Edition - May, 2012
Editorial – Journal Edition 4 / Magazine Edition 6
Once again we are publishing in both the Egyptological Journal and the Egyptological Magazine. As usual the Journal contains a small number of academic articles. Etienne Vande Walle, a former President of the Brussel’s Court of Instance has contributed a number of previous articles combining his deep knowledge of legal systems with considerable personal research […] [more…]
Egyptologically Speaking ~ An Interview with Dr. Nadine Moeller
Tracking Dr Nadine Moeller’s professional path in Egyptology takes one into the rarefied atmosphere of some of the best Ancient History Departments in the world. Moeller’s career has taken her from the University of Heidelberg, in her native Germany, to the University of Cambridge where she earned her PhD in Egyptology and Archaeology, and where her interest in Tell Edfu began. From Cambridge, Moeller held the Lady Wallis Budge Junior Research fellowship at the University of Oxford where she was also granted the Tell Edfu concession, initiating the most recent phase of excavation at this ancient provincial town (located midway between modern Luxor and Aswan in Upper Egypt). [more…]
Ancient Egyptian Religion, Part 6 — Art for Eternity
Part 1 of this series set forth the foundation principles of Egyptian religion as cosmic order (maat), duality, and divine magic (heka), which we saw expressed in tomb architecture in Part 5. Now in Part 6 we will continue our exploration of the tomb, looking for evidence of those concepts as they are expressed in art. [more…]
By Brian Alm
Arthur Cruttenden Mace – Taking His Rightful Place, Part 1
“You see my father was an Egyptologist, you won’t know of him, Arthur Mace, he’s long forgotten.” These words were softly spoken by Margaret Orr, the daughter of Arthur Mace to a group of school children in 1989. In this article, I will show that this is, sadly, an accurate statement regarding the general public’s lack of knowledge regarding Arthur Maces contributions to the field of Egyptology and more specifically to the science of artifact preservation. But why? [more…]
By Garry Beuk
Review. Bill Manley, Egyptian Hieroglyphs for Complete Beginners. 2012
Bill Manley, well known for the surprising best seller How To Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs that he co-authored with Mark Collier, (generally known simply as “Collier and Manley”) has produced a new book for those who are planning to learn hieroglyphs for the first time. The Preface, as well as the book’s title, makes it clear that Dr Manley is aiming at the complete beginner with this book [more…]
Review: Memphis Under the Pharaohs (Dorothy L Thompson)
I was looking forward to reading the second edition of Memphis Under the Ptolemies by Dorothy Thompson. There is an allure, almost a mystique, to Memphis. I wanted to say I enjoyed the book. Sadly I cannot. It became something of a chore, but one rewarded by a great chapter later in the book. An unexpected treasure. Many other reviewers have considered the book in the context of its standing as an academic work. Most students and scholars are likely to have access to the book through their faculty library. In approaching my own review I have therefore considered it more from the viewpoint of enthusiastic amateurs or distance learning students who do not have access to a specialist library. [more…]
The new Ancient Egypt and Sudan galleries at the Ashmolean, Oxford
The Ashmolean Museum, a neoclassical edifice built by Sir Charles Cockerel in 1845, has invested both money and creativity in a refurbishment of the entire museum and art gallery. The effect, bright and open, a sympathetic blending of old architecture and new design, is inviting and attractive. The Ancient Egypt and Sudan galleries were the last to receive the modernization treatment. Costing over £5 million and designed by Richard Mather, they were re-opened in November 2011. [more…]
Was Egypt the First Nation State?
By Kate Phizackerley and Michelle Low. Published on Egyptological, Magazine Articles, Edition 6, May 31st 2012 Editorial (Kate Phizackerley) Was Pharaonic Egypt a nation state? This is not a new question but it is hard to answer for a variety of reasons, including: the context of the question is rooted in a modern concept (nation-state); […] [more…]
By Kate Phizackerley and Michelle Low
Colloquium Overview: Recent Archaeological Fieldwork in Sudan
By Patricia Spencer. The 2012 all-day colloquium of the Sudan Archaeological Research Society (http://www.sudarchrs.org.uk/) was held in the Stevenson Auditorium of the British Museum on Monday 14 May. This annual event concentrates on presenting up-to-the-minute reports of archaeological fieldwork, both that carried out by SARS itself and by other expeditions, British, Sudanese and from elsewhere, working in Sudan. [more…]