Saturday, October 31, 2015

Scanning the Pyramids

Could the ScanPyramids Project unlock the secrets of Egypt’s Wonders of the Ancient World, asks Nevine El-Aref

Four millennia after their construction, the ancient Egyptian Pyramids at Giza still conceal their secrets. Although research has been carried out on them throughout history, many questions remained unanswered. How were the pyramids built? Why do they have different shapes? How could they have lasted for 4,500 years without collapsing? Why do the inner structures of the pyramids have such inexplicable anomalies? These are just a few of the unanswered questions that are still puzzling today’s archaeologists.

However, with the help of modern non-invasive technology many of these questions may now be finally resolved. Under the motto “Just because a mystery is 4,500 years old doesn’t mean it can’t be solved,” the Ministry of Antiquities has initiated the ScanPyramids Project in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University and the French Heritage Innovation and Preservation (HIP) Institute.

The project aims at probing the heart of Egypt’s pyramids from afar without touching or drilling into them. This would be achieved through the use of radioactive muons, or cosmic particles, infrared thermography, photogrammetry, scanning and 3D reconstruction by international researchers from three major universities: the Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University, the Université Laval in Quebec and the Nagoya University in Japan.

 “The scientific ScanPyramids Project is an unprecedented, large-scale project and will begin early in November,” Minister of Antiquities Mamdouh Eldamaty told Al-Ahram Weekly on the fringes of a press conference held on Sunday in Cairo. He explained that the first phase of the project would focus on four pyramids from the Fourth Dynasty: the Bent and Red Pyramids of Snefru at the Dahshur Necropolis and the Khufu and Khafre Pyramids on the Giza Plateau.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Wednesday Weekly # 94

Welcome to the Wednesday Weekly, your weekly dose of links to Egyptology news, articles, blogs, events and more!

Photocredit: Ahram Online

THE ANCIENT WORLD ONLINE


Death on the Nile

http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2013/04/death-on-nile.html

Open Access Monograph Series: Death on the Nile Online Publications

http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2015/10/open-access-monograph-series-death-on.html

Open Access Journal: Archaeological Survey of Nubia: Bulletin
http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2015/10/open-access-journsl-archaeological.html

LUXOR TIMES

Permission granted for Reeves to use radars in King Tut's tomb in his search for Nefertiti

http://luxortimesmagazine.blogspot.nl/2015/10/permission-granted-for-reeves-to-use.html

IN THE ARTIFACT LAB

Animal mummy x-rays

http://www.penn.museum/sites/artifactlab/2015/10/22/animal-mummy-x-rays/

EGYPT CENTRE, SWANSEA

Amarna, looking at flints, playing with dogs!

http://egyptcentre.blogspot.nl/2015/10/amarna-looking-at-flints-playing-with.html

AL-AHRAM WEEKLY

Stopping the sale of stolen antiquities

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/13537/47/Stopping-the-sale-of-stolen-antiquities-.aspx

Ancient Egypt in Japan
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/13539/47/Ancient-Egypt-in-Japan.aspx

BROOKLYN MUSEUM

Happy #Caturday from the Brooklyn Museum!

http://brooklynmuseum.tumblr.com/post/131808346064/happy-caturday-from-the-brooklyn-museum-this-is

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN DEMONOLOGY PROJECT

CFP: Magic, Miracles & the Paranormal in Religious Imaginations
http://www.demonthings.com/cfp-magic-miracles-the-paranormal-in-religious-imaginations/

‘Demon Things’ conference 2016 abstract: Erin E. Bornemann and Stuart Tyson Smith
http://www.demonthings.com/bornemann-smith-abstract/

‘Demon Things’ conference 2016 abstract: Marie Vandenbeusch
http://www.demonthings.com/demon-things-conference-2016-abstract-marie-vandenbeusch/

EGYPT AT THE MANCHESTER MUSEUM

Snakes unlikely to have killed Cleopatra…
https://egyptmanchester.wordpress.com/2015/10/21/snakes-unlikely-to-have-killed-cleopatra/

FACES & VOICES

Making the Mummies Talk (without Palmolive soap!)
https://facesandvoices.wordpress.com/2015/10/28/making-the-mummies-talk-without-palmolive-soap/

