AWOL - The Ancient World Online: Brooklyn Museum Publications: Titles with full-text online

Check this blog of a list of FREE publications
AWOL - The Ancient World Online: Brooklyn Museum Publications: Titles with full-text online: ...You’ve probably noticed that a lot of the content on the Brooklyn Museum website is licensed under a Creative Commons non-commercial attribution license. HathiTrust now offers that option to rights holders. It was a natural for us to jump in and offer pre-1990 Brooklyn Museum and Brooklyn Institute publications under CC terms, too. More recent books will come online gradually, as they go out of print and the stock dwindles (yes, we still want to sell books). And books that we co-published are going to take some legwork to acquire permission from partners...

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Book review: A woman from Upper Egypt - Review - Books - Ahram Online

Book review: A woman from Upper Egypt - Review - Books - Ahram Online: Awatef Abdel-Rahman presents one of the most important testimonies of over 70 years of political and social life in Egypt, especially given that it's told by a woman in a male-dominated society.

Abdel-Rahman was born in the early 1940s (she never states exactly what year), and is a professor at the University of Mass Media. She received various Egyptian and Arab awards for her work in media and published over 30 books, mostly on journalism and media.

The author's youth takes up a significant portion of her consciousness, and in the book, it is recalled with much ease and flow, including many rare details of life in the little village hugged by the western mountain in Assiut. In her own words:

"This period (following the annual flood) is considered among the few delightful periods in our lives, for it was filled with night visits, when the women and children would go, guarded by the servants, to the Nile, after the evening prayers, and stay till dawn….

We would go for mountain trips, waking in the early morning before the sun rises, with servants carrying baskets of food and fruits."

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Diary of the Dwarf of Pepy II (spoof)

Diary of the Dwarf of Pepy II (spoof):

My parents are really pleased, I have got a job, me a dwarf, has got a really prestigious job which will bring honour and respect to my parents. To say we are over the moon is to only say half of it. I am going to be trained up in dance, the traditional dances of the land of spirits which is what we call our country. It is a great day for the family.

The job is going really well and I am getting quite a reputation as the best dancer in the troupe. It is great for me because the dances are perfect for a dwarf so I look really good when we perform. WE have some visiting dignitary from Egypt coming and they want me to do a special dance for him.

Harkhuf the envoy from Egypt wants to meet with me, says he is going to make me an offer I can’t refuse. I wonder what on earth he wants. He was certainly impressed with my special dance, and so he should be I really made look special, of course the feathers helped.

OMG can you believe it, they want me to go to Egypt, well apparently the current king is quite young and Harkhuf knows he lovers unusual entertainment. Poor little mite is only 9, came to the throne when he was 6 so not a lot of fun in his life. They have suggested I move to Egypt, mum and dad will get well taken care off for the rest of their lives. Who would have thought that I would be the one to look after them? Everyone said I would be a problem and worry to them. But look how it has turned out. We are going to travel to elephantine which is where Harkhuf is based.

When we got to elephantine Harkhuf wrote to the king telling him about me. The king Pepy II has gone completely mad about me apparently, he loves the idea. I am pretty excited too but apparently he wants me to be given special care whatever that means.

I am going stark staring mad, this stupid boy is making my life hell. Ok he is king but seriously didn’t anyone think to give him some advice.

1) I have to have some with me 24 hours a day

2) All through the night some checks on me every hour

3) All my food is checked and tasted

4) I can’t do this and I can’t do that

5) Somebody sleeps beside me

6) When I am awake in case I fall in the water they have two people, one each side all the time!

Harkhuf is sure this is going to result in a big reward for him, the kings letter is so excited and as long as he gets me there safe and in good condition then it is going to be like winning the lottery. But what about me, it is so humiliating to be treated like this.

Finally we reach Pepy II and it was just like Harkhuf said, he got a fat reward, he is going to spend some of the money on his tomb and have the letter inscribed on the tomb. These Egyptians are OBESSED about preparing for the afterlife. Their tomb is so important to them. I swear they spend more money on their tomb than their house. Anyway I get presented to the king and he is just like any 9 year old, he loves the dance, especially the feathers and makes me do it again and again. He says I look just like Bes

Now I live at the palace and I really like it but even the king spend more on death than life. He s building a pyramid to be buried in, for heaven’s sake he is only 9 and he looks like he could live until 100. Still I suppose if he wants to he can afford it. They want me to have a tomb but I told them it is not our custom and I would prefer to spend money on living. They think I am completely mad of course, but then I think they are so we are quits.

