The Use of Myth in the Pyramid Texts

Abstract

This paper discusses the role of myth in the placement of the Pyramid Texts on the walls of the late Fifth and the Sixth Dynasties. It analyses the texts with regard to the mythic episodes or mythemes within them, and looks at the difference between ritual and myth within individual texts. This paper was given at the First Annual Conference for Young Egyptologists, in Sept., 2009. This was, as the name, suggests the first of what is now a biennial conference for Egyptologists in the Australasian region and elsewhere. Although the first conference was advertised as being for 'young Egyptologists', it was, in fact, intended for professionals as well as advanced graduate students, and it was thus advertised in the most recent conference. This paper, while given in 2009, will not be published until 2012. However, it is in press at the moment.