Abstracts
Almási, Krisztina, What does a hieratic text tell a graphologist
Independent scholar, HU
The lecture undertakes a graphological examination of one of the most significant monuments of ancient Egyptian medical literature, the Ebers Papyrus. The aim of the research is to explore what information the writing style, the characteristics of the scribe’s hand, and the formal characteristics of the text organization can provide about the circumstances of the papyrus’s creation, the scribal practice, and the mechanisms of knowledge transmission in this New Kingdom resource. The analysis is based on the examination of the character forms, ductus, rhythm, line spacing, corrections, and structural division of hieratic writing, with particular attention to those features that may indicate the scribe’s training, working methods, and possible multi-hand writing. The lecture methodologically combines the classical palaeographic approach with the modern graphological perspective, emphasizing the different, yet complementary, interpretative possibilities of these two fields. The research also addresses how the formal characteristics of writing are related to the function of the medical text, the systematization of recipes, and the representation of magico-religious elements. The aim of the presentation is to outline an interdisciplinary interpretive framework that offers new perspectives on the examination of ancient Egyptian knowledge transmission at the interface of Egyptology, the history of medicine, and the history of writing.
Babcock, Jennifer Miyuki, PhD., Interpreting Animal Representations in Ancient Egyptian Art and Design
Pratt Institut, Brooklyn, N.Y., USA
In this paper, I will challenge some longstanding scholarly assumptions about the relationship between ancient Egyptians and the animal world and how this is reflected in ancient Egyptian material and visual culture. Two common tropes held in scholarship are that animals and animal imagery embodied “chaos,” the opposite of “ma’at,” or “order, and that ancient Egyptians represented their flora and fauna with a level of naturalism that seems at odds with the general perception that humans are depicted with greater formality and stiffness. While there may be some truth in these perspectives, they also reinforce a binary of “chaos” versus “order” and “naturalism” versus “stylization” that obscure, rather than clarify, the nuances of how ancient Egyptians understood and related to animal life.
A less anthropocentric approach to ancient Egyptian images reveals the Egyptians’ complex, layered relationships with the animals they domesticated, hunted, and revered. How artists rendered animals morphologically and behaviorally, compared with real animals, helps us understand the artistic license taken they use to depict the non-human world. This paper considers how some representations of animal hybrids suggest taxonomic identifications and conflated mythologies. Additionally, this paper highlights that depictions of animals performing unnatural behaviors may augment our understanding of their symbolic roles.
Bos, Jolanda, Dr. Was New Always Better? The Case of Tutankhamun’s Beaded Sandals
Independent Scholar / Faculty of Humanities Leiden University, NL
Among the beadwork from the tomb of Tutankhamun, two small beaded sandals reflect characteristic early New Kingdom beadwork techniques. As part of my research into ancient Egyptian beadwork, and the development of a methodology for researching beadwork, I conducted a technical analysis and experimental reconstruction of these sandals, focusing on patterns, beading direction, and the relationship between decorative and structural elements.
The analysis demonstrated that the sandals appear to have been altered after a period of use. Existing beaded sections were carefully reused and integrated into an enlarged composition, allowing the sandals to be adapted without completely dismantling the original structure. As Tutankhamun came to the throne at a young age, it is likely that the enlargement of the sandals is connected to changes in his foot size over time.
However, rather than replacing the sandals with new and larger ones, the makers chose to preserve and extend the existing work. Do these findings merely suggest a flexible and practical approach to beadwork, in which repair, reuse, and modification formed part of the life cycle of elite objects? Or may they also point to the continued value of personal objects, even within the context of the royal court with access to newly produced goods? The sandals offer more than evidence of the techniques alone: they may reveal that, even in the context of royal production, new was perhaps not always considered better.
Burn, John, Dr., The 4200BP climate event: Old Kingdom resilience not ruin
Honorary Research Fellow, Macquarie University, Sydney, AU
While the 42OOBP climate event is widely supported with much evidence from world-wide sets of data, within the Egyptological community, the degree of its impact upon Egypt still deserves discussion. In a similar manner to the debate about how much ‘collapse’ occurred during the Old Kingdom ‘Collapse’, how much ‘drought’ occurred during the ‘Megadrought’ that occurred at this time is also debated. The author proposes to hopefully clarify the concept of ‘drought’ in an Egyptological context and to explain the reluctance to use the term ‘megadrought’. Special aspects of societal response to drought will be introduced to suggest a more resilient response than some propose. This paper will contend that, due to the specific geographical nature of Egypt, the effect of this event may not have been as one-dimensional as many advocate, suggesting that the 4200BP climate event may have impacted ancient Egypt in a manner slightly differently to her neighbours.
