This event will present new perspectives on some of the most well-known sites and discoveries from Egypt. Our presentations will use virtual technology, contemporary accounts, and recent archaeological discoveries to reconstruct the spatial, physical, and environmental experiences of these sites. Join us to appreciate these magnificent monuments and architectural achievements in a whole new light.
Thank you for joining the EES this summer.
Schedule
12:50 Event opens for all attendees
13:00–14:00 From Herodotus to Petrie: Reliving the Marvels of the Ancient Hawara Labyrinth, Professor Mohamed Gamal Abdelmonem
14:00–15:00 The Islamic History of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, Professor Doris Behrens-Abouseif
15:00–15:30 Discussion
15:30–16:00 Refreshment Break (please do not log off the event if online)
16:00–17:00 The Valley of the Kings – Its Life and Afterlife, Dr Nicholas Brown
17:00–18:00 The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Professor Bettany Hughes
18:00–18:30 Discussion
Event closes for online attendees
18:30–20:00 Wine reception
Event closes for in-person attendees
Recordings of the live lectures will be made available to attendees for one month after the event.
Abstracts
From Herodotus to Petrie: Reliving the Marvels of the Ancient Hawara Labyrinth, Professor Mohamed Gamal Abdelmonem
Known to many in Victorian Britain as the home of the Fayoum Portraits or Flanders Petrie's key discoveries, to the Greeks, it was that ancient marvel that surpassed all ancient structures, according to Herodotus, and must be visited. The Ancient Hawara Pyramid and Labyrinth site is a mortuary and pyramid site in the south-eastern Fayum region of Egypt, about 80km south of Cairo. Hawara's artefacts are displayed in more than 36 leading world museums across many countries in North America, Europe and Asia. Through comprehensive surveys, architectural analysis and virtual technology, Professor Abdelmonem will bring multiple layers of histories, collections, and spatial connections together in an interactive and visionary manner. This lecture introduces a novel approach to reuniting the site's historical narratives with its collections by reconstructing the spatial, physical, and environmental experiences of the site in a way that takes advantage of virtual reconstruction, remote sensing, and mobile technology.
The Islamic History of the Lighthouse of Alexandria, Professor Doris Behrens-Abouseif
The lighthouse of Alexandria has a turbulent Islamic history. It was first built by Alexander's successor Ptolemy Philadelphus (286-246 BCE) and designed by the architect Sosastros of Cnidus. The lighthouse shone over the harbour of Alexandria until the early-14th century. EES President Doris Behrens-Abouseif will reconsider and reevaluate significant Arabic texts regarding the lighthouse in the period between the Arab conquest and its collapse. She will focus on contemporary accounts and testimony to present the history and architectural transformation of the lighthouse under Muslim rule.
The Valley of the Kings – Its Life and Afterlife, Dr Nicholas Brown
The Valley of the Kings is arguably one of the most famous archaeological sites in Egypt. For nearly five hundred years, the area was used by the kings of Egypt, their family members, and certain elite courtiers as a sacred necropolis during the New Kingdom (ca. 1550-1069 BCE). This presentation provides an overview of the site's use, history, and development over time.
The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Professor Bettany Hughes
The Seven Wonders of the World were staggeringly audacious impositions on our planet. Now, only the pyramid remains virtually intact, yet the scale and majesty of these Seven Wonders still enthral us today. Based on her latest bestselling publication, award-winning historian Bettany Hughes will walk through the landscapes of both ancient and modern time; on a journey whose purpose is to ask why we wonder, why we create, why we choose to remember the wonder of others. During this study day, she will focus on the two wonders of Egypt: the Great Pyramid at Giza and the Lighthouse of Alexandria.