Name Rings Associated with the “Royal Kiosk Icon” in the Theban Tombs during the Eighteenth Dynasty

Abstract

The name rings depicted in the Theban tombs dating to the Eighteenth Dynasty are similar to those found on monumental topographical lists, though they seem to belong to a completely different motif: the Nine Bows. The Nine Bows are a list of nine lands considered to be the “enemies of Egypt,” a list that can be seen to fluctuate over time in parallel to the socio-political context. This article covers the phenomenon of name rings in the Theban tombs as a component of the “Royal Kiosk Icon,” examining their iconography and overall form to articulate typological differences for dating purposes, together with a brief discussion on their meaning and placement within the tombs themselves.