The hidden link between ancient Egyptian statues and anthropoid coffins
Mødedato: Mandag d. 16/3 2026 kl. 19.00
Lokale 23.0.49
v. Stefania Mainieri, Postdoctoral fellow, The University of Naples “L’Orientale”
When we think of ancient Egyptian anthropoid coffins, we immediately think of their rich decorations and inscriptions, but what about the geometry and human features carved into the wood? Thanks to photogrammetry’s ability to ‘reveal the invisible’, we now know that carving was an equally important stage in the complex process of coffin production.
As with statues, the facial features and human parts on the lid reflected specific ‘styles’ that changed over time. Furthermore, a close link in ‘portrait/physiognomic style’ has been found between some coffin masks and statues, suggesting a ‘crossing of artistic forms’ and the possibility of a common production method and/or model for different materials in the same chronological period.
These two aspects are the focus of a recently launched project: Reconstructing physioGnomy In Sculpture: a comparative analysis of ‘yellow coffin’ faces and the faces of statues (RecoGnISe). Based on the results of another project (Faces Revealed Project, Horizon 2020), RecoGnISe represents its natural continuation and offers exceptional potential for further research on the coffins, shedding new light on their craftsmen and production – a topic that is still controversial in Egyptology due to the lack of archaeological evidence.
Feasts Fit for Pharaohs: Food and Drink in Ancient Egypt
Museo Egizio In Turin (IT), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mødedato: Tirsdag d. 21/4 2026 kl. 18.00
Lokale 23.0.49
v. Salima Ikram, Professor of Egyptology, American University in Cairo
Food is crucial for human survival. However, it provides us with more than fuel for existence; it can be said to be a driving force in forming a culture or religion, and identifying a people. This lecture deals with the methodologies employed in studying food in ancient Egypt, and focuses on the ingredients available, how these might have been prepared, and what different consumption patterns reveal about various socio-economic and religious groups in ancient Egypt.
Lørdagsseminar med Gabi Pieke, Mette Gregersen og Julie Schwartzlose Christensen
Mødedato: Lørdag d. 25/4 2026 kl. 11-16
Travle hænder i Theben
Kl. 11
A monumental picture book. Investigating the Tomb of Sennefer (TT 96), v. Gabi Pieke, Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen Mannheim
The tomb of the Mayor of Thebes Sennefer in Sheikh Abd el-Gurna (TT 96) is well known for its decorated burial chamber, whereas its cult chapel itself is still unpublished. In the context of the Mission Archéologique belge dans la Nécropole Thébaine (MANT) the project “Painters and Painting in the Theban Necropolis during the 18th Dynasty“ (FNRS – University of Liège) aims among others at documenting and analysing the painting practices and work organisation in the tomb of Sennefer.
The monumental character of the chapel challenged the artists and the traditional layout of 18th dynasty noble tombs could not be applied unchanged. Unique concepts and compositions of TT 96 have to be seen as an immediate response to the specific architectural setting and special wishes of the patron. Despite the poor state of preservation of its murals, the paintings in the decorated cult chapel render much information about the techniques and procedures of the ancient painters, the sequence of their work and even the number of artists involved and their level of experience. Further, the in-depth study revealed an ongoing process of changes and supplementations in the tomb’s decoration and architecture. It is striking that there is so much evidence of modification and concept alterations. Several amendments of texts and minor figures even culminating in compositional changes are attested as well as alteration in iconographic details. Moreover, there is unusual shift towards monumentality in the general layout of the tomb. The long process of making the tomb decoration and the significant number of modifications required a constant out of the box thinking and adjustments from the creators to perpetually find new and fitting solutions.
Kl. 12.15 – Frokostpause (tag selv mad med)
Kl. 13
Helt almindelige mennesker i en ikke-helt-almindelig by, v. Cand.mag. Julie Schwartzlose Christensen
Arbejderlandsbyen Deir el-Medina blev grundlagt i begyndelsen af Det Nye Rige (omkring 1539–1070 f.Kr.) med det formål at huse de specialiserede håndværkere, der var ansvarlige for konstruktionen af de kongelige grave i Kongernes Dal. I dag fremstår byen som en arkæologisk skattekiste, der rummer et omfattende kildemateriale, som dokumenterer indbyggernes sociale, økonomiske og juridiske anliggender. Dette oplæg undersøger, hvad vi kan finde ud af om hverdagslivet i Deir el-Medina ved at se nærmere på de skriftlige kilder. Gennem udvalgte papyri og ostraka får vi et værdifuldt indblik i, hvordan almindelige mennesker levede og arbejdede i denne ikke helt almindelige oldtidsby.
Kl. 14.15-14.45 – Pause
Kl. 14.45-16.00
Gravkonstruktion, dekoration og spor efter de dygtige håndværkere og kunstnere, som udførte arbejdet i kongegrave og privatgrave i Deir el-Medina, v. Cand.phil. Mette Gregersen
Takket være det righoldige, overleverede materiale fra Deir el-Medina og den omfattende forskning efterfølgende har vi et godt kendskab til den lille landsby, Dmit, som indbyggerne selv kaldte den. Vi er også i stand til at sætte navne og titler på mange af indbyggerne og forstå deres familiære relationer.
Med kilderne som baggrund vil foredraget omhandle gravkonstruktion, udsmykning og spor efter navngivne specialarbejdere, først og fremmest den navnkundige Amenhotep, som bar titlen “den øverste for omridstegnerne”. Hans hånd kan følges på ostraka, i privatgrave og ikke mindst i kongegravene tilhørende Ramses VI (KV9) og Ramses IX ( KV 6).