Unearthing Egyptology – Talks on Egyptology

Another lively and revealing talk whose title speaks for itself; delivered by Dr Carol Andrews for the Egyptology Society Taunton.

We were taken through the importance and symbolism of animals in the lives, religion, beliefs and the afterlife in the world of the ancient Egyptians.

Carol told us how the Egyptians loved and revered animals and how their attitude towards them was anthropomorphic.

She took us through the beliefs around the Scarab Beetles, the Apis Bulls, Horus, the Falcon, the Jackal, dogs, Lion Goddesses, the Ibis, monkeys, hippos and so much more.

I learned a lot listening to Carol – and will never look at animals the same!

Dr Richards came to speak to the Egyptian Society Taunton about the fearless and enigmatic Sea Peoples.

However, his talk was a surprise to me:  I had read about them, about their battles with the Egyptians, seen them on the walls of temples.  In his presentation Dr Richards postulated that in fact, there is little to prove that the Sea Peoples or their battles ever actually existed. He argued that there is scant proof of these people other than that of the temple carvings, which, along with the Egyptians’ own accounts of the battles, might well be no more than royal propaganda.

I enjoyed the presentation, in spite of it contradicting all I have read and believed, but then that may well have been the point:  the ancient Egyptians were, as we know, masters of royal rhetoric and propaganda – and the talk certainly got me thinking.

Another talk at the Egyptian Society Taunton, this time by the Egyptologist Charlotte Booth who spoke to us about Horemheb:  it was a most enjoyable and interesting talk about this lesser known, and sometimes misrepresented Pharaoh.

Charlotte is a good speaker and she delivered a most informative talk – I learned a lot.

And even though I already have so many books on Egyptology, I couldn’t resist buying her book:  ‘The Nile and Its People – 7000 Years of Egyptian History‘, which is already proving to be a good read.

This was a talk given at the Egyptian Society Taunton.  Val Maxwell came up from Exeter to talk to us about ancient Egypt east of the Nile.

It was a really good talk – looking at the Eastern desert: the trade routes, the resources and various fortifications built to protect them.

A really interesting and informative presentation and most enjoyable.