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Reposting of and updated foreword to "This Is Whom You Fear"

Reposting of and updated foreword to "This Is Whom You Fear": From Doug Baum, posted on Facebook.  A though provoking and sensitive comment by an American who loves the Middle East.

"Last week, while working with our family's camels in Colorado, I met Wasem Mussmari and his wife, Kirby. I welcomed the Denver residents into my Bedouin goat hair tent I'd set up as part of our display representing Lawrence and the Arab Revolt of 1917. After some good conversation, Wasem invited me to visit his family anytime in their home. In Benghazi. At the time, none of us could know that Wasem's home country, Libya, and the US would be thrust into the headlines only days later. Last night, on FB, I asked Wasem if he could offer some thoughts on the situation in Libya..................." Please the full note

http://www.facebook.com/notes/doug-baum/reposting-of-and-updated-foreword-to-this-is-whom-you-fear/427507820619802 Full Note

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The Surprising History of Egypt with Terry Jones - YouTube

Great video to learn about ordinary Egyptians in the time of the pharaohs, the kids will love it.   


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Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation | The Griffith Institute | 90th Anniversary of the Discovery

The 90th anniversary of the discovery is almost upon us. For those unable to visit in person have a look at this wonderful resource.

Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation | The Griffith Institute: Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation

Tutankhamun: Anatomy of an Excavation is the definitive archaeological record for Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon's discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun.

On November 5th 1922, Howard Carter wrote in his pocket diary: 'Discovered tomb under tomb of Ramsses VI investigated same & found seals intact.' The subsequent excavation of the tomb of Tutankhamun captured the public imagination. The complete records were deposited in the Griffith Institute Archive shortly after Carter's death.

Our aim in publishing this material online is to provide an essential resource for scholars, school children and interested adults alike. This demanding project has taken 15 years and has been directed by the Keeper of the Archive, Dr Jaromir Malek.

If you are able to visit in person why not stay with us at Flats in Luxor www.flatsinluxor.co.uk and we can help you visit

• the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of Kings
• the house Carter lived in while he excavated
• various treasures from the tomb on display in Luxor Museum
• the depiction of the Opet fesitval Tutankhamen inscribed at Luxor Temple
• the restoration stele at Karnak temple originally belonging to Tutankhamen
• the portrait statue of Tuankhamun and his wife Ankhesamum

Yes there is plenty to see of Luxor's most famous son
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Extracts from Imhotep’s Diary (spoof)

Extracts from Imhotep’s Diary (spoof): The great King Khasekhemwy has died and my master Djoser has become the living Horus. I wonder what this new age will being for us. I want to make sure that Djoser’s name will never be forgotten. We have buried Khasekhemwy in his funerary complex at Abydos; it gave me a chance to have a good look round. The complex is large and built of mud brick as is customary, I have had some wonderful ideas about what Djoser’s would look like but first I have an idea about where it should be.



Djoser has agreed, I am so excited, we are going to leave Abydos, and Khasekhemwy’s complex will not be pulled down like others in the past. Only one complex should be in Abydos and that is exactly what will happen because we are going to build at Sakkara. It is a much better place, more central to Egypt. Abydos is becoming a religious backwater with no room for new ideas and I have some great ideas about the new funerary complex. Of course it is going to bigger than Khasekhemwy’s but much more than that. I looked round at Abydos and lots of the previous kings have used stone to build part of their monument but what about if we build it all of stone! I know lots of people are saying I am off my head but I reckon it could be done. Djoser agrees with me so we are going to give it a go.


I have found the best site at Sakkara and started marking it out. There will only be one entrance but lots of false doors and it will look exactly like the kings palace. I have decided there will be a row of pillars as you go in. Of course these can’t be free standing they would never take the weight, so I am going to have buttresses to the walls and that should make sure the roof stays up. There will be statues of the king and when you exit at the end it will be into a blaze of sunshine into the great court.



The king is still going to need to rule so we can have copies of the all the government buildings, but in stone. Everything will be copied exactly, right down ropes, tree branches, and mat doorways.

I have started work on the mastaba but there is something not quite right. It looks dwarfed by the walls and government buildings. I need to come up with a solution to make it the most impressive part of the complex. Perhaps another level would do it.



Well we put up another level but still it does not impress like I wanted it to. I think we need to go up further.