DR. GARRY SHAW

Ancient Egypt 2.0—project launched to scan the pyramids
http://garryshawegypt.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/my-latest-article-for-art-newspaper.html

AHRAM ONLINE

INTERVIEW: At least 2 months to re-attach King Tut's mask, Eckmann tells Ahram Online
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/161598/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/INTERVIEW-At-least--months-to-reattach-King-Tuts-m.aspx

‘ScanPyramids’ project hopes to decipher ancient secrets
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/161858/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/%E2%80%98ScanPyramids%E2%80%99-project-hopes-to-decipher-ancient-s.aspx

NILE MAGAZINE

The Abu Simbel Sun Festival
http://www.nilemagazine.com.au/2015-october/2015/10/22/the-abu-simbel-sun-festival

Discover The True Meaning Of 'Colossal'
http://www.nilemagazine.com.au/2015-october/2015/10/24/discover-the-true-meaning-of-colossal

Meet Herishef
http://www.nilemagazine.com.au/2015-october/2015/10/25/meet-herishef

NOW AT THE MET

Welcome to Ancient Egypt Transformed: The Middle Kingdom
http://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-museum/now-at-the-met/2015/welcome-to-ancient-egypt-transformed-middle-kingdom

POPULAR ARCHAEOLOGY

The Sphinx that came to Philadelphia
http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/fall-2015/article/the-sphinx-that-came-to-philadelphia

LIVERPOOL MUSEUMS BLOG

The Lamentations of Isis and Nephtys
http://blog.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/2015/10/the-lamentations-of-isis-and-nephtys/

ANCIENT ORIGINS

Cleopatra probably did not die of snakebite to her breast, Egyptologist claims
http://www.ancient-origins.net/history-important-events/cleopatra-probably-did-not-die-snakebite-her-breast-egyptologist-claims-020580

Scientists to Scan Ancient Pyramids with Cosmic Rays to Find Hidden Chambers and other Secrets
http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-general/scientists-scan-ancient-pyramids-cosmic-rays-find-hidden-chambers-and-other-secrets-020592

Archaeologists identify Temple of Hatshepsut, the female Pharaoh the ancients tried to erase
http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/archaeologists-identify-temple-hatshepsut-female-pharaoh-ancients-tried-020591

Mummies have had a bad wrap – it is time for a reassessment
http://www.ancient-origins.net/history/mummies-have-had-bad-wrap-it-time-reassessment-004349

PHYS.ORG

The earliest known abecedary
http://phys.org/news/2015-10-earliest-abecedary.html

SCIENCE & SCHOLARSHIP IN POLAND

Polish archaeologists discovered an unknown temple of Hatshepsut
http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news,407046,polish-archaeologists-discovered-an-unknown-temple-of-hatshepsut.html


Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Polish archaeologists discovered an unknown temple of Hatshepsut

Cut in the rock and consisting of two rooms, the walls of which are covered with poorly preserved decoration and hieroglyphic inscriptions: a team of archaeologists working under the auspices of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology of the University of Warsaw started research in the ancient temple at Gebelein in Upper Egypt.

This place was already known to the local authorities, but so far no archaeologist has studied it. Previous researchers could have been discouraged by the poor condition of the decorations. This year's results of Polish research were surprising.

"This temple was dedicated to two gods. There is no doubt that one of them was Hathor, with the cult epithet Lady of Gebelein. The other deity could be Amun-Ra. Unfortunately, his depictions are not preserved and further studies are needed to verify this idea" - explained Daniel Takács, a member of the expedition.

Images of many deities were destroyed in antiquity. Pharaoh Akhenaten, who ruled in the fourteenth century BC, promoted the worship of one god, whose symbol was the solar disk. Depictions of other gods who did not have solar aspects were destroyed during his rule. The Goddess Hathor was associated with the sun, so her depictions ware spared.

"The most puzzling was the lack of royal names in the temple. Rulers of ancient Egypt loved to put their names on the walls of temples exposed to the public view . Sometimes they would destroy the names of previous kings to put their own in these places" - added Wojciech Ejsmond, director of the expedition.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

The earliest known abecedary

A flake of limestone (ostracon) inscribed with an ancient Egyptian word list of the fifteenth century BC turns out to be the world's oldest known abecedary. The words have been arranged according to their initial sounds, and the order followed here is one that is still known today. This discovery by Ben Haring (Leiden University) with funding from Free Competition Humanities has been published in the October issue of the Journal of Near Eastern Studies.