Caputo, Clementina, PhD., Divergent Paths? Reconsidering Oasis Red Slip Ware through the Kharga-Dakhla Comparison
Egittologia e Civiltà Copta. Dipartimento di Architettura, Ingegneria delle Costruzioni e Ambiente Costruito (DABC). Politecnico di Milano, IT
The Oasis Red Slip Ware (ORSW) represents one of the most significant ceramic markers for understanding the socio-economic dynamics of Egypt’s Western Desert during the Roman and Late Antique periods. Traditionally treated as a uniform regional tradition, recent evidence auggests a more complex reality. This paper presents a comparative analysis of ORSW assemblages from the Kharga and Dakhla Oases, challenging established assumptions regarding its production, dating, and regional diffusion.
By examining stratigraphic data and distributional patterns from both sectors of the Great Oasis, this study highlights significant discrepancies in the “chronological life” and frequency of specific forms between the two regions. The analysis explores whether these variations stem from localized production centers, differing trade routes, or distinct consumption habits. Ultimately, this reassessment aims to refine the chronological framework of ORSW and offers new insights into the degree of connectivity-or isolation-between Kharga and Dakhla, proposing a more nuanced model for the ceramic economy of the Western Desert.
Chudzik, Patryk, Dr., Royal versus non-royal at the Middle Kingdom Theban necropolis The latest excavations at Deir el-Bahari and North Asasif
Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw, PL
The origins of the royal necropolis of Thebes date back to the reign of Nebhepetra Mentuhotep II and are closely linked to the reunification of the country and the establishment of its new capital at the seat of the rulers of the 11th Dynasty.The royal mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari became the focal point of the west bank, setting in motion the development of the site for the next several hundred years. The significance of the rocky amphitheatre of Deir el-Bahari is underlined not only by the presence of the king’s monument and the burials of members of his family, but also by its topographical relationship with the private tombs scattered around this site. This article examines the organisation of the Theban necropolis during the early Middle Kingdom through the prism of the latest excavations carried out by the Polish-Egyptian expeditions to Deir el-Bahari and North Asasif.
Chudzik, Patryk Dr.1 & Konopko, Anna Dr.2, Roman painted shrouds and mummy masks from the latest excavation in the Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari
1Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw, 2The Faculty of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art, Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, PL
Recent excavation at the Hathor Cult Complex, in the southern part of Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, have led to the discovery of a new part of the post-New Kingdom necropolis that had been forming on the temple ruins since the beginning of the 1st millennium BC. Exploration of the shaft tombs revealed that they have been looted in ancient times and first surveyed in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Nevertheless, each structure still concealed a great number of artefacts dating the burial ground from the Third Intermediate Period to Roman era.The burials from the latter period were particularly interesting and unexpected, as previous works had indicated that they were generally located in the open spaces of the rock amphitheatre rather than in the abandoned chapels of the ancient temple.The material in question consists primarily of scraps of painted shrouds and fragments of mummy masks, hundreds of which were found during the exploration of the rock-cut tombs, mixed in with artefacts from the New Kingdom, Third Intermediate Period and Late Antiquity.The aim of this paper is to discuss the archaeological context of this material, as well as the preliminary results of epigraphic research and conservation work.
Dietze, Klara, Dr. des., Current Research at DAI Cairo: Archaeology in the Longue Durée from Pharaonic to Islamic Egypt
Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Kairo, DE
This lecture provides an overview of the current research projects of the Cairo Department of the German Archaeological Institute, covering a broad chronological range from ancient Egyptian studies to the Islamic periods. It highlights key research questions and methodological approaches, including urban development, cultural landscapes, material culture, and the preservation of cultural heritage within the dynamic context of modern megacities. A particular focus is placed on the recently completed fieldwork at Heliopolis/Matariya: Conducted as rescue excavations under the conditions of the rapidly expanding metropolis of Cairo, this project represents a compelling example of archaeology in an urban environment. The work of the Egyptian-German mission has yielded significant new insights into one of ancient Egypt’s most important religious centers, while also raising fundamental questions regarding the management and protection of archaeological heritage in densely populated areas. The lecture further outlines the department’s current research priorities, its interdisciplinary strategies, as well as the challenges and future perspectives of archaeological research in Egypt today.
Fábián, Zoltán, Prof., Around the Most Ancient Decorated Rock-Cut Tombs in the Theban Necropoleis – 2026
Károly Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary, Budapest, HU
On the west bank of Luxor, somewhat more than 2 km southwest of the Taref mastabas – the oldest known pharaonic cemetery site in the Theban necropolis – the earliest decorated rock-cut tombs known from Thebes, dating to the Old Kingdom, are situated on the southern slope of El-Khokha hillock. In this central part of the ancient cemetery, rock-cut tombs constructed in different periods have survived over the millennia in a remarkably dense, interconnected arrangement. In the forecourt of a 19th Dynasty rock-cut tomb, the tomb of Nefermenu (TT 184), shaft-tombs and burial-chamber-type rock-cut structures have been uncovered that may be assumed to be of Old Kingdom origin, too. These structures therefore allow us – at least hypothetically – to reconstruct the earliest layer of this section of the necropolis. If our assumptions and the line of reconstruction of reasoning are correct, it may also become possible to distinguish and define the early tomb types characteristic of this part of the necropolis.
