SOME NEW EVIDENCE FOR THE KHOIAK FEAST AT THEBES

Abstract

This article is based on the author recent discovery of the Osirian catacomb of Qurnet Murai atThebes (Abou Zaid, O., A New Discovery of Catacomb in Qurnet Murai at Thebes. BIFAO 117(2017) pp. 9-24, Pls. 1 [a-d] - 3 [a-c]). Many texts and reliefs from Thebes illustrate the Khoiakfeast, but there is no real evidence for where this event took place in the Theban region. The newdiscovery of the Osirian catacomb has revealed the actual site where this feast was celebrated. Inthis paper, therefore, I will propose the route of this feast according to the new discovery of thecatacomb, comparing it with festival routes of similar places, such as Abydos (the route from thetemple to the tomb), along with various aspects of the Dendara enactment of the feast.