The order is not the ABC of modern western alphabets, but Halaḥam (HLḤM), the order known from the Ancient Egyptian, Ancient Arabian and Classical Ethiopian scripts. ABC and HLḤM were both used in Syria in the thirteenth century BC: cuneiform tablets found at site of ancient Ugarit show both sequences. Back then, ABC was still '-b-g ('aleph-beth-gimel). This sequence was favored by the Phoenicians who passed it on to the Greeks, together with the alphabet itself. Thus a-b-g found its way to the later alphabets inspired by the Greek and Latin ones.

The ostracon was found over twenty years ago by the British Egyptologist Nigel Strudwick in an Ancient Egyptian tomb near Luxor. The text has never been understood, however, until it was deciphered by Ben Haring, a Dutch Egyptologist working at Leiden University. Haring made his discovery in the context of a research project on Ancient Egyptian identity marks funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).

The text is an incomplete list of words written in hieratic, the cursive script used in Ancient Egypt for some 3,000 years. To the left is a column of individual signs that appear to be abbreviations of the words. Very possibly they even render the initial consonants of the words, which would make them alphabetic signs.

The hieratic script and the related hieroglyphic script were not alphabetic themselves. Yet the Ancient Egyptian scripts had an important position in the earliest known stages of the alphabet. Inscriptions in the Sinai Desert and in Southern Egypt show signs that are thought to be the earliest known alphabetic characters, and the forms of many of these characters were clearly inspired by Egyptian hieroglyphs. Most of these inscriptions still resist decipherment. Some of their characters also figure in the left column of the word list deciphered by Haring. The list is therefore a key piece for the reconstruction of the earliest history of the alphabet.

This ancient Egyptian word list of the fifteenth century BC is the earliest known example of a list arranged according to their initial sounds. It gives a vital insight into the earliest known stages of the alphabet.

Source: http://phys.org/news/2015-10-earliest-abecedary.html

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Wednesday Weekly # 93

Welcome to the Wednesday Weekly, your weekly dose of links to Egyptology news, articles, blogs, events and more!


Photocredit: Ancient Egyptian Animal Bio Bank

THE ANCIENT WORLD ONLINE

Dar al-Kutub: Numismatic Collection of the Egyptian National Library

http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2015/10/dar-al-kutub-numismatic-collection-of.html

Survey: Archaeometrical Methods in Egyptian Archaeology

http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2015/10/survey-archaeometrical-methods-in.html

University of Basel Kings' Valley Project

http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2012/01/university-of-basel-kings-valley.html

Newly Open Access Journal: The Akhenaten Sun

http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2015/10/newly-open-access-journal-akhenaten-sun.html

ACROSSBORDERS


Making progress – post and pre-excavation working steps

http://acrossborders.oeaw.ac.at/making-progress-post-and-pre-excavation-working-steps/

AL-AHRAM WEEKLY


Where is the tomb of Queen Nefertiti?

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/13448/47/-Where-is-the-tomb-of-Queen-Nefertiti-.aspx

AMARNA PROJECT


Corporal punishment at Amarna?

http://amarna-project.blogspot.nl/2015/10/corporal-punishment-at-amarna.html

Protecting Kom el-Nana

http://amarna-project.blogspot.nl/2015/10/protecting-kom-el-nana.html

Horizon newsletter

http://amarna-project.blogspot.nl/2015/10/horizon-newsletter.html

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ANIMAL BIO BANK


Come along and join us at Manchester Museum with a range of ‘Gifts for the Gods’ events!

https://ancientegyptbiobank.wordpress.com/2015/10/14/come-along-and-join-us-at-manchester-museum-with-a-range-of-gifts-for-the-gods-events/

BEYOND BONES


Mark Your Calendars for these events happening at HMNS 10/19-10/25

https://blog.hmns.org/2015/10/mark-your-calendars-for-these-events-happening-at-hmns-1019-1025/

BROOKLYN MUSEUM


Important moments in our institutional history

http://brooklynmuseum.tumblr.com/post/131414133136/in-celebration-of-ny-archives-week-the-brooklyn