Győry, Hedvig, Dr. PhD., Amarny style Taweret amulet nin Semmelweis Museum”s Egyptian Collection
HEFS Ancient Egyptian Committee, Budapest, HU
Thoeris/Taweret amulets, which were believed to aid pregnancy and childbirth, were made in Egypt from various materials from the Sixth Dynasty onwards. Typically originating from tombs, these materials were found in the residential area of Tell el-Amarna and where they also were manufactured with glass paste. Following earlier traditions, the vast majority were plaque amulets depicting the goddess in profile, though sculptural forms also appeared. However, several iconographic innovations emerged in the decoration of the goddess’s body and the design of the amulets. One such innovation can be seen on the small faience amulet in the museum, which is the subject of the research conducted within the framework of the Aegyptiaca Therapeutica Tutelaresque Project.
Hamdi, Emad & Elsaid Abouzeid, Inventing Tradition: Innovation and Cultural Renewal in Ancient Egyptian Religious Texts
Inspectorate of Antiquities, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Cairo, EG
The concept of renewal occupied a central place in ancient Egyptian culture and religious thought. Although ancient Egyptian civilization is often perceived as highly conservative and deeply rooted in tradition, a closer examination of religious and funerary texts reveals a continuous process of innovation and reinterpretation. This paper explores how new ideas and practices were introduced within a framework that emphasized continuity with earlier traditions, allowing innovation to be integrated into established cultural structures.
Ancient Egyptian religious literature provides clear evidence of this dynamic process. For example, funerary texts evolved from the Pyramid Texts to later compilations such as the Book of the Dead, where formulations and iconography were adapted to changing theological, social, and ritual contexts while maintaining the authority of earlier traditions. Literary texts, such as The Instruction for Merikare and The Admonitions of Ipuwer, demonstrate how new solutions to social and political challenges were introduced through reinterpretation of established teachings.
This process may be understood as a form of “invented tradition,” in which innovation was presented as a continuation or restoration of ancient knowledge. Such strategies allowed religious authorities to propose new interpretations while preserving the legitimacy of long-standing customs. The concept of renewal itself was deeply embedded in Egyptian cosmology and mythological thought, particularly in the cyclical regeneration associated with deities such as Osiris and Ra, whose myths emphasized rebirth, regeneration, and the continual renewal of cosmic order.
By examining selected religious texts and their historical development, this paper argues that innovation in ancient Egypt was rarely presented as a rupture with the past. Instead, it was often expressed through the reinterpretation of tradition. Understanding this relationship between continuity and innovation provides valuable insight into the intellectual flexibility of Egyptian religious thought and contributes to broader discussions on cultural renewal in ancient societies.
Hamad, Mohsen & El-Tablawy, Hatem Abdel Mawla, Thresholds and Protection in Ancient Egyptian Houses: Archaeological Evidence for Domestic Apotropaic Practices
Inspectorate of Antiquities – Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Cairo, EG
This paper investigates the protective function of thresholds in ancient Egyptian domestic architecture. While Egyptological studies have traditionally focused on temples and funerary monuments, the symbolic and ritual significance of household entrances has received comparatively little attention.
Archaeological evidence from settlement sites suggests that doorways and thresholds functioned as critical transitional zones between the ordered interior of the household and the unpredictable external world. These liminal spaces often contained material traces indicating protective practices, including deliberately placed stones, small amulets, figurines, offering traces, and water vessels positioned near entrances.
By examining architectural layouts, artifact distribution, and material residues found in domestic contexts, this study explores how ancient Egyptians constructed symbolic boundaries intended to protect the household from harmful forces. Special attention is given to the placement of protective objects and their relationship to spatial organization within domestic structures.
The paper argues that thresholds operated as ritualized micro-spaces where everyday protective practices were enacted. These practices combined architecture, material culture, and religious belief, forming an integrated system of household protection.
This research contributes to the broader understanding of lived religion in ancient Egypt by highlighting how ordinary domestic environments were transformed into spaces of ritual meaning and spiritual protection.
Hegazi, Hossam, Silent Rituals in Ancient Egypt: Reconstructing Unwritten Religious Practice through Archaeological Images and Embodied Experience
Egypt Central Delta Antiquities Zone, Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Cairo, EG
This study examines the phenomenon of silent rituals in ancient Egypt—non-verbal, embodied religious actions performed without textual recitation or spoken formulas. While Egyptological scholarship has traditionally prioritized state-sponsored temple liturgies, priestly performances, and funerary texts, a parallel religious sphere existed within domestic and mortuary contexts, where ordinary Egyptians enacted protective, healing, and transitional practices through gesture, placement, and material engagement rather than speech.
