PROGRAMME 2017/2018
Saturday 16th September 2017
Subject: "Tomb Security in Ancient Egypt from the Predynastic to the Pyramid Age"
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Speaker: Dr Reg Clark
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Preceded by the AGM
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Until now, most scholarly Egyptological discussions of tomb security in ancient Egypt were brief and mostly included only as part of a larger work. Elsewhere, the topic is usually the subject of lurid speculation and fantasy in novels, the popular press and cinema. In this lecture, Dr Reg Clark, of Swansea University, traced some of the main developments in the architecture and security of both royal and private tombs from the early pit burials in Predynastic Period up until the early Fourth Dynasty pyramids and mastabas. Within that framework he considered whether many of the familiar architectural elements that are found in Egyptian tombs were in fact the result of the need to protect the tomb, rather than the consequence of monumental or religious considerations. He also stated that the pyramid itself could in fact be about being the greatest possible mass and ‘footprint’ to cover and protect the entrance to the tombs.
Reg’s approach that the architectural developments were not just reflecting the status of the pharaohs and private individuals - they were also prompted by the desire to protect both their remains and their funerary goods for eternity - gave us much food for thought.
It was an original and interesting re-look at the funerary monuments, and one which we enjoyed very much indeed.
Saturday 14th October 2017
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Subject: "The Egyptian Labyrinth: A Middle Kingdom Enigma"
Speaker: Dylan Bickerstaffe
Beginning with the Greek and Roman writers Dylan explained where the belief in a ‘Labyrinth’ arose; linking it interestingly back to Knossos and other nearby sites and cultures. These writers were seemingly adamant that The Labyrinth was Egypt’s greatest wonder; as Herodotus said – ‘surpassing even the pyramids’. However, if that was the case, what sort of building was it, who built it, and why? In the modern era, it had vanished so completely that several explorers, including the Belzoni, failed to find it. Being so vast, so comprehensively written about in ancient times, yet almost entirely lost, no wonder it holds so much fascination today. Dylan traced the ‘rediscovery’ of the Labyrinth, and the excavations and finds made on the site at Hawara, not far from the pyramid of the 12th dynasty Pharaoh Amenemhat III, and the attempts by Petrie and others to reconstruct the form of this unique building. That was almost certainly not a labyrinth at all, but was in fact a 60,000 sq metre Temple Complex of Amenemhat lll. We were shown how modern research has thrown light on the problem, and clues which may be found in surprising, yet familiar places.
Dylan’s talk was comprehensive, detailed and very interesting indeed, however, after raising as many questions as answers, it left us wanting to ‘know yet more of the truth and facts behind the fabled Egyptian Labyrinth’!
Saturday 11th November 2017
Subject: "Ancient Egypt - New Stories" - Taunton Literary Festival
Speaker: Prof Joann Fletcher
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Joann Fletcher came to Taunton to present a lecture as part of the Taunton Literary Festival. It was a very well supported event, the venue was very good and full of many enthusiastic fans and attentive listeners – and it proved to be a terrific day!
Joann gave a lively and fascinating talk; based on her latest book, she started with the very early rock-paintings in Egypt from around 20,000 ago, and finished in the final days of the empire. Through the talk she included many extra enjoyable ‘nuggets’; such as the fact that Montuhotep’s wife bit her nails, Ramesses II had a penchant for dying his hair, and the farmer Baki liked eating in bed.
She was relaxed, humorous and down-to-earth and it all went towards creating a great presentation! Joann was friendly and informative, and very generous with her time and knowledge; The Q and A’s could have gone on all day; and her book signing was a great success.
The Egyptian Society Taunton were very pleased when Joann agreed to come to Taunton and we were not in any way disappointed; and the committee of of EST enjoyed its own moment in the limelight, before the camera with Joann.
Thank you, Joann, for coming to Taunton! Thank you, EST, for booking Joann and co-hosting the day; and thank you, Brendon Books, who staged the event and who along with EST, created such a great day in Taunton!
The lecture took place at 2pm on Saturday 11th November 2017 and was held at St James Church, St James Street, Taunton. The event was organised in conjunction with the Literary Festival run by Brendon Books in Taunton.
Saturday 9th December 2017
Subject: "Reflections on Queen Tiye"
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Speaker: Dr. Robert Morkot University of Exeter
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Amenhotep III’s Great Royal Wife is one of the most prominent of Egyptian Queens; what do we know about her and her role in this most important of reigns? The talk considered the temples built for her and her iconography which continued to influence images of queens in succeeding dynasties.
Christmas Lecture and Society Party
Saturday 10th February 2018
Subject: "Theban Harbours and Waterscapes Survey: New Discoveries and Challenges in Mapping the Changing Nile Floodplain at Thebes"
Speaker: Kris Strutt
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Textual and archaeological resources show that the Nile has migrated across the floodplain over the last 4000 years; changing its relationship with temple and harbour sites on both banks. Using
geophysical and topographic survey methods and borehole surveys the project investigates the
changing pattern of waterways and related building complexes, assessing how the landscape
functioned through time. Results of the project have revealed a complex record of changing channel migration; and a relationship between the temples of the West Bank; the proximity of ancient channels of the Nile. This presentation will outline the survey methodology, some of the latest results, and reflect on some of the methodological challenges revealed by the project.
Saturday 10th March 2018
Subject: "Art for the Afterlife: Tomb Paintings in the British Museum"
Speaker: Lucia Gahlin
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The Ancient Egyptian élite of the New Kingdom (c1550 – 1069 BC) had elaborate scenes painted on the walls of their rock cut tombs on the West Bank at Luxor. These portray their idea of paradise, and how they hoped to be remembered and sustained for eternity. Magic and art combined to create a sacred space for rebirth into the ‘Other World’.
Lucia will help you unravel the meaning of these colourful tomb paintings. We will establish how
these extremely fine examples of ancient Egyptian art came to reside in the British Museum, and we will explore their content to discover the themes found in non-royal funerary art of the New Kingdom.
Please note - the lecture takes place at The Devon Archaeological Society, Berkeley House, Dix's Field, Exeter
Saturday 14th April 2018
Subject: "Mummies of the Manchester Museum"
Speaker: Dr. Campbell Price
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Manchester Museum holds some 20 mummies and coffins. This lecture presents the latest research on aspects of this collection for our understanding of ancient Egyptian expectations about the afterlife.
PLEASE NOTE - CHANGE OF SPEAKER
Saturday 12th May 2018
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Subject: "Digital Saqqara—a new view of the Late Period/Early Ptolemaic sacred animal landscape of North Saqqara"
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Speaker: Scott Williams
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The archaeological remains at North Saqqara have a history of use dating back over 5000 years, and the site represents the principal necropolis of Memphis, once the capital of ancient Egypt. Late in Egypt’s ancient history, during the Late (747-332BC) and Ptolemaic (332-30BC) Periods, the necropolis served not only for human burials, but the northern area of the site became a nexus for the burials of millions of sacred animals. Detailed research has been undertaken on the sacred animal funerary installations, often in isolation, but the wider sacred landscape has been overlooked. To redress this situation, this talk will examine the relationship between the sacred animal monuments, the topography and their place in the sacred landscape, made possible through the application of 3D digital technologies.
Saturday 9th June 2018
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Subject: "Female Pharaohs"
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Speaker: Dr Aidan Dodson
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During the history of ancient Egypt, four women are known to have assumed the full titles of a king – Sobekneferu, Hatshepsut, Neferneferuaten and Tawosret. In this presentation we examine their careers and explore the reasons for their assumption of the normally-male office of king.