THE CAIRO POST


‘The Era of the Pyramid Builders’ exhibition opens in Japan

http://www.thecairopost.com/news/172014/news/the-era-of-the-pyramid-builders-exhibition-opens-in-japan

Photos: Tut mask goes for facelift

http://www.thecairopost.com/news/172951/topnews/photos-tut-mask-goes-for-facelift

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN DEMONOLOGY PROJECT


DemonBase: Presentation on creating a database of Ancient Egyptian demons

http://www.demonthings.com/demonbase-ancient-egyptian-demons/

‘Demon Things’ conference 2016 abstract: Zuzanna Bennett

http://www.demonthings.com/demon-things-conference-2016-abstract-zuzanna-bennett/

DR ZAHI HAWASS


Dr Zahi's New E-Book Is Out Now!

http://www.drhawass.com/wp/dr-zahis-new-e-book-is-out-now/

AHRAM ONLINE


The Golden Age of the Pyramids Builders exhibition to open in Tokyo

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/156019/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/The-Golden-Age-of-the-Pyramids-Builders-exhibition.aspx

Egyptian Museum boss rubbishes reports of Tutankhamun gold mask damage

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/161232/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Egyptian-Museum-boss-rubbishes-reports-of-Tutankha.aspx

VIDEO: Restoration of Tutankhamun mask underway at Egyptian Museum

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/161407/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/VIDEO-Restoration-of-Tutankhamun-mask-underway-at-.aspx

Egypt's Minister of Antiquities reveals to Ahram Online details of 'Scan Pyramids' project

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/161327/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Egypts-Minister-of-Antiquities-reveals-to-Ahram-On.aspx

NILE MAGAZINE


It Took Four Pharaohs To Finish The Colonnade Of Amenhotep III

http://www.nilemagazine.com.au/2015-october/2015/10/15/it-took-four-pharaohs-to-finish-the-colonnade-of-amenhotep-iii

The Face Of A Criminal?

http://www.nilemagazine.com.au/2015-october/2015/10/18/the-face-of-a-criminal

Accident At The Egyptian Museum

http://www.nilemagazine.com.au/2015-october/2015/10/19/accident-at-the-egyptian-museum

THE EGYPTIAN HISTORY PODCAST

Episode 54: The Three Kingdoms
http://egyptianhistory.libsyn.com/episode-54-the-three-kingdoms

ANCIENT ORIGINS

Khentkawes I: The Mysterious Mother of two Kings of Egypt and a Forgotten Ruler of the 4th Dynasty
http://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/khentkawes-i-mysterious-mother-two-kings-egypt-and-forgotten-ruler-4th-dynasty-020565

COLLECTING EGYPT... AND OTHER MUSINGS!

Secret Egypt Reaches Weston Park
http://collectingegypt.blogspot.nl/2015/10/secret-egypt-reaches-weston-park.html

AUDUBON

Gut Check: Autopsy Shows Mummified Kestrel Was Fed to Death
https://www.audubon.org/news/gut-check-autopsy-shows-mummified-kestrel-was-fed-death

EGYPTIANS

The Book of the Mummy
http://tim-theegyptians.blogspot.nl/2015/10/the-book-of-mummy.html

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Wednesday Weekly # 92

Welcome to the Wednesday Weekly, your weekly dose of links to Egyptology news, articles, blogs, events and more!

Credit: Karsten Moran, New York Times

THE ANCIENT WORLD ONLINE

The Antinoupolis Foundation

http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2015/10/the-antinoupolis-foundation.html

EGYPTIANS


The Daughters of Nefertiti

http://tim-theegyptians.blogspot.nl/2015/10/the-daughters-of-nefertiti_9.html

IDAHO STATESMAN

College of Idaho archaeologist offers glimpse into Egyptologist’s work

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/10/10/4030162_college-of-idaho-archaeologist.html?rh=1

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Will a New Bout of King Tut Fever Bring Visitors Back to Egypt?