Now it looks daft, ok it is higher than the rest but the proportions are wrong and not what I had in mind at all. I am going to have to sort this out. Still the underground passages look great. I have found this faience worker who produces the greatest tiles ever. I am so pleased. They are nearly all the same colour and the quality is perfect. We are going to supply him with some apprentices as we are going to need a lot more.



Solved the mastaba problem, we are going to extend it out and upwards. To make it 6 layers and a much better proportion. It is going to be a stairway where the spirit of Djoser can ascend to the heavens. It will dominate the complex and also be visible outside much more regal. I am really pleased with it.





The king has celebrated his Heb Sed and blow me if he didn’t say ‘Imhotep I am going to need a Heb Sed court in the complex’. Where the heck am I going to fit that in?

Phew found room for the Heb Sed court and it looks like it was always planned there, neat. I am really pleased with it. We finished the serdab as well and got a fantastic statue of the king with the most amazing rock crystal eyes. When you look through the slit it is just like looking at Djoser himself. The king came on site today and even he was amazed. He kept trying to open dummy doors; he couldn’t believe we had done it all out of stone. He told me ‘Imhotep I bet you get remembered for this’ and he promised me he would commission a statue of me. I am dead chuffed I can tell you.

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Jane in Egypt 1979 - My First Visit

8th September Queens and Nobles 

This was a short trip. We crossed the Nile to the West Bank and then took a bus to the valley. Visited the tomb of Kahmoses or Amon Hir Khopstep No 55 This prince died too young to make it to the valley of kings. The tomb is in very good condition; the reliefs are very large and mostly show the prince being introduced to various deities by his father. He has the lock of hair on the side of the head. This tomb was found empty. Then went to his mummy Queen Titi no 52. The style is very similar but has been attacked unfortunately and is now badly damaged. 

I am stunned by this comment ‘his mummy’ at that time there was nothing to identify who this queen was, indeed she was only recently identified in 2010 and yes she was Ramses III’s wife. I checked with Aidan Dobson who was one of the authors of the article identifying her and yes she could well have been this princes mother. So how did the guide know that back in 1979? That is definitely odd. Was it a local legend, something the guide came out with or just a popular belief. Any way it was right. Please take especial note of the first house in the photo of the valley of nobles; this was the house of a man that works for me now! Little Mohammed took one look and shouted, "That me house".

Figure 58 Valley of Nobles (Mohammed’s House)  

 

Figure 58 Valley of Nobles

Then on to the noble Nakht No 52, he was astronomer and royal scribe in the reign of Tuthmosis III or IV, books differ. This is the famous tomb with the blind harper, dancing girls, cat eating fish under chair. Also offerings of ducks, grain, corn on the cob etc Figure 59 Nakht Tomb of Minatum no 87 then Ramose no 55. Vizier in the reign of Amenhotep III then IV then Rekhmire which shows scenes of workmen smelting gold, furniture making.

Figure 60 Ramose 

In the evening we went and saw Luxor temple, some obvious Roman parts. Tutankhamen restored a lot of this. It was originally built by Amenhotep III; one obelisk from the front is in the Place de Concord. Saw birth chapel and some talatat with Aten sun rays. What a contrast between Ramses II columns and Amenhotep III

Figure 61 Luxor Temple

In the evening we went and saw Luxor temple, some obvious Roman parts. Tutankhamen restored a lot of this. It was originally built by Amenhotep III; one obelisk from the front is in the Place de Concord. Saw birth chapel and some talatat with Aten sun rays. What a contrast between Ramses II columns and Amenhotep III 

Mohammed, Monica’s friend took us for a drink, he has been trying to see her all the time we have been here.

I am being bitten alive by mosquitoes. 

Yes even back then Egyptian men were trying to chat up lady tourists, this Mohammed must have been a bit surprised to invite one lady for a drink and to find her chaperoned by 5 other ladies. Monica was not stupid! The mosquitoes really did have a go at me, I had huge bites everywhere

Events planned for Naguib Mahfouz memorial - Books - Ahram Online Luxor 18th Sept

One of my favourite authors and there is going to be seminar in Luxor.   

Events planned for Naguib Mahfouz memorial - Books - Ahram Online:

Tuesday, 18 Sept, 7:00pm

Seminar: Naguib Mahfouz Pharaohs.

Place: Luxor Culture Palace.

