Society Talks
Since 2000 I have spoken at a number of
societies throughout the UK, as well as participating in International conferences.
If you would like me to talk at a function, society meeting or conference please
contact me. 
Please find below a list of talks that I have given to
societies in the past as well as those that are new research.
They are all illustrated lectures using powerpoint
presentations. For further details please do not hesitate to
contact me to discuss it. Talks can range from 30 mins to 1 hour
30 mins.
The Myth of Egypt
This looks at the myths and preconceptions that we hold about Egypt as well as investigating the origins of these myths and whether there is any element of truth in them.
The Book of the Dead
To tie in with the British Museum exhibition this lecture investigates the journey of the deceased in the Amduat as demonstrated in the surviving examples of the Book of the Dead. Join the ancient Egyptians on their dangerous journey and help them live for eternity.
Banquetting with Tutankhamun
An investigation into food and recipes from the eighteenth dynasty, using the organic material from the tomb of Tutankhamun as a guide, in addition to other archaeological evidence from the period.
Horemheb - the forgotten
pharaoh
This looks at Horemheb, the king often placed at the end of the
Amarna period, rather than in his rightful place as the founder
of the 19th dynasty. In this talk I investogate the importance
of Horemheb and the essential role he played in the foundation
of the 19th dynasty.
The Myth of Cleopatra
We are all familiar with Cleopatra, famous for her love affairs
with Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony, but are our impressions of
this enigmatic queen based on truth or fictio? In this talk I
investigate the myth of Cleopatra and how it has tainted the
modern opinions of her.
Aspects of Body
Alteration in Ancient Egypt.
This is a study on the ways the Egyptians changed their
appearance through the temporary use of cosmetics and wigs as
well as the more permanent processes of tattoos and
scarificiation.
A Woman
called Taimhotep – Intrigue of a Ptolemaic family
This is an insight into the life of a Ptolemaic family living in Memphis during the time of Cleopatra. Learn about their religious beliefs, everyday life as well as murder and intrigue.
Evolution of burial
architecture in ancient Egypt. – From Pits to Pyramids
A study of the development of
tomb architecture starting with pre-dynastic pit burials and
travelling through time to discover the rock-cut tombs of the
Valley of the Kings. This investigates the religious beliefs
behind the tomb architecture
Funerary goods -
everything but the Kitchen Sink
This is a guide to the objects in
the tombs of the ancient Egyptians looking less at jewellery and
more at the household objects, soul houses, hypocephali and
personal effects.
Preparing the body for
eternity.
A illustrated guide to
mummification – looking at the process, the beliefs and the
history of the most infamous aspect of ancient Egypt.
Whose Past Is It? The
Controversies of Archaeology.
A brief talk on the controversies surrounding Egyptology,
asking such questions as is funerary archaeology the same as
grave robbing? Who owns the past – scholars, the public or
institutions? To answer these questions I discuss what the past
is and the responsibility of all of us to care for it.
This talk investigates the
Hyksos period and presents it from their view rather than that
of the ancient Egyptians. I also question the accuracy of the
Egyptian reaction to the Hyksos and how they would have been an
accepted part of the Egyptian population, who contributed
greatly to the culture of ancient Egypt.
The Influence of Ancient Egyptian
environment on religion.
An investigation into the Egyptian religion and the extent that the
surrounding environment would have influenced these early
writers. The importance of the landscape is also touched upon.
A possible case of Elephantiasis in
Ptolemaic Egypt
This talk looks at the evidence of the
disfiguring disease of Elephantiasis in ancient Egypt, including
tomb images, statues, and human remains.
This is a no-holds-barred
account of disease and medicine in ancient Egypt. Learn about
the bizarre cures for simple ailments and ponder the
difficulties in gathering that most useful ingredient of fly
dung!!
This talk can be combined with a 30 min practical
element where ancient remedies are mixed by the group members
according to ancient recipes..
The Journey into the Afterlife
This talk starts the journey at the death and
mummification of the deceased. I discuss the beliefs in the
afterlife and investigate some of the trials and dangers faced
by a new arrival in the Amduat.
The
Shipwrecked Sailor; Fairytale or Social History
This talk looks at
the popular story of the Shipwrecked Sailor and discusses the
information that can be gathered from the story about everyday
life of the Egyptians. This talk gives an insight into the minds
of the audience of this maritime adventure.
Nubians in
Art
This talk investigates the non-stereotypical images of Nubians in
ancient Egypt and questions the real role that they would have
held within Egyptian society. I will also look at what it is to
be Egyptian and whether Nubians were considered as Egyptian by
the Egyptian population.
The Similarity between Ancient Egyptian Religion and Modern Hinduism
There are numerous studies exploring the similarities
between ancient Egyptian religion and modern Christianity,
largely due to Akhenaten’s monotheistic religious upheaval.
