The Graffiti of Pharaonic Egypt: Scope and Roles of Informal Writings (c. 3100-332 B.C.).

• Author: Darnell, J.C.
• Position: Book Review

By ALEXANDER J. PEDEN, Probleme der Agyptologie, vol. 17. Leiden: BRILL, 2001. Pp. xxii + 348. maps. $89.

Although the rock inscriptions and rock depictions of Egypt and in particular Nubia have received considerable and deserved attention, Peden's book is the first general study of such inscriptions. The work presents a useful collection of sources on the ancient Egyptian rock inscriptions in hieratic and hieroglyphic script. Although it is not exhaustive in referencing the inscriptions, and does not clearly address the synthesis of material the subtitle suggests, Peden's work is nevertheless us useful and important as the extended Lexikon der Agyptologie article it in a sense is.

Peden's book is divided chronologically with subdivisions for specific sites. While this format is effective for gaining a broad overview of graffiti from different periods for a wide range of locations, a gazetteer of sites with rock inscriptions could have been more advantageous. The numbered references within the gazetteer then could be used in subsequent lists arranged by date, type of text, etc. Finally, essays could have addressed sites diachronically, and particular periods across the entire area. Even in the index, a listing of graffiti would have been useful. Additionally, although there are mentions of the locations in which inscriptions occur (cf. p. 190 and n. 366), there is no general discussion of this.

The subtitle suggests one will find here a discussion of the physical and social settings of graffiti in Egypt, but this is not entirely the case. Peden mentions visitors" graffiti (cf. p. 59 n. 3, p. 60 n. 11, pp. 61-63), yet engages in no involved discussion of this practice. Peden does not cite an important Saite inscription referring to the writing of such inscriptions: "Wo immer ihr wollt, da schreibt auf die freigelassenen Stellen, auf dass ein Mann zu seinem Gefathrten spreche, indem es auf den freien Stellen eingeschnitten ist; dort soll (dann) gefunden werden, um spatter als Leitspruch(?) zu dienen." (K. P. Kuhlmann "Eine Beschreibung der Grabdekoration mit der Aufforderung zu kopieren und zum Hinterlassen yon Besucherinschriften aus saitischer Zeit," MDAIK 29 [1973]: 207, 11. 14-15). This text is one of the most explicit statements by the ancient Egyptian as to the purpose of visitors' "graffiti" surviving from ancient Egypt, and its absence from Peden's work is difficult to explain Such an omission also suggests that Peden's judgment (pp....