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Gurob Harem Palace Project

I attended this conference on my recent UK trip and they have now published the results on the website.

Gurob Harem Palace Project: Gurob Harem Palace Project Conference 2012
The 2012 Gurob Harem Palace Project Conference, which was organised jointly with the University of Liverpool Ancient Worlds Summer School, took place at the University of Liverpool on Sunday 29 July 2012.

Please see below for abstracts of all papers presented.
Programme

The latest news from our 2012 fieldwork – Ian Shaw (University of Liverpool)
Recording the 2011-12 looting at Gurob – Anna Hodgkinson (University of Liverpool)
Gleanings from Gurob: Reinvestigation and Redisplay at the Manchester Museum – Dr Campbell Price (Curator of Egypt & Sudan, Manchester Museum)
Gurob’s trade with the Aegean – Dr Valentina Gasperini (University of Bologna)
Faience bowls and amulets at Gurob – Dr Tine Bagh (Curator, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen)
Culture of Beauty in an Egyptian Palace – Dr Ole Herslund (University of Copenhagen)
Queen Mary's Spoon? – Jan Picton and Ivor Pridden (University College London);
Objects in focus in the Garstang Museum – studying Gurob-related objects.

A detailed report on the conference by Andrea Byrnes can be read on Egyptological.com.

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The tomb of Ankhtifi by Kate Gingell and Tayeb Hassan

The tomb of Ankhtifi by Kate Gingell and Tayeb Hassan: - Sent using Google Toolbar 

One of my favourite tombs and just a short drive from Luxor, you actually buy the tickets at Luxor temple

Buy my award winning dissertation e-book or printed

My dissertation, Breasts - Sexy, Sacred or Secular got the award for the best year 4 dissertation at Manchester Uni and if you want to buy it I have it available either as a printed version Breasts: Sexy, Sacred or Secular? by Jane Akshar (Paperback) — Lulu: or an e-book Breasts: Sexy, Sacred or Secular? by Jane Akshar (e-book)

The Dummies Guide to Reading Hieroglyphics

Ok this is my personal insight about learning glyphs, this is not addressed to those clever clogs who are linguists or even to these people that understand English grammar terminology and know about the past participle but to the rest of us that wouldn’t know a grammatically term if it slapped us in the face with a wet kipper.

You are not trying to learn Ancient Egyptian

You are not trying to learn 1000’s or even 100’s of signs

Even professors can't draw artistic glyphs

Most ancient Egyptian texts contain certain phrases and words that are repeated from tomb to tomb to tomb

What you are trying to learn is what certain stock phrases look like, and the transliteration. All transliteration is a way of writing glyphs using the alphabet with some dots and dashes, some people haven’t even got the dots and dashes and will use a standard QWERTY keyboard and it works.

So imagine going round an old graveyard and you don’t speak English but you have been told what the signs look like. So you look for

• ·         REST IN PEACE
• ·         BELOVED WIFE
• ·         GODS LITTLE ANGEL

You find those and you can read them, not because you know English but because that is the kind of phrase you find in a graveyard. So learn these set phrases and you can read a tomb, stele etc. Of course there will be bits that aren’t set phrases but over 90% will be and you have to learn that RIP means Rest in Peace but that is it. On the course I was on we were taught grammar on the third day and it scared the life out of me but I found if I just ignored it and tried to do the exercise without thinking I got a pretty good result. So buy Collier and Manley, read the grammar bits, then forget them and do the exercises, you will be amazed how much you can do.

Palaeopathology Workshop (KNH Centre for Egyptology - The University of Manchester)

Palaeopathology Workshop (KNH Centre for Egyptology - The University of Manchester): Palaeopathology Workshop
Body 89/686 from Koshtamna (Firth 1912)
August 29th-30th 2012

A workshop to be held at The Natural History Museum (London), organised by The Natural History Museum and the KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology, The University of Manchester, as part of a joint project funded by The Wellcome Trust.

The first Archaeological Survey of Nubia published its final report just over 100 years ago, drawing to a close one of the largest set of palaeopathological investigations ever carried out. The human remains from this and other such studies during the last century have granted us incredible insights into the lives and deaths of the ancient Nubians and their neighbours to the north, the Egyptians. The skeletons and mummies of these two great civilisations have also helped drive the development of palaeopathology as a discipline. To celebrate this centenary, we invite you to attend a workshop to learn about and discuss the past work, present research, and future direction of human and animal palaeopathology in this region.

