Discover the fascinating world of ancient Egypt in programs that explore the daily life, culture, and innovations of one of the world’s most influential civilizations. Scholar Shelby Justl of the Penn Museum in Philadelphia draws on the discoveries of ongoing archaeological explorations and experimental archaeology to bring to life the rich history of Egypt and its expanding role on the global stage.
September 4 Eating and Drinking Like an Egyptian
Ever wonder what you’d eat if you lived 4,000 years ago? Explore evidence of food and drink found in tomb and temple scenes and ancient burial sites that reveals an Egyptian diet that included bread, beer (starting at age 5), figs, legumes, onions, lettuce, honey, and at times meat and fish. Justl looks at how these items were produced; taboos associated with ancient foods; and how a commoner’s diet differs from that of wealthier folk with more access to meat. She discusses recent discoveries—including the world’s oldest known industrial-scale beer factory found in 2021—and her own research into ancient Egyptian honey and beekeeping.
September 11 Ancient Egyptian Adornments
Clothing, makeup, jewelry, and perfume were part of the lives of both Egyptian women and men. Justl recounts her research into a special delivery of gold and semiprecious stones to the ancient town of Wah-sut, a site of Penn Museum excavations, and the results of her experimental archaeology work in recreating a lily perfume from an ancient recipe.
September 18 The Fairer Sex: Women in Ancient Egypt
Justl reviews the multifaceted roles of women in Egyptian society as mothers, wives, and workers inside and outside the home. She also examines women’s rights to divorce, inherit property, and disinherit children who were rude to them in old age. Justl presents items from Penn Museum collections, including an ivory birthing wand and other objects from the museum’s excavations of the city of Abydos in southern Egypt that reveal women leaders in outlying Wah-sut—and the first birth brick (used in delivering a child) ever discovered.
September 25 Ships, Travel, and Trade on the “Great Green” Mediterranean
Ancient reports and tales of travel abroad illustrate the challenges faced by merchant ships and the importance of trade missions that supplied Egypt with necessary non-native materials. Justl examines trade connections with the Aegean and Near East through scenes of tribute on tomb and temple walls and foreign artifacts found on Egyptian soil. She also presents an important recent discovery: a subterranean boat house uncovered by Penn Museum archeologists in excavations of Abydos.
4 sessions
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