14/05/2026
Wir laden zum Vortrag von Prof. Dr. Nozomu Kawai, University of Tsukuba, der sprechen wird über:
"The Power Behind the Throne: Tutankhamun's Court Officials Revisited"
am Donnerstag, den 28. Mai
um 17:15 Uhr
Ägyptologisches Institut
Voßstr. 2, Gebäude 4410
Es ist auch möglich an dem Vortrag online teilzunehmen:
https://heiconf.uni-heidelberg.de/xt6d-uwxp-u7uu-adtk
Abstract
This lecture analyzes the structure and political dynamics of the Egyptian court during Tutankhamun’s reign, emphasizing the shift of authority from the monarchy to high officials due to the king’s youth and the aftermath of the Amarna revolution. Using
textual, prosopographical, and iconographic evidence, it demonstrates that senior courtiers such as Horemheb, Ay, and Maya appropriated royal privileges and roles, as reflected in their titles and iconography. Further, the research shows that even secondary officials attained unprecedented status. The findings suggest that government under Tutankhamun was effectively managed by a council of powerful officials, reducing the
king to a symbolic figurehead and marking a significant temporary transfer of executive power to the elite bureaucracy.