Fecundity Figures

by John R. Baines

Fecundity figures, personifications of non-sexual fertily, played a significant role in ancient Egyptian religious art. This detailed and comprehensive investigation of Egyptian iconography during the Old and New Kingdoms aims to classify the types of male and female figures represented, and so understand the intentions behind such personifications, whilst also placing the artwork within its cultural, religious and artistic context. In addition, the study includes a theoretical discussion of the form and function of personifications.

446 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2001

About the author

John Robert Baines is the oldest son of Edward Russell Baines and his wife Dora Margaret Jean (née O’Brien). He was educated at Winchester College, an all boys public boarding school in Winchester, Hampshire, England. He went on to study Egyptology at the University of Oxford. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) in 1967, later promoted to Master of Arts (MA). He gained his Doctor of Philosophy degree (DPhil) in 1976.

Baines was Professor of Egyptology at the University of Oxford from 1976 to 2013. He was one of the youngest tenured professors at the university at the age of 30. He is also the author of multiple scholarly articles and publications relating to ancient Egyptian civilization.

His research interests are in Ancient Egyptian art, religion, literature, and biographies; modelling ancient Egyptian society; comparative and anthropological approaches to ancient civilizations.