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/10/151002-tutankhamun-valley-of-the-kings-nefertiti-hidden-burial-rooms-archaeology-howard-carter-nicholas-reeves/

USA TODAY

Spear injuries show worker life in ancient Egypt

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/10/13/egypt-cemetery-punishment-lashes-wounds/73688038/

THE CAIRO POST

Egypt to restore King Tut mask after botched epoxy job
http://www.thecairopost.com/news/170844/culture/egypt-to-restore-king-tut-mask-after-botched-epoxy-job

‘Stepping through Time:’ Exhibition on ancient footwear opens Oct 11
http://www.thecairopost.com/news/171105/culture/stepping-through-time-exhibition-on-ancient-footwear-opens-oct-11

Egyptian museums to exhibit artifacts at Cairo Airport
http://www.thecairopost.com/news/171196/culture/egyptian-museums-to-exhibit-artifacts-at-cairo-airport

Antiquities officials charged with ‘spreading false news’ on Pyramid of Djoser
http://www.thecairopost.com/news/171302/culture/antiquities-officials-charged-with-spreading-false-news-on-pyramid-of-djoser

Probe opened into alleged graft in Grand Egyptian Museum 
http://www.thecairopost.com/news/171555/news/probe-opened-into-alleged-graft-in-grand-egyptian-museum

A 50-year old facelift: Tourism Ministry celebrates Ramses’ restoration
http://www.thecairopost.com/news/171591/culture/a-50-year-old-facelift-tourism-ministry-celebrates-ramses-restoration

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN DEMONOLOGY PROJECT

‘Demon Things’ conference 2016 abstract: Arnaud Quertinmont
http://www.demonthings.com/demon-things-conference-2016-abstract-arnaud-quertinmont/

‘Demon Things’ conference 2016 abstract: Rita Lucarelli
http://www.demonthings.com/demon-things-conference-2016-abstract-rita-lucarelli/

EGYPT EXPLORATION SOCIETY

Fieldwork and Research Grants 2016-17
http://ees.ac.uk/news/index/332.html

AHRAM ONLINE

Ministry of Antiquities opens museum at Cairo International Airport
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/155869/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Ministry-of-Antiquities-opens-museum-at-Cairo-Inte.aspx

Tutankhamun's mask leaves display for restoration at Egyptian museum
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/152682/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Tutankhamuns-mask-leaves-display-for-restoration-a.aspx

Ancient Egypt footwear exhibition to open Sunday at Egyptian Museum in Cairo
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/152607/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Ancient-Egypt-footwear-exhibition-to-open-Sunday-a.aspx

NILE MAGAZINE

Why Are The Great Pyramids Lined Up Like That?
http://www.nilemagazine.com.au/2015-october/2015/10/9/why-are-the-great-pyramids-lined-up-like-that

The Scribes At Nile Magazine Have Been Busy!
http://www.nilemagazine.com.au/2015-october/2015/10/10/the-scribes-at-nile-magazine-have-been-busy

The Last Time Someone Touched It, The Beard Broke Off.
http://www.nilemagazine.com.au/2015-october/2015/10/11/the-last-time-someone-touched-it-the-beard-broke-off

A Man Not Afraid To Stand Out From The Crowd.
http://www.nilemagazine.com.au/2015-october/2015/10/13/j3cafelvydjhxnxsqibsz4ui1gyrsr

PENN MUSEUM BLOG

Confronting Death at the Penn Museum
http://www.penn.museum/blog/collection/conservation/confronting-death-at-the-penn-museum/

UCL MUSEUMS & COLLECTIONS BLOG

All hands on deck: the Petrie team welcome term
http://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/museums/2015/10/09/all-hands-on-deck-the-petrie-team-welcome-term/

ANCIENT ORIGINS

Analysis of Skeletons Reveals Harsh Punishment in Ancient Egypt
http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/analysis-skeletons-reveals-harsh-punishment-ancient-egypt-004178

NEW YORK TIMES

An Ancient Egyptian Show That’s Low on Bling but High on Beauty
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/10/09/arts/design/an-ancient-egyptian-show-thats-low-on-bling-but-high-on-beauty.html



Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Spear injuries show worker life in ancient Egypt

By Traci Watson, Special for USA TODAY

An ancient wall carving spells out the bloody punishment for stealing animal hides: 100 lashes and five wounds. Egyptologists have long wondered whether that was a literal description.

Now skeletons showing evidence of that sentence have been found in a humble cemetery in the ancient Egyptian capital of Amarna.

Five middle-aged men buried in Amarna's cemetery for commoners seem to have been stabbed in the shoulder blade by a spear, scientists report in the International Journal of Paleopathology.

