching a temple or a divine statue, or even in the mythological afterlife journey of the dead.

Keywords

Ancient Egypt; gestures; body behaviour; social interaction; respect

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26247/aura7.2

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