Luxor Temple Excavations

Originally published February 9, 2010 | Luxor News Blog | by Jane Akshar | Ms. Akshar gives us a peek at the continuing excavations happening near Luxor, especially those done at the tell behind the Pashas House. She gives approving remarks about the field schools that train professionals on the job. Jane also includes several pictures capturing a few great sites to see near the area, including talatat bricks of the Amarna Period.

New Exhibit - Abu Simbel: the Salvaging of the Monuments

Originally published February 5, 2010 | Al-Ahram Weekly Online | by Nevine El-Aref | This article is a reaction by the author to the new exhibit entitled Abu Simbel: the Salvaging of the Monument, which is currently in Al-Sama Khana in Sayeda Zeinab and will soon be touring Europe and then worldwide. It highlights in photographic form, Italy's help in rescuing Nubian monuments during the Salvage Campaign of the 1960s and 70s. Follow the above link to read Nevine's detailed description of the history and importance behind this exhibit.

The following is an excerpt:

The idea for an exhibition was dreamed up last year in Rome by the World Wide Artists Association and the Chamber of Commerce in Rome to highlight the role of Italy in rescuing Nubian monuments from the rising waters of Lake Nasser following the construction of the Aswan High Dam. The exhibition was previously shown in 2009 in Rome inside the Temple of Hadrian. The exhibition will later tour some of the principle capitals of Europe and worldwide.

[...]

The event is taking the form of a worldwide documentary exhibition and will have a high impact, with images never before published. It will enhance not only the natural and historical value of the archaeological site, but also the anthropological aspect, paying particular attention to the human resources involved in the feat, the methodologies employed and the machinery and equipment used, as well as the projects throughout their development and realization.

[...]

According to the official statement by the organiser, the exhibition will strive to meet two main objectives: one that of reaching a global public, bringing to them awareness of the history of man, of what was achieved, the ideas that took shape in the knowledge of the convergence of historical and archaeological themes, in an effort to involve the "public at large", not only those who dedicate themselves daily to this fascinating field, the other is that of taking advantage of this unique opportunity to valorise the entrepreneurial network between Rome, Italy and Egypt's social and economic realities.

New Exhibit - the Eternal Light of Egypt

Originally published February 4, 2010 | Times Union | by Tim Kane | This article announces a new photographic exhibit called The Eternal Light of Egypt by Sarite Sanders, coming to the Albany Institute of History and Art June 13, which brings the ethereal back into the monuments of Ancient Egypt. I had the pleasure of seeing a preview this past spring, where a few of Sarite's photographs were on display at the Loyola University Museum of Art. If these were but a hint at what an entire exhibit dedicated to her photography would be like, I imagine this new exhibit is stunning. This reminds me of the tomb of Tutankhamun: such an historically unimportant king found in such a beautifully decorated tomb, a thought that makes one wildly wonder how much more splendidly the most important rulers' tombs were filled with riches. That said, the second page of this article contains all the information you need to visit the exhibit, including contact information, hours of operation, and more.

The Taharqa Gate: the Week of the Brick

Originally published January 29, 2010 | Brooklyn Museum Blog | by Mary McKercher | This post illustrates in beautiful pictures the work that is being done at the Taharqa Gate. Each day reveals new insight about the enclosure. Click the above link to review the Johns Hopkins University excavation's progress and see the amazing photos.

Egypt Relics Chief Pulls in Revenue as He Fights for Nefertiti

Originally published January 26, 2010 | Bloomberg | by Daniel Williams | This article highlights the past and future endeavors of one Dr. Zahi Hawass, none of which have come without controversy. Such endeavors have been the following: the request to return fragments from the Louvre, numerous attempts to regain the Nefertiti bust in the Neues Museum, the discovery that Egyptian workers had built the pyramids and not Hebrew slaves, the collection of billions in revenue from the Tutankhamun traveling exhibit to fund Egyptological projects, and the like.

Sphinx Alley Gives Egypt Large Open-Air Museum

Originally published January 24, 2010 | Yahoo! News and Associated Press | An announcement about the completion of the restoration on the 2-mile alley of crio- and andro-sphinxes that connect the Luxor and Karnak Temple Compexes, which is boasted to be the largest open-air museum. Completion is set for March.

Monument Lifted from Cleopatra's Underwater City

Originally published December 17, 2009 | Yahoo! News and the Associated Press | by Katarina Kratovac

An underwater research team of Greek archaeologists have just lifted from the Mediterranean Sea a huge nine-tonne granite block from a temple of Isis in Alexandria, near a palace supposedly belonging to Cleopatra VII.