Archaeological images serve here as primary ritual evidence, preserving traces of unwritten devotional behavior: water jars fixed beside thresholds, soot-blackened household altars, burnt offering trays, worn Bes and Taweret figurines indicating repeated tactile activation, protective stones deliberately placed at doorways, moisture streaks at tomb entrances, and fingerprints on funerary walls. These material signatures function as “frozen gestures” through which the silent dimension of Egyptian religiosity can be reconstructed.
The study introduces the Silent Rituals Framework (SRF), an interdisciplinary analytical model consisting of five layers: spatial configuration, embodied action, material semiotics, psycho-symbolic motivation, and ritual temporality. Applying this framework reveals that domestic spaces, sleeping areas, birth settings, zones of illness, and tomb thresholds operated as micro-sacred environments structured by repeated silent acts. These rituals mediated fear, vulnerability, life transitions, and encounters with death through embodied performance rather than verbalized prayer.
The results demonstrate that silent ritual practices were not marginal but constituted a fundamental, widespread religious system. They reveal a popular theology embedded in ordinary actions—sprinkling water, touching figurines, burning offerings, placing objects, and marking boundaries—thereby expanding our understanding of ancient Egyptian religion beyond text-based liturgical traditions and into the realm of lived, material, and embodied spirituality.This approach contributes to Egyptological studies by reconstructing non-textual religious practices that shaped everyday spirituality in ancient Egyptian society.
Irsay-Nagy, Balázs J. PhD., The Rosetta Stone and the Chronology of the Accession of Ptolemy V
Department of Egyptology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, HU
According to the hieroglyphic version of the Rosetta Stone (TM 8809) Ptolemy V celebrated the receiving of his kingship on the 17th of the second month of Ꜣḫ.t, according to the demotic version on the 17th day of the second month of pr.t (the date is not preserved in the Greek version). To this brief information three differing interpretations have benn suggested in the literature: 1. this date marks the beginning of the coregency between Ptolemy IV and Ptolemy V; 2. it is the date of the change of reign following the death of Ptolemy IV in the year 204 BC; and 3. this is the date of the 196 bce victory celebration mentioned in all three versions of the text that was the occasion of the promulgation of the Rosetta Stone and its parallel copies.
The paper argues that both no. 1 and no. 3 can be excluded, and thus the date is among the few sources of the violent change of reign that occurred in 204 BC.
This event is customary dated to the summer of 204 bce, with the help of papyri Milan 83.03 and Paris UPZ 112 (TM 7871 and TM 3504, respectively). However, based on additional papyri on tax auctions it can be shown that a later date is also possible, and thus it is possible to establish a new chronological framework for the accession of Ptolemy V.
Jiří Janák, Dr. ThD., The role of the Sons of Horus in mummification. Creating a protected space for renewal and resurrection
Czech Institute of Egyptology, Charles University, Prague, CZ
In course of the exploration of the shaft tomb necropolis of Abusir, several inscriptions, depictions, ritual object and vessels mentioning the four Sons of Horus have been discovered. Besides expected attestations within burial chamber decoration and burial equipment of some of the excavated tombs, the archaeological team have encountered the names and images of the four deities also during the excavation, exploration and documentation of several embalming deposits belonging to the Abusir shaft tombs. This paper reflects on the finds dealing with the four Sons of Horus from the embalming deposits of the Late Period cemetery in Abusir and the possible protective role of these four deities within the embalming workshop. Among the finds, two types of artefacts stand out: a second set of canopic jars and pots decorated with the names of the Sons of Horus that were used in the process of mummification. Both will be discussed in connection to the ancient Egyptian concepts of renewal and resurrection and in context of the notion of the sacred (protected) space.
Marthot-Santaniello, Isabelle, Prof. Dr., Innovation and renewal in paleography: current digital research in Greek papyrology
Department of Ancient Civilizations, University of Basel, PI SNSF Starting Grant project “EGRAPSA: Retracing the evolutions of handwritings in Graeco-Roman Egypt thanks to digital palaeography”, Basel, CH
Because Cultural Heritage Institutions have massively digitized their collections, researchers now have at their disposal a large amount of images of ancient written artifacts. Leveraging recent advances in Computer Vision, the field of Digital Paleography explores new possibilities offered by computational methods for analyzing ancient handwriting. The talk will present the work undertaken on Greek papyri in the scope of the project “Egrapsa: Retracing the evolutions of handwritings in Greco-Roman Egypt thanks to digital palaeography” funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Examples of writer identification, dating and stylistic similarity evaluation will be given, using papyrus datasets from various findspots of the Nile valley and various periods of the papyrological millennium (end of 4th c. BC – beginning of the 8th c. AD).
Nagy, Essam, PhD., Resurrection Osiris: The Chapel of Osiris-Ptah neb-ankh
Director of Osiris-Ptah Neb-ankh Research Project (OPNARP), Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA), Cairo, EG
The Chapel of Osiris-Ptah Neb-ankh is located beyond the Tenth Pylon of the Temple of Amun-Re at Karnak, along the sphinx-lined processional avenue leading towards the Mut Temple complex. Constructed during the Twenty-Fifth Dynasty under the reigns of Kings Taharqa and Tanutamun, the chapel represents a significant yet understudied component of the late Kushite religious landscape at Karnak.
