Keep my name alive

Abstract EN

In ancient Egypt recalling a man's name was achieved by attaining a durable memory on earth and an eternal existence in the hereafter.

The use of the term "anx" to make the name alive would therefore be interpreted as a further achievement beyond merely wishing for it to endure.

This might imply that the name would not die, and therefore would not need resuscitation.

Whereas the oldest attestations of making the name endure were referred to in the Pyramid Texts, the theme was not explicitly stated in Old Kingdom private tombs.

Nevertheless, stelae or statues as commemorative medium would guarantee their owners' names to be alive forever.

Specific expressions were used in order to guarantee the name to be alive.

The current research includes a classification of the expressions attested, according to their occurrences in both royal inscriptions and private monuments.

The terms reinforce the context of life and the bestowal of life on the name.

The study gives an insight of Egyptian concepts on how to make the name remembered by providing scrupulous attention to textual sources from private and royal inscriptions.

Distinctions of the varied means of keeping the name alive give an adequate idea of what was meant by remembrance and making the name alive.