Unearthing Egyptology – Talks on Egyptology

This was clearly, an auspicious day to spend with Lucia Gahlin at Dillington House, for a lecture on the ‘Ritual and Festival:  Life in an Ancient Egyptian Temple’ – and as always where Lucia is concerned, it was just great!

With  ‘all the common people worshiping’ Lucia – we began by 
learning about  ‘Priestly activity inside an Ancient Egyptian Temple: temple hierarchy, rituals and dream interpretations’

Photo: Steve F-E-Cameron

Next, we covered ‘Priestly activity beyond the walls of an Ancient Egyptian temple: magic, oracles, funerals and festivals’ – about auspicious days and bad days, good foods and bad foods for ritual and magic.  And that to perform the rituals, it was necessary for the priests to be: ‘pure, clean, dressed in fresh clothes, shod in white sandals, painted with eye paint and anointed with the finest oil of myrrh’

And that:  ‘the image should be drawn on a clean surface in red paint, mixed with soil, on which pigs and goats have not trodden’.

We were told of the vast quantities of bread, cake and beer which were provided for the various festivals by the temples, from the extraordinary wealth of the many royal estates.

And after a glutinous Heb-festival lunch ourselves, where we too consumed much ‘bread, cakes and beer’; we returned to our temple of learning for:  ‘What role did women play in Ancient Egyptian temple?  And how powerful could a High Priest really get?’ – about the importance of the role of the Adoratrice – ‘God’s Wife of Amun’ – and so, so much more.

And after all the fascinating learning, we again returned to the ‘Per-Aa’ – the Great House – and our own ‘Temple of Gluttony’ to ritually consume many more delicious magic breads and cakes!

Another great day – thanks again Lucia!

Leaving the safety of my mud-hut and exposing myself to the threatening territories beyond; wearing protective amulets, I bravely cast my fears aside, followed the local trade routes across the barren and hostile countryside and journeyed to undertake another day of pronouncements by ‘The Queen of Egyptology’ in ‘The Great Temple of Learning’ –  Lucia Gahlin at Dillington House;

Today’s lecture was on transportation and getting about in Ancient Egypt, and Lucia packed the day with fascinating insights into the various ways ancient Egyptians had of moving around their country.

Lucia covered the desert tracks and trade routes they used; their very important donkeys; and horses – which came late to Egypt – and the camel, which arrived later still.

Horse and chariots; their introduction, status, design and use were discussed at length.
As were were boats – and their importance in the daily lives, as well as the funerary ritual of the ancient Egyptians.
Navigation – of the Nile and the seas around Egypt, ancient boat building, harbours and even the discovery of an amazing 4th Dynasty diary were covered in detail.

We were told of the dangers of travelling by water and by land, and the fears the Ancient Egyptians had about leaving the safety of their Nile Valley.

As a result I will never again worry about leaving the sanctity of my own river valley.   In my quest to explore and conquer far-flung and exotic lands of Somerset and beyond, I will ensure my safety by praying to Min – God of Roads Through the Desert, I will mount my motor-driven ‘chariot’ and travel out to battle the pirates and demons out there in the dangerous and threatening territories of deepest, darkest Somerset, safe in the knowledge of the protection of Min – brave, courageous and intrepid traveller that I am!