The misdeeds and names of the five men are unknown. But the researchers do know that many people with such injuries can quickly get back go work – a benefit to bosses in a city employing legions of laborers in stone-finishing workshops and quarries.

The lives of the everyday folk at Amarna "were filled with hardships that included heavy labor and often dietary insufficiency," study author Gretchen Dabbs of Southern Illinois University says via email from Amarna, where she's examining more skeletons. "We know that life in this place was physically taxing. This is another example of that."

It took especially taxing toil to build Amarna, a desert capital constructed some 3,300 years ago and dedicated to the sun god Aten. A grand city of stone palaces and temples, Amarna rose hurriedly from the desert at the command of the "Heretic King" Akhenaten.

Monday, October 12, 2015

An Ancient Egyptian Show That’s Low on Bling but High on Beauty

By Holland Cotter
OCTOBER 8, 2015

Ancient Egypt is box office gold: Do a show, and people will come. Why? Mummies, Hollywood and Queen Nefertiti certainly contribute to its allure. Also, we tend to identify with Egyptians of thousands of years ago. In art, they look exotic, but not out of reach. They drank beer, collected cats, and wore flip-flops. They yearned to stay young and to live forever, with loved ones nearby and snack food piled high. Who can’t relate to that?

At the same time, they were foreign in ways we can barely imagine, ruled by kings they referred to as “junior gods,” and by gods who had power over all, but had to be flattered, pampered and fed. As for art, they had no word for it. What to us is gorgeous, to them was useful, a ticket to the other side, the life beyond.

Few institutions have done a better job at illuminating that art than the Metropolitan Museum. And it returns to the subject in “Ancient Egypt Transformed: The Middle Kingdom,” an exhibition notably low on King Tut bling and high on complex beauty. Opening on Monday, it’s a classic Met product. It assembles some 230 top-shelf objects from more than 30 international collections, with about a third from the Met itself, to tackle an impossibly broad and complicated piece of history.

Oddly, given its central place in Egypt’s past, the Middle Kingdom (circa 2030 to 1650 B.C.) has never had a comprehensive museum showcase till now. Maybe “middle” sounds unsexy, implies incomplete, in progress, unformed. But that wasn’t the case. The Middle Kingdom was a time of specific change and accomplishment. And in a sense what’s most distinctive about its art is precisely its in-between-ness, its demonstration, within a culture that wanted to believe otherwise, that all is flux; nothing is stable; the only reality is change.

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Museum Pieces - Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figure

Image © National Museums Scotland
Ptah-Sokar-Osiris figure

Museum reference
A.1911.259

Description
Figure of Ptah-Sokar-Osiris in wood coated with gesso and painted, on base with lotus flower and with crosspiece supporting two Uraeus topped standards: Ancient Egyptian, possibly from El Bersha, Ptolemaic Period, c. 332-30 BC

Production information
Unknown
ANCIENT EGYPT

Date
Ptolemaic Period

Materials
Wood

Collection place
El-Bersheh, ANCIENT EGYPT


Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Wednesday Weekly # 91

Welcome to the Wednesday Weekly, your weekly dose of links to Egyptology news, articles, blogs, events and more!


THE ANCIENT WORLD ONLINE


The Rosetta Stone online: A project in cooperation of the Excellence Cluster Topoi and the Institut für Archäologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2015/10/the-rosetta-stone-online-project-in.html

Open Access Journal: Egyptian Museum Newsletter

http://ancientworldonline.blogspot.nl/2010/03/open-access-journal-egyptian-museum.html

LUXOR TIMES

Rediscovering King Tut’s tomb in search for the truth

http://luxortimesmagazine.blogspot.nl/2015/10/rediscovering-king-tuts-tomb-in-search.html

Rediscovering King Tut’s tomb in search for the Lady
http://luxortimesmagazine.blogspot.nl/2015/10/rediscovering-king-tuts-tomb-in-search_1.html

Royal Chapel discovered in old Heliopolis ... more parts
http://luxortimesmagazine.blogspot.nl/2015/10/royal-chapel-discovered-in-old.html

ACROSSBORDERS

Reinforcement for the study of the New Kingdom prosopography of Sai

http://acrossborders.oeaw.ac.at/reinforcement-for-the-study-of-the-new-kingdom-prosopography-of-sai/

The 13th European Meeting on Ancient Ceramics (EMAC) in Athens
http://acrossborders.oeaw.ac.at/the-13th-european-meeting-on-ancient-ceramics-emac-in-athens/

AL-AHRAM WEEKLY

New discoveries in the Valley of the Kings?