This paper presents the results of an Egyptian archaeological mission and ongoing research project dedicated to the comprehensive documentation, conservation, excavation, and study of the Chapel of Osiris-Ptah Neb-ankh and its immediate surroundings. Building upon the initial restoration undertaken in 1921–1922, the mission has implemented a series of systematic conservation, restoration, excavation, and architectural reconstruction activities aimed at stabilising the monument and clarifying its original layout and function within the broader temple complex.
Petró, Marcell, Renewal or Repetition: the significance of the Egyptian-Hittite treaty in international relations (HU)
ELTE Történelemtudományi Doktori Iskola, Budapest, HU
Renewal is one of the most natural processes in the functioning of our world. Most often, things that are visible to the eye and easy to perceive come to mind. It can happen on individual or social level, and even abstract things, such as international relations, can be renewed. The question therefore arises whether the agreement between Ramses II and Hattusilis III was an epoch-making innovation in its time, or rather a further development of an already solidly based international relations system? The aim of the presentation is to analyze the text and content of the agreement, using comparative legal history and political philosophy methods, in order to gain a clearer picture of why the Egyptian-Hittite agreement can be considered an important milestone in international law, to which even the agreements in force today can reach back as a handhold.
Priskin, Gyula, PhD., Identification of new constellations on Szenenmut’s astronomical chart
Szegedi Tudományegyetem, Ókortörténeti Tanszék, Szeged, HU
The astronomical diagram of Senenmut (15th century BC) is undoubtedly one of the most important sources of ancient Egyptian astronomy. One reason for this is that it is the first complete document that has survived to us that preserves a relatively wide range of Egyptian constellations in the form of drawings. The lower panel shows the northern constellations, while the upper panel shows the constellations of the southern sky, which were obviously somehow connected to the decans, since their names are also listed there. The exact identification of the constellations in the sky is still a subject of scientific debate. In my presentation, I will draw attention to the fact that in the southern panel, among the traditionally recognized constellations represented by line drawings, there are also patterns formed by clusters of five-pointed stars, which also correspond to constellations. These constellations can also be identified in the sky if we accept the agreement I have already proposed, according to which the Egyptian constellation Ark was located in the vicinity of modern Libra.
Russo, Francesca, The Recycling of Inscribed Papyrus into Cartonnage artefacts: Presenting New Discoveries from the Third Intermediate Period
PhD studies at the University of Kent, Canterbury, UK
The aim of my presentation is to showcase the discovery of the recycling of inscribed documentary papyri in abnormal hieratic into a cartonnage case dated to the beginning of the Third Intermediate Period. Questioning the long-time and well-established assumption that cartonnage made of inscribed papyrus was a “Ptolemaic invention”, I discovered a small number of cartonnage artefacts containing inscribed papyrus and dated to the Third Intermediate Period. These discoveries demonstrate that papyrus cartonnage already existed and that this ancient recycling-technique was already practised in some cartonnage workshops centuries before the Ptolemaic Period. The application, development and spread of this method over time are as yet extremely difficult to trace because of the limited amount of material evidence and other information currently available. Equally challenging is to establish whether this was only an experimental technique or an innovation that spread widely.
However, in spite of these obstacles to research, my investigation of the material technique displayed by those artefacts along with my analysis of the differences from papyrus-cartonnage from the better-documented Ptolemaic and Roman Periods, has produced important results about cartonnage material and its manufacturing technique. Because of its versatility and artistic potential, cartonnage artefacts showcase considerable practical utility and religious significance simultaneously, allowing the most deeply rooted funeral traditions to be preserved. At the same time, the ability to add and modify the order of materials and their manufacture in layers facilitated adaptation to changing needs for more than a millennium.
Additionally, my analysis contextualises the recycling of inscribed papyrus paper in light of the Third Intermediate Period, its usage of economic resources and socio-economic developments. My aim is to establish and highlight significant relationships between this discovery and other cases of reuse that can be observed in funerary practices.
Scheffer, Krisztina, The Aegyptiaca Therapeutica Tutelaresque Project
Semmelweis Museum of Medical History, Budapest, HU
he Aegyptiaca Therapeutica Tutelaresque project aims to reinterpret the Egyptian collection of the Semmelweis Museum of Medical History (SOM) from the perspectives of medical history, religious studies, and object history. The research seeks to examine objects of Egyptian origin or reflecting Egyptian cultural influence preserved within the collection through an interdisciplinary approach, with particular attention to their therapeutic, protective, and ritual functions in their ancient context, as well as their reception history within European collecting practices and the historiography of science.
