Alexander the Great Not the First at Alexandria

Originally published October 24, 2009 | DNA India

Flora and ceramics reveal that Alexander the Great might not have been the first to settle at Alexandria. The margin is by at least several hundred years. However, science isn't the most fascinating thing about this discovery, it's fiction. This is best illustrated in the following excertp:

This idea is also supported in the stories of Homer: In Book 4 of "The Odyssey," there's a mention of a one-day sail from the coast near the Nile to the nearby island of Pharos. This suggests that a port settlement of some sort was already there, according to the researchers. "Fiction is true," in this case, Berhnhardt said.

Scholars' Colloquium Days at the ROM

Accessed September 4, 2009 | Royal Ontario Museum

November 6 and 8, 2009 will bring to the ROM a free event, known as Scholar's Colloquium Days, where those interested in attending can "enjoy a wide variety of short papers on all aspects of ancient Egypt, from reports on recent digs to careful consideration and re-evaluation of religion, art, history, literature and politics." Program information including location, contacts, and date/time is given; click the above link to view this information.

There Was Once a Man

Originally published the week of July 23 - 29, 2009 | Al-Ahram Weekly Online | by Jenny Jobbins

The writer of this article at Al-Ahram Weekly Online "takes a new look at some old tales, and ponders on the unchanging face of literature and the human experience."

Click the above link to read the article in its entirety.

Long Distance Courses in Egyptology

Originally published July 16, 2009 | Challenging the Past Blog | by Marsia Sfakianou Bealby

If you are willing to dish out $399 to participate in each of these classes, with a discount if you enroll in two or more classes, read on.

Classes offered are the following: Part 1 - History, Part 2 - Religious Beliefs and Funerary Practices, Part 3 - Literature and Related Texts, Part 4 - Daily Life in Ancient Egypt (coming soon). Each course has its own book that you receive when you enroll.

Download the virus free application form and fill it out if you are interested in any of these courses. The form also includes contact information and a more detailed description for each class.