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/News/13325/47/New-discoveries-in-the-Valley-of-the-Kings-.aspx

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ANIMAL BIO BANK

The future is looking very ‘green’ at Manchester Museum!

https://ancientegyptbiobank.wordpress.com/2015/09/29/the-future-is-looking-very-green-at-manchester-museum/

BEYOND BONES

Is Nefertiti still buried in Tutankhamun’s tomb? Archaeologists examine a new theory

http://blog.hmns.org/2015/10/is-nefertiti-still-buried-in-tutankhamuns-tomb-archaeologists-examine-a-new-theory/

THE CAIRO POST

Tut tomb may house Nefertiti

http://www.thecairopost.com/news/169664/culture/tut-tomb-may-house-nefertiti

Looted Egyptian figurine arrives from France
http://www.thecairopost.com/news/169727/culture/looted-egyptian-figurine-arrives-from-france

Egypt’s embassy in London restores smuggled pharaonic stele
http://www.thecairopost.com/news/169927/culture/egypts-embassy-in-london-restores-smuggled-pharaonic-stele

UK puts off export ban on Sekhemka statue till March 2016
http://www.thecairopost.com/news/169944/culture/uk-puts-off-export-ban-on-sekhemka-statue-till-march-2016

Ruins of ancient Egyptian temple unearthed under modern Cairo
http://www.thecairopost.com/news/170167/topnews/ruins-of-ancient-egyptian-temple-unearthed-under-modern-cairo

DAILY NEWS EGYPT

Ministry of Antiquities to perform radar tests on Tutankhamun’s Tomb

http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2015/10/04/ministry-of-antiquities-to-perform-radar-tests-on-tutankhamuns-tomb/

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN DEMONOLOGY PROJECT

‘Demon Things’ conference 2016 abstract: Sonja Gerke

http://www.demonthings.com/gerke-abstract/

‘Demon Things’ conference 2016 abstract: Amr Gaber
http://www.demonthings.com/demon-things-conference-2016-abstract-amr-gaber/

EGYPT AT THE MANCHESTER MUSEUM

Animal Mummies #2: Animals in the Ancient Egyptian landscape

https://egyptmanchester.wordpress.com/2015/09/30/animal-mummies-2-animals-in-the-ancient-egyptian-landscape/

Animal Mummies #3: Giving Gifts to the Gods in Ancient Egypt
https://egyptmanchester.wordpress.com/2015/10/01/animal-mummies-3-giving-gifts-to-the-gods-in-ancient-egypt/

Animal Mummies #4: Travellers, Collectors and Souvenirs
https://egyptmanchester.wordpress.com/2015/10/02/animal-mummies-4-travellers-collectors-and-souvenirs/

Animal Mummies #5: Seeing inside the wrappings
https://egyptmanchester.wordpress.com/2015/10/03/animal-mummies-5-seeing-inside-the-wrappings/

Animal Mummies #6: Making experimental mummies in Manchester
https://egyptmanchester.wordpress.com/2015/10/05/animal-mummies-6-making-experimental-mummies-in-manchester/

Animal Mummies #7: Micro-Encounters with Animal Mummies
https://egyptmanchester.wordpress.com/2015/10/06/animal-mummies-7-micro-encounters-with-animal-mummies/

AHRAM ONLINE

INTERVIEW: Nicholas Reeves '60% sure' ahead of Nefertiti announcement

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/151753/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/INTERVIEW-Nicholas-Reeves--sure-ahead-of-Nefertiti.aspx

Tutankhamun's treasures may have originally belonged to his stepmother
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/151817/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Tutankhamuns-treasures-may-have-originally-belonge.aspx

INTERVIEW: Egypt's antiquities minister speaks on the search for Nefertiti in Tutankhamun’s tomb
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/151933/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/INTERVIEW-Egypts-antiquities-minister-speaks-on-th.aspx

Parts of King Nakhtanebu I's shrine uncovered in Cairo
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/152055/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Parts-of-King-Nakhtanebu-Is-shrine-uncovered-in-Ca.aspx