The presentation introduces the current results of the project, with special emphasis on the investigation of the provenance of Egyptian amulets and mummies within the collection, as well as on the analysis of two representative object types: the Djed pillar and the Taweret (Toeris) amulet. The examination of these amulets particularly focuses on their apotropaic functions, highlighting their everyday protective and health-related roles in ancient Egyptian society.
The methodology of the research combines object-historical analysis, iconographic examination, and comparative religious interpretation, complemented by the exploration of the museum context and the collecting processes of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The presentation aims to demonstrate how Egyptian artefacts may become active elements within medical-historical narratives and how they can be reinterpreted at the intersections of healing, protection, and spirituality.
Simon, Rita, Ram Horns for Tutankhamon in his Libyan Desert Glass Funerary Pectoral
ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Humanities, Egyptology Doctoral Program, Budapest, HU
The aim of my presentation is to present a newly noticed detail on Tutankhamun’s Libyan Desert Glass scarab pectoral (JE 61884). Although it does not reveal much certainty about how the stone of the scarab travelled to the Nile Valley, it may slightly hint at it. As the exquisite greenish-yellow scarab can be considered the main source of divine regenerating energy that helped the afterlife revival and ascent of Tutankhamon from the underworld to the realm of the sky, the inclusion of the stone facilitated the nature of the transformation sequally supported by the newly noticed detail.
In the sun-moon barque of the pectoral, Tutankhamon appeared in the shape of his own lunar god form, Nebkheperure, in the midst of his transformations from moon to the rising sun. On the head Nebkheperure wore the blue crown (xprS) with a ram horn visibly curling from behind the top of his ear down to the middle of the cheek.
The presence of ram horns seems to have been a continuation of a tradition introduced by Thutmose III. In various Nubian temples as well as in Luxor and Abydos such horns were meant to emblematize the royal kA. The lunar god, Nebmaatre Lord of Nubia, likewise wore ram horns at Soleb. The appearance of the royal kA in the Solar-Osirian transformations of Tutankhamon echoed in the pectoral may help to shed some light on so far unclear details. All the more as the Libyan Desert Glass could be associated with the qualities of THn(t), referring to the brilliance of the royal kA.
Among other pharaohs, Ramesses II wore ram horns in several depictions at Abu Simbel, including the one at the entrance to the Chapel of Re-Harakhty that greatly resembles the depiction of the ram horned Tutankhamon between Thoth and Re-Harakhty in the pectoral. Besides the lunar-solar Thoth and Re-Harakhty, the composite god of the Chapel was Atum-¢pr, the complete sun, embodying the setting and rising sun of the daily solar cycle at the same time. It can thus be postulated that Tutankhamon’s Libyan Desert Glass scarab may have performed similar functions in the pectoral providing the royal kA with shining energy for his transformations.
Simon, Rita, A Predynastic Boat Petroglyph in Wadi Asafir,Saudi Arabia
ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Humanities, Egyptology Doctoral Program, Budapest, HU
The aim of my presentation is to call attention to a Predynastic and an Early Dynastic Egyptian boat petroglyph at Wadi Asafir, about 130 km east of the coastline of the Red Sea and 18 km south-west of Tabuk in north-western Saudi Arabia. The Predynastic petroglyph (to be dated to Naqada IIC-D) has so far only been included in the report of its discoverer, Ömer Can Aksoy, in 2020 (Antiquity 94/378: 1-6) and has received no further scientific attention. The Early Dynastic boat petroglyph (to be dated to Naqada IIIA-C) has been given even less attention, as it has not been recognised by the discoverer of the site.
Because of the negligence of the site and its vulnerability to vandalism and occasional but considerable waste dumping, I consider it vital carrying out a more in-depth analysis of these easternmost pieces of ancient Egyptian rock art as long as they still exist.
These boat petroglyphs not only broaden the geographic scope of connection between Egypt and north-western Arabia around the late 4th and early 3rd millennium BC that manifested in long-distance relations on more than one occasion to the area or even beyond, but also, they hint at the existence of early cross-cultural interactions. The immediate vicinity of the boats contains numerous petroglyphs of possibly different origin during bygone eras.
Apart from these early boat petroglyphs, no other physical evidence regarding long-distance Predynastic or Early Dynastic operations is known at present as far as north-western Saudi Arabia. For that reason, the petroglyphs are invaluable for the study of these eras in Egyptology.
Szűcs, Bernadett, Survival and Transformation: Reinterpreting the Role of Ancient Egyptian Gods in Coptic Magical Texts (HU)
Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, HU
Coptic magical texts are important sources of religious syncretism in the late antique Mediterranean, reflecting both the survival of ancient Egyptian traditions and their adaptation to the Christian context. This presentation focuses on the Coptic, especially magical corpus in which Egyptian deities – such as Osiris, Isis, Horus and Bes – appear. The deities listed in these source-texts are often associated with the elimination of diseases, the warding off of evil, demonic powers, and the solutions to the problems they pose. However, these texts do not merely testify to the teachings of ancient magical traditions and practices, but also shed light on how they can be reinterpreted in a new religious context. The corpus under study is therefore not only seen as a carrier of pagan elements, but also provides insight into a dynamic religious dialogue that defined the period of late antiquity and played a decisive role in tradition, adaptation, and innovation. The lecture also pays special attention to the issue of magical language use and performativity, as well as the question of what elements can contribute to the magical effectiveness of the text.