Although this research is interesting it may be more useful to
compare the Egyptian religion with another polytheistic
religion, and investigate the similarities. In the following study the similarities between the
ancient Egyptian religion and modern Hinduism will be
investigated, as well as the possibility of there being a common
source for both religions
Women in Ancient Egypt
This talk will look at the role that women held in society as well as
the jobs and the legal rites that they possessed. I will also
look at the individual life of at least one woman looking in
detail at what it must have been like being a woman living in
ancient Egypt.
Battles Ramses II and Ramses III
This talk looks at the most famous battles of Ramses II and Ramses III,
namely the battle of Kadesh and the Battle of the Sea Peoples.
This is a comparative discussion the differences in military
leadership that these kings displayed.
(Harrogate – June 2005)
Egypt – A Multi-Cultural Society
This investigates the reality of the population of foreigners living in
Egypt throughout the pharaonic period. Mostly investigated
through artistic images as well as textual evidence I conclude
that Egypt was a truly multicultural society and not the
xenophobic nation that their propagandistic texts would suggest.
Foreigners in Thebes
This is a variant on the above talk (Egypt – a Multi-cultural Society)
although focusing on the region of Thebes – using tomb images,
genealogy and textual evidence to present Thebes as a
cosmopolitan mult-cultural society.
(Birkbeck)
Abu Simbel through the Eyes of the Traveler
This talk looks at first hand accounts through the ages of visitors to
Abu Simbel I investigate the changing experience of the traveler
to Egypt and question whether these changes have improved the
experience or not.
The Hyksos Period
This is an in depth study of the Hyksos kings of Egypt, looking at
their capital city at Avaris, religion and burial practices.
Through the study of the archaeological remains at Avaris it is
possible to decifer the mysteries surrounding these elusive
kings.
Royal Women
This talk investigates the role that royal women would have held in
ancient Egypt as well as a study of the institution of the
harem, and the role of the God’s Wives of Amun. I conclude with
the life stories of a few incredible royal women who have stood
out from the thousands of women who are now anonymous.
The Erotic Arts
This is a variant on the talk Aspects of Body Alteration in Ancient Egypt which focuses on the
professions of women which were reliant on a ‘sexy’ erotic
bodily image. I look at the methods used to improve the
appearance and also the individual roles that come under this
title including dancers, musicians, singers and prostitutes.
Everyone is familiar with the tomb of Tutankhamun and the
array of wealth displayed there. However few people know about
his battles and his life at Amarna and at Memphis. This lecture
will focus on the lesser known information about the most
infamous king of ancient Egypt.
A basic introduction to reading Egyptian art and
identifying certain artistic characteristics such as age, sex,
nationality and location. This is an illustrated lecture
explaining the basics of Egyptian art.
Everyday Lives of the ancient Egyptians
An introduction to the lives of the ordinary Egyptians investigating religion, houses, pastimes, working life and personal correspondence. This is based primarily on the site of Deir el Medina although other sites including the workman villages of Giza, Kahun and Amarna will be used.
Practical Lectures
Approximate group numbers will be needed in advance
Senet Tournament
This is a practical competition of the ancient Egyptian board
game Senet. I speak briefly on the history of the game as well
as one of the devised sets of rule. I provide boards, pieces and
“throw sticks” or dice and run a tournament. Large groups
welcome.
Art Workshop
This 2 hour session starts with a talk on techniques of Egyptian
art including carving, drawing and sculpting of 3-D statues.
Then the group are encouraged to try their hand and one of these
techniques. I can provide all of the materials needed for a
small additional cost.
This 2 hour session starts with a talk on the medicines,
practices and practitioners of Ancient Egypt. Then the group are
encouraged to mix, and try (for the brave) some ancient remedies
made from ingredients available around the house!!
The first
half of this workshop will involve a short talk about the
history and use of cosmetics, looking at the value, and
ingredients used to create the beautiful colours presented in
Egyptian art. Then it’s your turn. Using plastic masks and
paint, groups are given images to reproduce. There will be
eye-make-up available for the more adventurous who wish to try
it out on each other.
Have you ever wondered how the ancient Egyptians bought and
sold their wares without a monetary system? Now’s your chance to
find out! There will be a short talk regarding the evidence of
the ancient Egyptian market place as well as standard prices.
Then everyone is given a “shopping list” and an invisible “bag
of goodies” and the first one to get all their goods for the
best price wins a prize!
This workshop starts with a short talk on the crime and
punishments of ancient Egypt. Then the society is divided into
small groups (5-10 depending on numbers), and are given a
scenario consisting of a crime and the appropriate punishment.
This they present to the others (poems, plays, puppet shows –
any way you can imagine) using the props provided.
This two hour session is a combination of a short
presentation explaining the basic pastimes of the Egyptians, and
the rest of the session will be putting some of these into
action including story telling, toy making, board games and
sports (for the more athletic members of the society).
If you would like me to talk at your society or social group then contact
me on charlottesegypt@gmail.com