BA Latin and Italian

The ancient Egyptians have often been characterised as being ‘obsessed with death’. And while that is very much a modern misconception, the archaeological, textual and iconographic record from ancient Egypt is nevertheless very much dominated both by the lived and mortuary religion. This unit will investigate the development of the Egyptian understanding of the Afterlife and the Gods. It will discuss the role of the temple both as a religious and economic institution, and the creating of an industry based around the creation of funerary objects and tombs. It will cover topics such as mummification, the development of private tomb architecture, the role of the Offering Cult and focus on sites of particular significance such as Abydos. The unit as a whole aims to provide the students with a comprehensive overview of how the Egyptians – both elite and non-elite – interacted with their Gods, understood their mythology and prepared themselves for Eternity.

This unit will be taught wholly online. It will comprise 22 pre-recorded lectures and 11 interactive seminars (a combination of discussion board activities and live online seminars).

• to introduce students to the concept of ‘god’ in ancient Egypt.
• to provide students with a thorough understanding of the role of the temple and priesthood in ancient Egyptian society.
• to introduce students to the ancient Egyptian concept of the Afterlife and the requirements to successfully navigate it.
• to encourage students to develop a critical and independently minded approach to the analysis of archaeological, textual and iconographic data.

This course unit will be taught wholly online. 

• to understand the range and quality of textual, archaeological and iconographic sources used in the study of ancient Egypt.
• to demonstrate knowledge of the ancient Egyptian pantheon and Afterlife beliefs.
• to understand how the religious and funerary industries impacted the ancient Egyptian economy and society.

• to successfully conduct independent research.
• to present a clear and cogent argument in oral and written form.
• to critically engage with a range of ancient sources.

• to effectively and independently manage time.
• to learn effectively in an online teaching environment.

• to discuss problems and questions in a group setting.
• to conduct independent research.
• to construct and present a clear, reasoned argument in written form.

• Assmann, J. 2001. The Search for Gods in Ancient Egypt. Cornell University Press: Ithaca.
• Assmann, J. 2005. Death and Salvation in Ancient Egypt. Cornell University Press: Ithaca.
• Kemp, B. J. 1989. Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilisation. Routledge: London
• Shaw, I (ed). 2003. The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press: Oxford.
• Quirke, S. 1992. Ancient Egyptian Religion. British Museum Press.
• Quirke, S. 1997. The Temple in Ancient Egypt. British Museum Press.