Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous Egyptians

Originally published January 21, 2010 | Heritage Key | by Paula Veiga | An article examining the backgrounds and lifestyles of rich Egyptians (including priests and kings). These leisurely activities and ammenities included eating and drinking parties and banquets, personal hygiene rituals, quality of dress, love and marriage, and more, linking these topics to examples of their modern day counterparts.

Massive Statue of Taharqa Found In Sudan

Originally published December 29, 2009 | Heritage Key | by Owen Jarus | A small blurb about the newly discovered one ton granite statue of Taharqa, a 25th Dynasty Egyptian ruler, including a bit of background history of the Napatan pharaoh and previous discoveries made in the Sudan in 2008 (only recently made public on December 20, 2009 - follow the link to read the original announcement).

Egypt Asks British Museum for the Rosetta Stone After Louvre Victory

Originally published October 10, 2009 | Telegraph | by Samer al-Atrush

If there was a statute of limitation on stolen artifacts, the British Museum's years of ownership of the Rosetta Stone has past it. After all, Egyptology was but a fetus when the Napoleonic expedition discovered it and there were no rules that detailed who got what upon discovering Egyptian artifacts. However, it is a very significant (and iconographic) artifact that plays one of the greatest roles to Egyptology...the re-learning of the ancient literary language of the Egyptians, that is! My goodness! If Hawass can regain this artifact, then the Germans should have no more excuses to withhold the bust of Nefertiti from her native country!

Egypt Takes it Back

Originally published October 10, 2009 | iAfrica News | by Ines Bel Aiba

TB the Culprit in the Great Mummy Whodunnit

Originally published September 29, 2009 | Yahoo! News and AFP

Upcoming Events at the British Museum

Accessed August 25, 2009 | The British Museum

If you are near the British Museum during September through December, here are a few Ancient Egypt-related gallery talks and family activities. All of the following are free. I envy those who are able to make it to these events.

• Galler Talk - August 29: The Tomb-Chapel of Nebamun, given by Lorna Oakes
• Gallery Talk - September 2: Ancient Egyptian Funerary Temples, given by Lorna Oakes
• Gallery Talk - September 10: Looking at Ancient Egyptian Basketry: Technology, Design, Continuity, given by Barbara Willis and Gemma Aboe
• Family Activity - October 24: Making Mummies
• Gallery Talk - October 31: The Life and Times of the Scribe Nebamun at Thebes, given by George Hart

The Rosetta Stone: History and Modern Controversy

Originally published August 5, 2009 | The Indianapolis Examiner | by Gwynneth Anderson

The following is an excerpt from the Indianapolis Examiner (I can't believe I missed this one!); click the above link to read the full article:

Listen carefully for ghostly chuckles during your next visit to Les Invalides. If you hear them, don’t worry - it’s merely Napoleon smirking at the continuing fallout from his 1798 Egyptian Campaign.

In 1799, soldiers constructing Fort Julian at a port city called Rosetta (now called Rashid) pulled a large black stone, almost 4 feet tall, 28 inches wide, 11 inches thick and weighing approximately 1,700 pounds, out of the Nile delta muck. Imagine their shock at seeing the inscriptions after it was cleaned off.

The article includes pictures and many links to other resources on the topic.

Book Reviews - Journal of Near Eastern Studies

Accessed August 11, 2009 | Chicago Journals

All of the following are reviews of books on Ancient Egypt and similitude topics. You can read them for a fee at Chicago Journals (best just to buy the book).

• Horst Klengel, Hattuschili und Ramses: Hethiter und Ägypter — ihr langer Weg zum Frieden
• Edna R. Russmann, Nigel Strudwick, and T. G. H. James, Temples and Tombs: Treasures of Egyptian Art from the British Museum

Lecture - The Last New Kingdom Tomb at Thebes

Accessed July 7, 2009 | The British Museum

On July 20, the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Foundation Distinguished Lecture in Egyptology 2009 presents a lecture entitled the Last New Kingdom Tomb at Thebes: the End of a Great Tradition. The above link gives the who, where, when, and how much.

British Museum Egyptological Colloquium 2009

Accessed July 7, 2009 | The British Museum

Planning a trip to the British Museum? Attend the Egyptological Colloquium 2009 July 21 - 22, 2009, which will focus on recent research and new perspectives on the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Click the above link to learn about the location and the cost of the event. I've also provided a direct links to the program guide and the booking form.