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After 3,400 years, one of history’s oldest cold cases has finally been solved.
In addition to finding evidence that the legendary Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun (better known as King Tut) died of malaria and suffered from a club foot, DNA analysis unveiled last week has identified a previously anonymous excavated mummy, KV55, as Tutankhamun’s father: Akhenaten, the rebellious pharaoh of Egypt’s Amarna period whose legacy disappeared for thousands of years. The DNA supports the theory of two Yale professors, who suggested that the androgynous figures of the period’s art reflect religious beliefs rather than representations of Akhenaten’s family.
This theory was presented by Yale Egyptology professors John Darnell and Colleen Manassa ’01 GRD ’05 in their 2007 book, "Tutankhamun’s Armies," which details the military and diplomatic technique of Egypt’s late 18th Dynasty, which ruled the country from 1550 B.C. to 1292 B.C.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Unraveling the DNA Behind the Mask
Monday, February 1, 2010
New Book - Amarna Sunset
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Course - History and Archeology of the Egyptian New Kingdom
The Valencian Institute of Egyptology (IVDE) will offer a 20-hour course called History and Archeology of the Egyptian New Kingdom, given by José Lull, Egyptologist, from 28 October to 2 December 2009. The course consists of 10 2-hour sessions Mondays and Wednesdays from 7pm to 9pm at the Training Center TAES - Advanced Techniques Study.
Click on the above link to learn more about the course description and enrollment and contact information.
The following is a direct link to the web site in its original language (Spanish): Curso de "Historia y Arqueología del Imperio Nuevo egipcio" en Valencia
Monday, August 24, 2009
The Art of the Amarna Period
The inspiration for this article comes in the form of a statue of an Amarna princess of unknown origins. The estimated time of its creation is the Amarna Period. With that, the rest of the article chronicles the life and times of Akhenaten, his wife Nefertiti, their children, and their life and religion that was the foundation for what is known as the Amarna Period.
I think this period is the most intriguing due to its complete lack of interest in the norm in Egyptian art and religion (perhaps it's better said that Akhenaten was uninterested in keeping to old traditions). You have to admire him for his originality and passion for his family.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Amarna: Ancient Egypt's Place in the Sun
The following is an excerpt from Art Museum Journal:
The long-term exhibition Amarna: Ancient Egypt's Place in the Sun at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Philadelphia debuted on November 12, 2006. Expertly designed by the McMillan Group, the state-of-the-art installation features more than 100 artifacts from Akhetaten (present-day el-Amarna), the desert capital of heretical Pharaoh AKhenaten (r. 1353-1336 B.C.) and the birthplace of Tutankhamun (r. 1332-1322 B.C.). All of the objects on view come from Penn Museum's collection of Egyptian antiquities.
Follow the above link to read this in its entirety. Features a link to the Penn Museum, exhibit information, photos of some of the artifacts in the collection with descriptions, and a link to resources for the Amarna period.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Curator's Diary - June 26
This blog post announces the completion and near completion of reboxing, photographing and cataloging collections of glass and other fragile artifacts, which include pieces from Antinoe during the Roman Period and Amarna. The author also gives lips service to future plans for the Ancient World galleries.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Bloomsbury Summer School 2009 - Upcoming Egyptology Programs
The SES is offering many-a program for Egyptological matters including but not limited to ancient technology, hieroglyphs, pharaonic history, Nubia, and the Amarna Period.
Click on any one that interests you and you will be directed to a more detailed description, followed by who is presenting the course, and enrollment information.
Données Supplémentaires Concernant les Formes Memphites d'Amon au Nouvel Empire
Stéphane Pasquali's article chronicles the five additional forms of Amun in Memphis during the New Kingdom including the one currently known and memphite monuments that illustrate the erasure of Amun's images during the Amarna Period.
The 26 page article is available for free download through Adobe Reader. You must follow the direct link on the home page to access it. First, click on "Télécharger cet article au format pdf." The next page should automatically launch another window designated for the article in pdf format; if it doesn't load automatically click "ici" in the following line of words at the top "Si votre téléchargement ne démarre pas automatiquement, veuillez cliquer ici"
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Video - Visiting the Valley of the Kings
Spencer Christian visits the Luxor, said to be the world's greatest open air museum. Following this video are resources and de Young Museum's Tutankhamun exhibit information.
Video - A Rich Exhibit: the Tomb of Tutankhamun
Follow this link to watch a video where Dr. Hawass gives Spencer Christian a tour of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, speaking about the importance of the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. This article ends with links to various resources.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Reconstructing the Afterlife in a Vanished Religion
Paris plays host to "the Doors of Heaven," supplemented by an accompanying book, that purports to explain the world view in Ancient Egypt, which remained relatively steadfast for 3,000 years. Statues, reliefs, carvings, and allegory from the Book of the Dead, particularly of Osiris and items from the Amarna period, play a prominent role in leading us through the secrets of the Ancient Egyptian perception of life and the Afterlife, as contradictory, eluding, and enigmatic, as they turn out to be.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Calling the Queen's Authenticity Into Question
This article follows Henri Stierlin's theory that the Nefertiti bust in the Berlin Museum is a fake, built 100 years ago and whose purpose he believes its finder withheld from the world.
Even though his friends doubt Stierlin's theory, he counteracts any proof of Nefertiti's authenticity, with contamination and advanced reproduction techniques even 100 years ago being his evidence.