Ancient Egypt’s Gods, Tombs, and Temples
The Field Work of the American Research Center in Egypt, 2011-2014
By Dr Andrew Bednarski, ARCE Egyptologist, Luxor
Luxor (ancient Thebes) is a portal to a great archaeological heritage. It is where the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) undertook an ambitious program of work between 2011 and 2014, as will be described by Dr Andrew Bednarksi. At a time when the Egyptian economy was ailing, ARCE employed about 100 local people, trained local inspectors, and radically improved several tourist sites.
The tomb of Djehuty. The tomb of the royal steward who served two great Pharaohs had been accessible for the past 100 years but the interior was in a sorry state and excavation was incomplete. Hieroglyphs, coffins and mummies were discovered as ARCE prepared the site for public access.
The Roman Temple of Isis. Local villagers had recently used the temple at Deir el Shelwit as a place to hang laundry. Long neglected, and still only partially understood, the temple’s interior, replete with lavishly painted scenes of gods and kings, has now been brought to light.
The Temple of Mut. Closed to the public for nearly a generation, this important center within the Karnak Temple complex now has been opened, thanks to ARCE’s efforts.
The Sheikh Abd el Qurna cemetery. The ruling elite used this ancient cemetery for thousands of years. ARCE mapped it, recorded nearby demolished hamlets, cleared debris and added visitor paths.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
at 7:30 pm
Room 296
Smith Memorial Student Union
Portland State University
Free admission; Open to the public.
Park Free in PSU parking structures
after 7:00 pm
Dr. Andrew Bednarski has field-directed ARCE’s excavations in and around Luxor for the last three years. He earned his Ph.D. in Egyptology at Cambridge University, has excavated extensively, and has published broadly on ancient Egyptian civilization. His personal interest is the history of Egyptology, a subject he addresses in his most recent book, The Lost Manuscript of Frédéric Cailliaud, which ARCE published through the American University in Cairo Press.
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ARCE is a private, nonprofit organization that supports research on all aspects of Egyptian history and culture, fosters broader knowledge among the general public, and strengthens American-Egyptian cultural ties. ARCE-OR – P.O. Box 15192 – Portland, OR 97214
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Lecture sponsored by the Oregon Chapter of the American Research Center in Egypt in cooperation with the Middle East Studies Center of Portland State University.
PSU Anthropology Department 