Abstract:
This thesis is set to examine the Inaros texts (first century BC to second century AD) from an interdisciplinary perspective in order to determine what features contribute toward the popularity and longevity of the Inaros tradition. Three Inaros texts are examined for the present study, which are: Contest for the Armour of Inaros, Contest for the Benefice of Amun, and Petechons and Sarpot. From these, three aspects have been selected for examination: narrative features, characterisation, and intertextuality. The first two aspects function internally. Narrative features, which utilises the theory of narratology, is focussed on the devices and motifs that the Inaros texts use in order to manipulate the time and chronology between the text and the fabula. It is through these manipulations that the texts are able to generate a wide range of literary effects in order to create excitement, suspense, and enjoyment. Despite the well-known fact that the Inaros texts contain shared characters, their characterisation is the most understudied aspect of the tradition. The approach that is central to this analysis is systemic functional linguistics (SFL). By analysing certain linguistic features in character speeches and dialogue, SFL is able to shed light on character portrayal and interactions. The characters who will undergo study are: Pekrur, Petubastis, and Petechons, since they are the three most well-represented characters in the tradition. Finally, the relationship between the Inaros texts and other texts will be discussed using the paradigms of intertextuality. Contrary to the other two aspects, intertextuality functions externally to the text, and can be further divided into author-based and audience-based intertextuality. The first aspect of author-based intertextuality is Homeric influence, where the theory of hypertextuality is used to re-examine the arming scene of Pemu in Armour. This is followed by the Egyptian perspective, both diachronic and synchronic. The discussion on intertextuality is concluded with audience-based intertextuality, which looks at how the audience perceives the intertextual relationships, and ties into our current understanding of the composition and reception of the Inaros texts.