Figure 1: The bes jar from the Ashmolean that inspired this week's blog. Authors own photo This week’s blog is inspired by a recent trip to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford when I was reminded about how charming and intriguer Bes jars are (Figure 1). So, this set me off on a little adventure reading… Continue reading Bes – the tambourine shaking, snake strangling, protector of children
I have been promising that I would cover this goddess for a long time and given that a few of my most recent blogs have been on topics of the feline variety why not make it a hattrick? This week I have delved into the mythology, meaning and worship of the feared lioness goddess Sekhmet… Continue reading Sekhmet – she who is powerful
As promised in my last post I will kick off the second month of 2022 by taking a look at the taking ancient Egyptian calendar. Now had I been a little less busy at work I would have chosen this as my first topic back in the new year but sometimes it is a bit… Continue reading What day is it? The Calendar in Ancient Egpyt
Happy New year and welcome back to my series of bi-weekly blogs now I was going to do an entire blog post on the ancient Egyptian calendar but I will have to save that for the end of the month rather than the beginning as there is a lot of information to sift through and… Continue reading Lions in Ancient Egpyt
In my last blog, I gave a brief introduction to ancient Egyptian clothing from the predynastic period to the end of the Middle Kingdom. In the second part of this, I will take you through the fashions of the New Kingdom a time when Egypt’s empire grew and stepped onto the international stage. The style… Continue reading Ancient Egyptian Clothing Part 2 – Diaphanous cloth and jewels abound
What would you wear to be the height of fashion in Ancient Egypt? The fashion for both men and women in ancient Egypt changed throughout time just as they do today. Returning to my regular schedule after a pretty hectic work schedule. This is the first part of this two-part blog series, looking at clothing… Continue reading Draped in fabulous linens- Ancient Egyptian Clothing Part 1
What would you be scared of haunting your dreams or what creature from the depths of the underworld could cause you a headache? For the last of my blogs in October and in keeping with the spooky season, I have chosen to have a look at demons in ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians considered there… Continue reading Demons in Ancient Egpyt
What fantastical secrets could your heart spill if it was compelled to in the great hall of judgment would you become true of voice and pass on to afterlife successfully or would your heart be consumed by the terrifying Ammit who lurks nearby like a spectre? Well, that was a major source of concern for… Continue reading Heart Scarabs- an afterlife fail safe
It is now October which means that mummy costumes, pumpkins and the rustling of corn mazes might be out to calling you? Last October I explored curses. So, I thought I would combine two autumnal themes into this week’s blog and a look at corn mummies and Osiris beds. It might not sound like these… Continue reading Corn Mummies
It is still warm for being September where I am. So, as people fill pub gardens, they are more than likely drinking a beer and that is what this week blog is all about the drink of choice for the ancient Egyptians, beer. Beer or Henket was the most common alcoholic beverage and formed an… Continue reading Beer in Ancient Egypt
The Curious Egyptologist 