Agency in Ancient Writing

Figures

vii Figures 1.1. Word-image dichotomy      24 1.2. Writing-pictures-notation tripartite model      26 1.3. Train schedule illustrating spatial correspondence of time and distance in graphic format      27 1.4. Aztec in extenso almanac page with day signs, deities, and mantic signs, Codex Borgia      28 1.5. Almanac page with cosmographic diagram, Codex FejérváryMayer       29 1.6. Inca khipu      30 1.7. Mixtec res gestae manuscript page, Codex Selden      32 1.8. Road sign in context      34 1.9. Mural cycles, north frontis, Huaca de La Luna, Moche Valley, Peru      36 1.10. Feline gold spangle headdress, Huaca de La Luna      37 1.11. Moche stirrup-spout bottle shaped as conch-shell trumpet with deity emerging      38 1.12. Moche stirrup-spout bottle, “Revolt of Objects” theme      40 2.1. Map of the Near East, showing sites discussed in text      48 2.2. Stamp seals (and modern impressions), black stone, showing dancers, from Hamoukar, Late Chalcolithic 2 (4500–4000 BC)      51 viii Figures 2.3. Clay sealings: a jar sealing (from Hamoukar, ca. 3500 BC) and a door sealing (from Tell Asmar, Iraq, ca. 1900 BC)      52 2.4. Late Uruk cylinder seals: seal with a temple and two goats feeding off a plant (from Khafaje, Iraq, ca. 3100 BC); seal with squatting women(?) manufacturing pottery vessels and one with a series of spiders, possibly symbolizing textile work (from Tell Agrab, Iraq, ca. 3000 BC)      55 2.5. Administrative complexes at Hamoukar      58 2.6. Close-ups of tripartite building TpB-A, showing spatial distributions of clay sealings      59 2.7. Selection of tokens from Choga Mish and Hamoukar      60 2.8. Sealed clay ball with tokens inside and broken clay ball showing tokens inside      61 2.9. Circular tablet with five impressions, showing simple numerical notation      63 2.10. Numerical tablet marked with 5(+?) wedge-shaped markers, sealed with cylinder-seal impression showing women making pottery jars (from Choga Mish, ca. 3100 BC)      64 3.1. Engraved bronze plaque from tomb 13 at Shizhaishan, Yunnan      81 3.2. Replicating sign forms among engraved bronze items from the Shizhaishan cemetery      84 3.3. Two verbatim copies of the same divination text, showing variable script direction and concomitant boustrophedon mirror flips      91 4.1. Map of Egypt showing the location of sites associated with early examples of writing      100 4.2. Plan of the subterranean chambered tomb U-j at Abydos, ca. 3300 BCE      101 4.3. Examples of the ivory and bone tags found in the southern chamber of tomb U-j      102 4.4. Examples of the ivory and bone tags found in the southern chamber of tomb U-j      103 4.5. Ceramic jars with scorpion inscriptions from tomb U-j      105 4.6. Photograph and drawing showing the repeated serekh of King Aha of the early First Dynasty      107 4.7. Two private stelae from subsidiary graves adjacent to the First Dynasty royal tombs at Abydos      110 5.1. Example of a typical EM I–II soft stone seal      119 5.2. Impressions on an EM II sealing from Myrtos      121 5.3. Sites where Parading Lions glyptic material has been found      122 5.4. Examples of the EM III–MM IA Parading Lions group      123 5.5. A sample of motifs belonging to the EM III–MM IA Parading Lions group      124 ix Figures 5.6. An EM III–MM IA sealing from Khamaleuri carrying four impressions rendered by a Parading Lions seal      125 5.7. An EM III jar stopper from Knossos impressed with a Parading Lions seal      134 6.1. Codex-style vessel depicting two scenes of an old god lecturing to pupils (K1196)      142 6.2. Classic period cylindrical vessel depicting deities making offerings to a codex (K8075)      142 6.3. Classic period cylindrical vessel depicting nighttime sacrificial scene (K1377)      146 6.4. Classic period cylindrical vessel depicting mythological scene with scribal deities seated atop a personified mountain cave (K501)      147 6.5. Classic period vessel depicting water bird with pseudo-glyphs (K5973)      148 6.6. Classic period vessel depicting water birds with legible Primary Standard Sequence (K5360)      149 6.7. Inscription from an unprovenanced limestone panel      152 6.8. Polychrome cylinder vase from Burial 196, Tikal, Guatemala, depicting a dialogue between a hummingbird figure and Itzamnaaj (K8008)      153 6.9. Regal Rabbit Vase (K1398)      155 6.10. Regal Rabbit Vase (detail)      156 6.11. Tablet...