Egyptologist Holds Court at Clowes

Originally published August 7, 2009 | WishTV (Indianapolis, IN)

This little blurb at WishTV tells of Zahi Hawass' sold out lecture at Clowes Hall in Indiana where he talked about educating the public about the Ancient Egyptians. Included with the text is a video, which captures Hawass' interview with the news station, after his lecture.

Ottoman Museum Reopens

Originally published week of August 6 - 12, 2009 | Al-Ahram Weekly Online | by Nevine El-Aref

This article chronicles the official inauguration of the Rosetta National Museum. It also describes the museum's purpose, how the artifacts witin came to be selected, highlights of the museum's galleries, some history of the museum and its beginnings and restoration periods, and other credits.

Book Review - In the Valley of the Kings: the Mad Hunt for King Tut's Tomb

Originally published August 7, 2009 | The Seattle Times | by Alexander F. Remington (the Washington Post)

Featured at the Seattle Times is a rather new book (among the many others) about Howard Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. Given is a short synopsis, the author, how many pages, and pricing. Visit Amazon to purchase the book.

The Pyramids of Dashur: The Bent Pyramid

Originally published August 10, 2009 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass

Dr. Hawass talks about the background history about King Sneferu, his family, and his role in bringing to light many significant events; the unusual process of building the Bent Pyramidm, inside and out; and what he will be discussing in his next article, which will feature another of Sneferu's pyramids. Pictures, a map, and links to related articles accompany this post.

My Own Egyptian Jewelry and Artwork

The last few weeks have proven to be filled with many opportunities to draw and create ancient Egyptian jewelry and clothing. I have provided some pictures of my mini (and not so mini) projects:

© 2009 Jenny Hale

^My sister needed some extra hands when she was busily sewing and putting pieces together for Metropolis' production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I remembered our conversation as we sat waiting for Emily Teeter to begin a lecture at the Oriental Institute: we discussed some design ideas for Pharaoh's cape; I offered that she implement Nekhbet or Horus because he's an Elvis-like Egytian king. My sister liked the idea and several months later I began creating it (as I watched Ghostbusters I and II), with my sister creating the pattern and me sketching and painting the design, paying close attention to symmetry.

© 2009 Jenny Hale

^One of the Youth Reference librarians with whom I work asked me to make a few shrinky dinks designs so that she could use them as examples for when she taught her Shrinky Dinks class in early July. This was my second design, but first successful shrinky dink (the one below is version II, the first version having folded in on itself; that became an example of what an unsuccessful shrinky dink looks like). Using Berol Prismacolor art pencils, I drew within the cartouche my name spelled in New Kingdom hieroglyphs (if you have a keen eye, you'll notice I forgot a glyph).

© 2009 Jenny Hale

^As I mentioned above, this pectoral Shrinky Dink is my second attempt; the first one didn't uncurl and stayed folded. My inspiration for this Shrinky Dink comes from one of Tutankhamun's pectorals. Where his names would have been, I put my name in Egyptian hieroglyphs (a play on Nefertiti's names...that is totally not big-headed of me lol). Again, I used Berol Prismacolor art pencils, as they work very well.

© 2009 Jenny Hale

^Using Berol Prismacolor art pencils and drawing inspiration from Tutankhamun's earrings, I created this pair of Shrinky Dink earrings. My sister, who has pierced ears unlike myself, tried them on and they work perfectly.

© 2009 Jenny Hale

^Inspiration for this last one, also colored using Prismacolor art pencils, comes from two of Sesostris III's pectorals (one for the vulture and another for the hieroglyphic lettering). I made this to give to a friend that was getting ready to go into the Air Forces. Tomorrow it will probably be on a plane to Texas where my friend is going through boot camp. Notice the hieroglyphs "Lord of the Sky." It is ment to be a memento, something to remember me by.

© 2009 Jenny Hale

^All of my Shrinky Dink creations together.

Egypt's Great Wonders

Originally published August 7, 2009 | Top Valuable Article | by Debra Corbei

I'm not sure if this is the original source of this article, but it certainly lists some good advice and traveling tips (along with her reactions to the seemingly juxtaposition of modern and ancient Egypt and things that still baffle us such as the means the ancients used to build the pyramids) if you are planning on going to Egypt as a tourist (no necessarily a scholastic one). Her itinerary lists some of the more popular locations of which most everyone has heard: Cairo and Giza, the Valley of the Kings and "King Tut," the temples of Rameses IV and Merneptah, Hatshepsut's mortuary temple, Luxor, Abu Simbel, and the Ramesseum.

