The Ancient Egyptians decorated their temples, tombs, palaces and houses with scenes and texts. What the images represented and how they functioned within their architectural settings was the subject of a recent lecture by Janice Kamrin, Egyptological consultant to the Supreme Council of Antiquities, at the American Research Center.
Kamrin raised some interesting questions. Were these scenes symbolic, as well as representing aspects of daily life? Did they allude to the maintenance of the cosmic order, the repelling of chaos, and to fertility, virility and regeneration?
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The traditional explanation for the choice of subjects -- to repeat in the afterlife the most memorable experiences of life on earth -- has never been entirely convincing, mainly because although the scenes differ from one tomb to another, and no two tombs are alike, there is a notable lack in all of them of certain scenes that one might expect in family life; also a noticeable lack of certain foods on offering tables known to have existed in ancient times.
Viewing what she described as "a complex tapestry of scenes and texts", Kamrin pondered on how they were chosen, what purpose they served, and whether they were arranged in specific patterns or just put randomly onto the walls. "There is no question that the Egyptians were very deliberate in their choice and placement of scenes," she stressed. "These choices were vital to them -- they ensured no less than their own eternal life and happiness and that of their dependents. I believe," she said -- and here was her hypothesis -- "that they were also chosen to contribute their part to the proper functioning of the entire cosmos."
Long article, but definitely worth reading.
In Astoria, cooking the way the ancients did
Museums and books tell the story of how Egyptians lived 5,000 years ago, but Ali El Sayed has another way of telling those stories.
He cooks.
A while back, El Sayed, chef- owner of tiny Kabab Cafe on Steinway Street in Astoria, adopted a "victual mummy" of a goose. That's not virtual, but victual, as in something to eat in the afterlife.
The mummy, found in the tomb of the fan bearer Maherpri in Thebes, is in the Cairo Museum. El Sayed first saw Maherpri's goose in Cairo. But here, he proudly displays a photograph of it on the wall of his cozy cafe, which is filled to overflowing with beautiful objects and treasured things that reflect the owner's eclectic interests. One such is a handcrafted wall hanging - there is no room on the wall, so it covers a bench - of three geese, copied from a papyrus.
Sudan’s ancient Pyramids bait for hardy tourists
MEROE, Sudan - Think of ancient Pyramids - think of Egypt. Think again.
Some 1,300 kilometres (810 miles) south of Cairo and looming over the east bank of the river Nile, Sudan’s dozens of pyramids peek over the horizon, completely untouched by modern commercialism.
Sudan is better known as the location of Africa’s longest civil war than a holiday hotspot, but with a peace deal on the cards in the south, more tourists are visiting its monuments.
Unlike their larger Egyptian counterparts in Giza where a stream of hawkers greets visitors and fast food restaurants face the Sphinx, visitors can find themselves utterly alone with the Royal Pyramids of Meroe.
Interview with Stephen Harvey, Director of the Oriental Institute Abydos Project
Some fascinating stuff on various Egyptology personalities and the interesting details of working in Egypt.
Serious scholarly link Online thesis: Sherine M. ElSebaie, The Destiny of the World: A
Study on The End of The Universe in The Light of Ancient Egyptian Texts
Kind of a big PDF file so only click on it if you have a fast connection. I vouch for nothing regarding the content of said thesis, but it may be of interest.
Booty alert! An Egyptian Princess of the Amarna Period in Bolton
This kind of representation is very typical of the Amarna period. No one knows why, but theories offerred have run the gamut from a genetic disease to homosexuality to some sort of religious impulse. The latest (?) entrant is Marfan's syndrome.