Laser Scanning the Sphinx

Originally published August 24, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Zahi Hawass

The following is an excerpt from Zahi Hawass' Blog; click the above link to read the post in its entirety:

This work is very accurate and very fast; it took us one month to scan the Pyramids of Giza, and now we are scanning their interior chambers and shafts too. The team is also scanning the monuments on the East and West Banks of Luxor. As well as making scans from ground level, the team also conducted aerial scans by flying over the archaeological sites.

As per usual, there are accompanying pictures and an interactive map that shows the exact location of the project.

New Book - Soldiers, Sailors and Sandalmakers

Originally published August 16, 2009 | Egypt at the Manchester Museum Blog | by Karen Exell

The following blog post announces the September 1, 2009 release of a new book (by the the author of this blog post, as it were). It includes product information and a short description of the book's contents:

The book looks at how votive stelae from five Ramesside period sites, including Deir el-Medina, Abu Simbel and Pi-Ramesses, might be linked to specific events in the lives of the dedicators, from festival attendance, promotion at work and pleas for fertility, and act to commemorate for all eternity incidents of personal and social significance.

I've provided a link to Amazon for those interested in pre-ordering this book.

Egyptians Pay Tribute to Pyramids

Originally published August 12, 2009 | CCTV | edited by Zhao Yanchen

Recently, over 400 Egyptian youths traveled to the Giza Necropolis to campaign for the preservation of Egypt's most magnificent structure: the pyramids.

The Cultural Ministry of Egypt organized the effort to encourage the younger people to learn more about Egypt's ancient history and to raise the public's awareness of the need to preserve it's monuments.

The Entrance Gate to the Enclosure Wall of Taposiris Magna

Originally published August 6, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Photo Blog | photo credited to the Supreme Council of Antiquities

Follow the above link to Zahi Hawass' Photo Blog where you will find an update in pictographic form of the enclosure wall of Taposiris Magna. Featured with this picture are related links to posts on Zahi Hawass' blog about Taposiris Magna and a map that indicates the exact location of where this picture was taken (geo-tagging?).

Why My Great-Great-Great Grandfather Defaced Ancient Egyptian Monuments

Originally published August 3, 2009 | The Guardian | by Philippa McDonnell

As cute as this story is (a modern-day Ramesses the Great--who would have thought?!), it still makes me cringe a bit, despite the ending words to this article by an Egyptian guide.

It just goes to show that we as human beings are naturally drawn to wanting to be recognized and remembered. Really, there is no difference between we moderns and the Ancient Egyptians.

Bare Bones Egypt 2010 Tour

Accessed July 21, 2009 | Andante Travels

The Bare Bones Egypt 2010 tour provides a look into the funerary/religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians through their monuments and art. The above link will bring you to a page from Andante Travels that lists all the tour's information: a descriptor, itinerary, what's included in the tour, flight and hotel information, a map of where the tour will be located, a reading list, and an electronic means of booking the tour. Pricing is also provided, along with information on the tour guide (Lucia Gahlin).

Other tours include Egypt - land of the Pharaohs 2009 (October 11-26, 2009) and Egypt - land of the Pharaohs 2010 (March 21-April 5, 2010).

Monuments Discovered in Egyptian Museum

Originally published July 4, 2009 | Egypt State Information Service

Genuine ancient monuments are unearthed near the Egyptian Museum during its development. Read on to learn more about this happy accident.

Picture - Taposiris Magna Wall

Originally published June 29, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Photo Blog | by Maggie Bryson

This photo shows the remains of a huge wall at Taposiris Magna, the suspected area where Cleopatra and Marc Antony are buried.

Dr. Hawass Receives Honorary Doctorate

Originally published June 23, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass

Dr. Hawass tells of his having been presented with two awards - an honorary doctorate and an award of recognition - in Thailand on June 16; his first meeting with Princess Maha and Thailand's Ambassador to Egypt Noppadon Theppitak and how they've become close friends; the events and feelings during the ceremony; and speeches giving including his own, where he expresses gratitude to all involved and announces future archaeological plans and projects.

Accompanying Hawass' blog post are beautiful photos captured from the event, provided by Garry Shaw.

Données Supplémentaires Concernant les Formes Memphites d'Amon au Nouvel Empire

Accessed June 22, 2009 | Egypte Nilothique et Méditerranéenne

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"