A project of the American Research Center in Egypt
A project of the American Research Center in Egypt

Damnatio Memoriae

Term

Damnatio Memoriae is a modern Latin phrase meaning "condemnation of memory". It refers to the removal of an individual from official accounts. This can mean either the complete removal of someone's name from the history records, such as Akhenaten's from many King's lists, or the literal destruction of an individual's image or name, such as the careful removal of images of Hatshepsut at Karnak.

ARCE/VOK.00001
Destroyed royal cartouche on coffin of Akhenaten (detail). Housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Amarna room, JE 39627.