The workshop will include plenary lectures by:

Prof Don Brothwell, The University of York

Dr Derek Welsby, The British Museum

Prof Albert Zink, EURAC

Prof Rosalie David, The University of Manchester

A public lecture will also be given by Prof. Michael Zimmerman from Villanova University on the evening of the 28th August, with tickets for workshop attendees included free of charge.

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Breasts - Sexy, Sacred or Secular my dissertation on Ancient Egypt now for sale

My dissertation has been marked, and I got some great comments, so now I can sell it. It is called Breasts - Sexy, Sacred or Secular and it explores the Ancient Egyptian attitude towards the breast and the conclusion was not what I expected at all. :)

I did analysis of love poetry, pornographic papyrus and graffiti. I looked at the portrayal of the breast in art, both 2-D and 3-D.  Goddesses, both tree and cow, suckling Pharaohs and the dead. Breast cancer was explored as well as the use of wet nurses.And I didn’t leave out the men either, man boobs get looked at! The most interesting thing I learned was the impact of breast feeding and I discuss this in my conclusion.

Here is the link so you can buy it http://www.egyptologycourses.com/products/breasts-sexy-sacred-or-secular/

We are hoping the sales from this book will keep us going until tourism picks up this winter. Fingers crossed

Djehuty funeral collection on display for first time in Luxor - Museums - Heritage - Ahram Online

Go to the link for a video. 
Djehuty funeral collection on display for first time in Luxor - Museums - Heritage - Ahram Online: Curators at the Luxor National Museum are preparing a special area to hold objects found inside the tomb of Djehuty, the overseer of works at Thebes during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut, many of which have been in storage for over a decade.

The museum will display a well-preserved sarcophagus of Iker, a Middle Kingdom warrior, along with five arrows made of reeds, three of which still have feathers.

Clay vases and dried flowers bouquets, which were once thrown inside Djehuty's tomb during his funeral ceremony, are going to be exhibited along with faience necklaces, gilded earrings and bracelets.

Two ceramic vase and bottles fabricated during the reign of Tuthmosis III are to be also among the collection on show.

Minister of State for Antiquities Mohamed Ibrahim told Ahram Online that these objects were carefully selected in order to show the importance and wealth of the deceased as well as to highlight Egypt’s stability and prosperity during Hatshepsut’s reign.

“Djehuty tomb was discovered in 2003 by a Spanish-Egyptian mission which revealed details of an unusual time in Egypt’s ancient history,” Ibrahim said.

He added that such a discovery astonished Egyptologists due to its unusual architectural style and the artefacts unearthed within its corridors which derived from different dynasties.

The tomb’s walls are beautifully decorated with hunting and religious scenes but the most distinguished scene is the one depicting a harpist with two singers standing behind him and with the lyrics of their song engraved above the figures.

Joseh Galain, head of the Spanish mission, said studies revealed that Djehuty was a very important official who lived in the reign of Hatshepsut and died in the reign of King Tutmosis III.

Djehuty would appear to have participated in the construction and decoration of most of Hatshepsut's monumental buildings in Thebes, Galain added.

Moreover, as overseer of the treasury and controller of all the revenues coming from all foreign lands, he would have been responsible for registering all the exotic products, including minerals and spices, brought from the land of Punt as shown on his tomb walls.

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Philae's Hathor temple gets facelift in advance of formal inauguration - Ancient Egypt - Heritage - Ahram Online

Philae's Hathor temple gets facelift in advance of formal inauguration - Ancient Egypt - Heritage - Ahram Online: - Sent using Google Toolbar

Luxor's Golden Triangle- المثلث الذهبى - الأقصر

Found on Facebook, the pre revolution plans for Luxor, I hope that the post revolution plans include something for the local Egyptians not just tourists. It is embarrassing to see how their needs are ignored.
Luxor's Golden Triang.le- المثلث الذهبى - الأقصر: - Sent using Google Toolbar

Culture Grid at the Egypt Centre - Swansea University

The Egypt Centre now has its collection online at Culture Grid. It was the first museum in the UK to use MODES Complete to put the collection onto Collection Trust's Culture Grid. Download the press release from Culture Grid here.
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Ancient Egyptian Cobra Project: Snake of the Week! British Museum Cobra Figurine

Great blog for all snake people
Ancient Egyptian Cobra Project: Snake of the Week! British Museum Cobra Figurine: - Sent using Google Toolbar