The Demotic drama of Horus and Seth (P. Berlin 8278a, b, c; 15662; 15677; 15818; 23536; 23537a, b, c, d, e, f, g)

The subject of this dissertation is a yet unpublished text on P. Berlin 8278a, b, c and its related fragments in the collection of the Berlin Museum. This study focuses on the edition (transliteration, translation, commentary) of this text and attempts to show its importance in Egyptian literature.; P. Berlin 8278 and its related fragments are interesting in many respects. They give us a clear example of a Demotic dramatic genre, as well as the most complete Demotic version of the conflict of Horus and Seth, and are, therefore, an important link in the evolution of this myth throughout Egyptian history. One of the reasons it is so fascinating is the fact that, in a single composition, we have a combination of both the play itself, consisting of all the fragments and P. Berlin 8278a+b, and the description of his own role by one of the actors, probably the author, in P. Berlin 8278c. The text also reveals interesting philological points through its use of rare or unparalleled words. Moreover, it seems to confirm the identification of the town of P ⊃ ⊃ -pr-h&dotbelow;d&barbelow; with Phlou&d12; sion (Pelusium) in the Fayyum and can also be added to the list of rare Demotic texts mentioning letter-names. From a religious point of view, new mythological episodes are also extremely interesting. By giving us an attestation of the celebration of the Osirian Khoiak festival in the Fayyum and providing us with new material for its study, the present text also expands our knowledge of Egyptian religion during the Ptolemaic period.