Vasáros, Zsolt, Prof., New Results from the fieldwork of the South Khokha Project in Thebes: 2021–2026
Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Explorative Architecture, Budapest, HU
The South Khokha Project is a fieldwork initiative of the Hungarian Archaeological Mission in Thebes. It encompasses the concession areas of tomb TT 32, where work was initiated by László Kákosy in 1983, as well as tombs TT -59- and TT -61-, where excavations began under Ernő Gaál in 1995 and 1999. In 2007, Gábor Schreiber unified these two projects under the name “South Khokha Project,” expanding the area to include tombs TT 179/180 and TT -400-. Since 2021, the reorganized research team has formulated new and revised objectives, focusing on fieldwork strategies, the restoration and presentation of excavated structures, and the processing of finds. Executing these large-scale plans required a multi- and interdisciplinary team, along with methods, tools, and specialists adequate to the project’s scope.
Following seven excavation seasons over the past five years, we have achieved significant new results. In addition to the Ramesside tombs, the number of features associated with 18th Dynasty burials—already a prominent presence—has increased, representing a high density of burial structures in the area. Furthermore, an intact coffin burial, presumably dating to the Middle Kingdom, was also discovered. The processing of both legacy and newly excavated material has led to new insights; notably, within the ceramic assemblage, we have identified a corpus of Fatimid-period pottery and glass jewelry, as well as Ottoman-period ceramic material. All excavated features within the site have now been integrated into a digital model. This allows for the study of the spatial patterns and evolution of approximately half a hectare, containing 10 decorated tombs, nearly 100 additional features, and thousands of burials. These findings provide vital contributions to understanding the spatial and chronological stratification of the necropolis as a whole.
Wagdy, Abdelghaffar, Dr., Activities of Joint Egyptian-Foreign Missions and Egyptian Missions in Luxor (Season 2025-2026)
General Director of Luxor Antiquities, co-director of CFEETK, Luxor, EG
The 2025–2026 season in Luxor hosts over 77 archaeological missions, reflecting unparalleled international collaboration in heritage preservation. These missions are diverse in nature and include foreign teams affiliated with international universities and scientific institutions, joint Egyptian–foreign missions, as well as national Egyptian missions. Their work spans iconic sites such as Karnak Temple Complex, Luxor Temple, Deir el-Bahri, and the Valley of the Kings.
In this lecture, I will present the activities of selected archaeological missions operating under my direct supervision during the 2025–2026 season in Luxor. These include the major projects of the French–Egyptian Center for Karnak Studies, such as the conservation of the expansion of the Karnak Open-Air Museum. I will also highlight the Egyptian–Chinese mission at the Montu Temple, which has yielded significant discoveries, as well as the Egyptian–Korean mission at the Ramesseum focusing on the reconstruction of its First Pylon.
In addition, the lecture will present the project for Documentation, Conservation, and Visitor Presentation of the Blocking Wall (Seda) of Tutankhamun’s Tomb (KV62), as well as the excavation, conservation, and documentation project of the south Sacred Lake Project (SSLP): Documentation and Conservation Project of “Psamut Storehouse” (PSS).
The lecture will also cover the results of the Egyptian mission at Dra’ Abu el-Naga, revealing new tombs, alongside ongoing work at the El-Assasif necropolis.
These missions encompass excavation, documentation, architectural analysis, conservation, site management, and digital heritage recording. Carefully selected to align with national heritage priorities, these projects play a vital role in safeguarding Egypt’s cultural legacy, training new generations of Egyptian archaeologists, and reinforcing Egypt’s position as a global center for archaeological research and heritage management.
Wahba, Afaf, An Intact Inscribed Wooden Coffin with Wedjat-eyes: A Study of Funerary Traditions during the Transition from the Late Old Kingdom to the First Intermediate Period
MoTA, Head of the Bioarchaeology Department in the Magazines, Cairo, Egypt
This paper presents and investigates the discovery of an intactrect angular wooden inscribed coffin from Saqqara. The coffin is characterized most notably by the representation of the two Wedjat-eyes on its left side, serving as a primary example of the evolution of funerary equipment during the late Old Kingdom and the beginning of the First Intermediate Period.
The study provides a detailed analysis of the inscriptions and the religious significance of the Wedjat-eyes in ensuring the protection and “vision” of the deceased in the afterlife. Itn also contributes to a better understanding of the transition in burial customs and the socio-economic status of individuals during this pivotal era in Ancient Egyptian history.
