Conférence - Renata Landgráfová : Snakes and Demons: Guardians of the Afterlife in the Saite-Persian Tombs at Abusir

Laurent CoulonCivilisation de l'Égypte pharaoniqueAnnée 2025-2026Collège de FranceConférence - Renata Landgráfová : Snakes and Demons: Guardians of the Afterlife in the Saite-Persian Tombs at AbusirRésuméIn the shadow of the pyramids of the 5th Dynasty in northwest Abusir lies a Saite-period shaft tomb necropolis whose tombs challenge conventional funerary expectations. The richly decorated tomb of Iufaa, in particular, presents a trove of rare ritual texts—including a unique initiation manual for scorpion and snake magicians—and serpent guardians more at home in astronomical scenes of Ptolemaic temples than in burial chambers. Nearby, the tomb of Menekhibnekau features a more traditional program, yet stands out for its striking use of Book of the Dead Chapter 144. Here, demonic gatekeepers are not only named but visually anchored in the architectural "gate" (entrance) of the burial chamber itself—a spatial and symbolic innovation not documented elsewhere. This lecture explores how these tombs reimagine the roles of serpents and demons as powerful protectors on the path to eternity.Renata LandgráfováCharles University de PragueRenata Landgráfová est invitée par l'assemblée du Collège de France, sur proposition du professeur Laurent Coulon, chaire Civilisation de l'Égypte pharaonique