Egypt recovers Stolen relief of King Seti I from London
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/152042/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Egypt-recovers-Stolen-relief-of-King-Seti-I-from-L.aspx\

EGYPTIANS

Egypt Under the Pharaohs
http://tim-theegyptians.blogspot.nl/2015/10/egypt-under-pharaohs.html

KELSEY MUSEUM

Ugly Object of the Month—October

https://kelseymuseum.wordpress.com/2015/10/06/ugly-object-of-the-month-october/

MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS

Cat, bird and crocodile mummies at Manchester Museum reveal the ancient secrets of Egyptian sacrifice
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/cat-bird-crocodile-mummies-manchester-10206985

NICKY VAN DE BEEK

Review: A year in the life of Ancient Egypt

http://nickyvandebeek.com/2015/10/review-a-year-in-the-life-of-ancient-egypt/

NILE MAGAZINE

It's A Queen - But Not The One We Think

http://www.nilemagazine.com.au/2015-september/2015/9/30/its-a-queen-but-not-the-one-we-think

The Man Who Saved The Empire
http://www.nilemagazine.com.au/2015-september/2015/10/4/the-man-who-saved-the-empire

Ancient Egypt's Biggest Party
http://www.nilemagazine.com.au/2015-october/2015/10/5/ancient-egypts-biggest-party

AMERICAN RESEARCH CENTER IN EGYPT

Fellowship Announced For An Egyptian Colleague
http://www.arce.org/news/2015/10/u164/fellowship-announced-for-an-egyptian-colleague

ANCIENT ORIGINS

Tutankhamun Death Mask was Made for Nefertiti, Archaeologist says
http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/tutankhamun-death-mask-was-made-nefertiti-archaeologist-says-004048

Serapis: God of Fertility and the Afterlife that United Greeks and Egyptians
http://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-africa/serapis-god-fertility-and-afterlife-united-greeks-and-egyptians-004084

Shrine dedicated to King Nectanebo I unearthed in Egypt
http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/shrine-dedicated-king-nectanebo-i-unearthed-egypt-004095

COLLECTING EGYPT...AND OTHER MUSINGS!

Selling Ancient Egypt
http://collectingegypt.blogspot.nl/2015/10/ancient-egypt-in-modern-world.html

SOUTH ASASIF CONSERVATION PROJECT

Conference: Thebes In The First Millennium B.C.
http://southasasif.com/conference2016



Monday, October 5, 2015

Ruins of ancient Egyptian temple unearthed under modern Cairo

By Rany Mostafa

CAIRO: Ruins of a 2,400 year-old shrine were unearthed from beneath Cairo’s modern district of Mataria, Antiquities Minister Mamdouh el-Damaty announced Monday.

“The finds were discovered during the ongoing excavation work carried out by an Egyptian-German archaeology mission. The shrine belonged to the 30th Dynasty Pharaoh Nectanebo I (379 B.C.-360 B.C.,)” said Damaty.

The mission also unearthed remains of limestone colonnade and a “well-preserved” ceiling that are strongly believed to have been a part of an ancient Egyptian temple, Damaty said, adding that ruins of the mud brick outer enclosure wall surrounded the temple, along with royal bust belonged to the New Kingdom (1580 B.C.-1080 B.C.) Pharaoh Merenptah, were also excavated in the area.

Nectanebo I was the founder of the 30th Dynasty: the last native Egyptian royal family to rule ancient Egypt before Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in 332 B.C., Archaeologist Sherif el-Sabban told The Cairo Post.

Archeology surveys carried out in Heliopolis have previously revealed prehistoric human settlements under this part of the modern city of Cairo, said Damaty.

Little remains of what was once one of the ancient Egyptians’ most sacred cities, since much of the stones used in the construction of the temples were later plundered and reused in building modern buildings, according to Sabban.

Heliopolis, known in ancient Egypt as Iunu, was Egypt’s most ancient capital city.

“The area was first excavated in the early 20th Century and most of the finds ended up in private collections. The obelisk of the Middle Kingdom Pharaoh Senusert I, probably the oldest standing obelisk in Egypt, is among the most significant excavations at the area,” according to Sabban.

Source: http://www.thecairopost.com/news/170167/topnews/ruins-of-ancient-egyptian-temple-unearthed-under-modern-cairo