Wilde, Heike, PD. Dr., Innovation without Replacement: Glass Vessels and the Persistence of Faience in Egyptian Culture
Department of Ancient and Medieval Thought. Institute of Philosophy of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, CZ
The emergence of glass production in the eastern Mediterranean and Near Eastern world during the second millennium BCE is often described as a major technological innovation. In Egypt, the earliest securely attested glass vessels appear in the early 18th Dynasty, particularly in the period of Thutmose III. This period saw broad technological experimentation across craft traditions. The introduction of glass vessel production —especially core-formed vessels—represents a striking example of such innovation.
This paper examines glass vessel production in Egypt in comparison with contemporaneous evidencefrom northern Mesopotamia, including sites such as Nuzi and Assur. Archaeological evidence suggests the emergence of glass vessels occurred roughly simultaneously across these regions, pointing to a broader sphere of technological exchange.
The Egyptian case reveals a distinctive trajectory. While glass might have been initially adopted and furtherdeveloped—particularly for small core-formed vessels—this innovation remained short-lived. The latest examples date to the Third Intermediate Period of Egypt. Afterwards, glass continued mainly as inlays in burial equipment, functioning as “artificial stone,” but not as vessels, foundation deposits or amulets.
In contrast to other Near Eastern regions, where glass replaced older vitreous materials, Egyptian craft traditions maintained long-established faience production. This paper argues that the limited longevity of glass vessels reflects not a technological failure but the strength of existing craft traditions and aesthetic preferences. By comparing glass and faience, the study shows how innovation could coexist with, yet remain subordinate to, deeply rooted material traditions. These patterns offer broader insights into the dynamics of technological adoption, cultural preference, and the interplay between innovation and tradition in ancient societies.
Young, Robin, Threat by Allegory: What Apophis Really Told Seqenenre Tao to Provoke the Revolution of 1580 BCE
Independent Scholar, Virginia, USA
Around 1580 BCE, Pharaoh Seqenenre Tao ruled 40% of Egypt, from Quft south to Kush. Some hundred years earlier, his ancestor had evacuated the crown to the south. In the other 60%, the Hyksos Kingdom, Pharoah Apophis ruled a population like himself – migrant levantines – diluting a millennium of traditional Egyptian religion and government. Apophis held the White Walls, seat of the God Ptah and associated craft workshops, the solar temple plateaus of Abu Rawash and Abu Sir, and the ancient sacred Giza burial ground. Sacrilege. Entering through the fertile Delta lands, caravans delivered a vast wealth of trade goods from adjacent Asia.
Blocked from such riches, and the ma’at of their dead pharaohs, Upper Egypt smoldered with resentment; the two kings loathed each other. It was a given that Seqenenre Tao’s family plotted rebellion, and Apophis remained alert to any signs of it. As the Hungarian peoples agitated against the Habsburgs for self-governance and independence in the 1800s, so must have the ruling elite in Upper Egypt around 1580 BC.
Knowledge lost after the Aswan Dam is the key to understanding the riddle was not merely literary. When the Nile was high, the land verdant and watery, man and hippo avoided each other. However, in the blazing summer when the Nile was barely a puddle in the mud, hippos contested for remaining small ponds, where the fight for survival was vicious, belligerent, and noisy. Trivializing the aspirations of Upper Egypt, alert to alliances evolving within, Apophis wrote allegorically, demanding Seqenenre cease plotting and abort any rebellion: submit or die. Seqenenre surely conferred with his advisers – regarding moving forward. Goaded, he proceeded with plans to attack the North – the opening phase of a multi-decade Reconquista.
Zaki, Fadi Zaki Kamel, Echoes of Eternity: Innovation and Cultural Transformation in Ancient Egyptian and Coptic Architecture
Archaeological Conservator & Researcher in Heritage Science, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Cairo, Egypt
This paper examines the architectural dialogue between Ancient Egyptian and Coptic cultures, highlighting how innovation and continuity coexisted within Egypt’s sacred architecture across time. The research challenges the assumption of a complete rupture between Pharaonic and Coptic architecture, arguing instead for a gradual process of reinterpretation in which ancient spatial concepts were transformed to meet new theological and cultural contexts.
Case studies include the Temple of Luxor, the Serapeum of Saqqara, and the Hanging Church of Saint Virgin Mary in Old Cairo, chosen for their symbolic and structural evolution. Comparative analysis of these monuments reveals that fundamental principles such as axial planning, symbolic orientation toward the sun, and the ritual use of light and elevation persisted into the Coptic period. These elements were reimagined to express Christian cosmology while preserving Egypt’s millennia-old sense of sacred order.
The research integrates archaeological field data, architectural documentation, and conservation perspectives, supported by 3D modeling and visual analysis. It demonstrates that Egyptian and Coptic architecture form a continuous narrative of innovation rooted in memory and identity. The reuse of materials, adaptation of decorative programs, and continuity of spatial symbolism illustrate how architecture functioned as a vessel of cultural resilience – where each new sacred space echoed the eternal foundations of Egypt’s artistic and spiritual heritage.