In Egyptian sources the practice of branding with a hot iron refers mostly to animals. The technique appears in the Old Kingdom as a sign of economic control, and during the New Kingdom it sees an increase in its use, being attested in iconographical, written and archaeological sources. As some attestations from the New Kingdom seem to refer to the branding activity applied to humans, this article discusses whether the reported practice should be understood as happening in reality or whether it has to be considered only in a metaphoric way, as a strong sign of influence or possession.
Human branding practices during the new kingdom: A form of control between metaphor and reality
Valerio M.
2023-01-01
Abstract
In Egyptian sources the practice of branding with a hot iron refers mostly to animals. The technique appears in the Old Kingdom as a sign of economic control, and during the New Kingdom it sees an increase in its use, being attested in iconographical, written and archaeological sources. As some attestations from the New Kingdom seem to refer to the branding activity applied to humans, this article discusses whether the reported practice should be understood as happening in reality or whether it has to be considered only in a metaphoric way, as a strong sign of influence or possession.
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