A Growing Thirst for the Nile

Originally published August 7, 2009 | BBC News | by Yolande Knell

Although the Nile River has lost some of its religious significance, it remains an important resource. The ever increasing need for water supply and climate change are daunting problems in and of themselves, but it's the lack of agreement on how much of the Nile resources belong to the six "Nile states" that seems to be the most annoying problem. The following article chronicles the current news about the Nile River and includes some lines describing it's long history to the people who depend upon it.

British Writer Discovers the Pharaohs' Lost Underworld

Originally published August 5, 2009 | Response Source | by Andrew Collins

The following is a claim about a new discovery beneath the Giza Necropolis, which Zahi Hawass poo-poos (I understand the reason he doesn't want people to jump the gun and start spewing speculation; although, he is no stranger to getting excited over new findings and discoveries). To Collins, the evidence is clear, and he chronicles it in his latest tome: Beneath the Pyramids. Featured alongside the synopsis are links to Andrew Collins' web site, his newsletter, and contact information.

At first glance, his speculation does seem a bit like yellow journalism, partly due to the misuse of "pharaoh" in relation to the Giza Pyramids (the title wasn't used during the Old Kingdom). I feel a tangent coming, so I'll stop there.

Amarna: Ancient Egypt's Place in the Sun

Originally published August 5, 2009 | Art Museum Journal | by Stan Parchin

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.

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?).

Leicestershire Ancient Egyptian Society: Lecture Programme 2009-10

Accessed August 6, 2009 | Infolinx and Challenging the Past

Starting in September, 2009 through June, 2010 at the New Walks Museum, the Leicestershire Ancient Egyptian Society offers monthly lectures with illustrations on any aspect of Ancient Egypt. Visit Infolinx for directions and contact information and stop by Challenging the Past for a fully detailed itinerary of each monthly lecutre.

Egyptian Funerary Art Upstages Americana At The Cobbs Sale

Originally published July 28, 2009 | Antiques and the Arts Online | by Frances McQueeney-Jones Mascolo

This article features a blurb about the auction of a Roman Era wooden portrait. As Indiana Jones would say, "It belongs in a museum."

The highlight was not early American, however, but early Egyptian — a Fayum sarcophagus portrait of a woman provoked a competition among nine phone bidders and only ended when it went to one for $143,750. The Egyptian painting dates to the Roman First Century AD and depicts a woman with earrings and two necklaces. It came from a Peterborough collector whose husband purchased it in New York City in the 1960s. It was accompanied by a letter verifying the purchase because the original receipt had not been located at the time of the auction. The portrait went to a London dealer buying for a client.

History and Meaning of the Ancient Egyptian Ankh Symbol

Originally published August 1, 2009 | Examiner - Chicago | by Kristen Wilkerson

I may get into trouble if I say anything about this topic, so I'll let the article speak for itself.

Upon researching the meaning of the Egyptian Ankh, a cross with a loop at the top, it appears to have been used with multiple intentions. Originally, a historian thought the ankh was merely the symbol of a sandal, due to its shape, with its loop going around the ankle. Although many modern historians find this to be accurate, Egyptian academics at the University of Cairo, interpret that the ankh is representative of the pivotal role of the Nile. The oval head is said to represent the Nile delta, with the vertical mark representing the path of the river and the East and West arms representing the two sides of the country and their unification. Many others claim the ankh has a much deeper significance in its historical roles, however. This article explores some of the ankh's deeper claims to fame.

Government, Camel Operators Grapple Over Giza Access

Originally published August 2, 2009 | The Boston Globe | by Nick Mendez and Emily Williams

Sed Ali dug his heels into the hindquarters of a small, gray, Arabian-style horse, weaving through a pack of dilapidated camels as he trotted across the sand. Ali was giving our group of Northeastern University students a guided tour of the great pyramids in Giza, a family business he has been a part of since he was 6.

Before we set out, Ali asked that we send the Egyptian government letters praising his business. He is concerned that the government’s modernization efforts at the historic site will mean the end for the independent camel operators who depend on the pyramids.

A New Letter (H) Has Been Added to the Chicago Demotic Dictionary

Originally published July 31, 2009 | Oriental Institute

A new letter has been added to the Chicago Demotic Dictionary (H with a dot). I have provided the direct link to that particular page in the CDD (the above link will send you to the home page of the CDD's table of contents, where you can download all letters of the dictionary).