Events and LecturesAll scheduled events and lectures have now passed. Hurry, final days to catch the exhibition! Past events Gilded mask, Ptolemaic-Roman period, first century BCE-first century CE, Egypt - © Trustees of the British Museum. Western Australian Museum in association with The British Museum presents The horizon of eternity: living and dying in ancient Egypt John Taylor Exhibition Curator - Secrets of the Afterlife; Assistant Keeper, Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan, The British Museum 6.00pm, Sunday 19 May 2013 State Library Theatre, State Library of Western Australia (entrance via Francis St) This talk will examine the ancient Egyptians’ view of their world, in which all natural phenomena were regarded as expressions of divine power. The relationship between men and gods – in which the pharaoh acted as the crucial intermediary – will be explained, together with the functioning of temples and divine cults. Every person hoped to be released at death from the restrictions of earthly existence and to enter the eternal realms where the gods dwelt. To achieve this, enormous importance was attached to rituals and magical practices, such as the proper treatment of the body through mummification, the preparation and provisioning of the tomb as an eternal resting place, and the equipping of the dead with words and images of power to guide them through the trials of the Netherworld and to conduct them safely into paradise. Join John Taylor as he explains the beliefs and concepts surrounding living and dying in ancient Egypt, with illustrations of temples, tombs, paintings, statues and the richly decorated papyrus documents which were buried alongside the dead. Cost: Free event Perth Sun 19 May 2013 6:00pm – 7:00pm State Library Theatre, SLWA. Bookings essential. Coffin mask, WA Museum collection - Image copyright WA Museum Death, decay and dissection in ancient Egypt Presented by Dr Alanah Buck Forensic Anthropologist, Department of Forensic Pathology (PathWest); Honorary Associate, WA Museum 6.00pm, Friday 7 June 2013 State Library Theatre, State Library of Western Australia (entrance via Francis St) What did the ancient Egyptians understand about anatomy and decomposition? Did they reflect what they saw in their texts, art and objects? Preparation for the afterlife played a large role in the lives of the ancient Egyptians. Mummification of an individual’s corpse was believed to be central to the process of preserving the earthly body for a journey to next world and final resurrection. These practices required skilled morticians whose skills were able to preserve bodies that have lasted, in some cases, for several thousand years. But what did the Egyptians really understand about the bodies they prepared? Join Dr Alanah Buck as she explores the clinical knowledge of human anatomy and death processes in ancient Egypt, and how this may be reflected in their ritual beliefs, art and mummification practices. NOTE: There will be an AUSLAN interpreter present at this lecture, please email Fred.Saunders@museum.wa.gov.au if you would like a priority seat set aside to view the interpretation. Cost: Free event Perth Fri 7 June 2013 6:00pm – 7:00pm State Library Theatre, SLWA. Bookings essential. Poster for the 1932 film The Mummy, featuring Boris Karloff - Public domain image, source: Wikimedia commons. "It Comes to Life!”: The mummy across genres in film and television Presented by Dr Lindsay Hallam Lecturer, Department of Film, Television and Screen Arts, Curtin University 6.00pm, Friday 21 June 2013 State Library Theatre, State Library of Western Australia (entrance via Francis St) This talk will look at how ‘the mummy’ has been depicted in various film and television genres such as horror films, science-fiction television, children's cartoons, action-adventure blockbusters … and even Mexican wrestling movies! Rather than presenting a depiction of the mummy that is scientifically correct, these screen productions utilise the concept of the mummy for entertainment purposes: such as a monster in horror movies, an alien creature in science-fiction television, or an ancient vengeful force in action-adventure blockbusters. Join Dr Lindsay Hallam as she demonstrates how through these changing depictions of the mummy our relationship with the ancient world and historical artefacts can be explored, celebrated and manipulated as a source of both wonder and fear. Cost: Free event Perth Fri 21 June 2013 6:00pm – 7:00pm State Library Theatre, SLWA. Bookings essential. Tomb of Ramesses VI - Image courtesy of Susanne Binder. WAMCAES double lecture - Dr. Boyo Ockinga and Dr. Susanne Binder Western Australian Museum and the Western Australian Museum Centre for Ancient Egyptian Studies (WAMCAES) present a double lecture event Escaping the maws of the ‘Gobbler’: The ancient Egyptian concept of the judgment of the dead Dr Boyo Ockinga Associate Professor, Department of Ancient History, Macquarie University 2.30pm, Saturday 29 June 2013 State Library Theatre, State Library of Western Australia (entrance via Francis St) This talk will focus on the concept of the judgement of the dead as recorded in text and image in chapter 125 of the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. The representation of the weighing of the heart of the deceased is one of the best known motifs of ancient Egyptian funerary art in the New Kingdom, and the so-called ‘Negative Confession’ or ‘Declaration of Innocence’ which it accompanied is one of the best-known texts of the Book of the Dead. These traditions offer revealing insight into the origins of the belief that at death every person had to stand before the judgement throne of Osiris, the king of the netherworld. Join Dr Boyo Ockinga as he discusses what the iconographic and textual evidence tells us of how it was thought that this divine judgement would be carried out, and the influence of this belief beyond the borders of Egypt. Book Online Now Seals broken and contents plundered?: The fate of the royal tombs in the Valley of Kings Dr Susanne Binder Associate Lecturer, Department of Ancient History, Macquarie University 4.00pm, Saturday 29 June 2013 State Library Theatre, State Library of Western Australia (entrance via Francis St) What happened to the contents of the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings? Why is the famous tomb of Tutankhamun the only one to have been found intact? This lecture takes us to the burial place of the ancient Egyptian kings of the New Kingdom (c. 1550-1069 BCE) on the West Bank of the Nile at Luxor in Upper Egypt, which is 800 km south of modern-day Cairo. The tombs designed for the New Kingdom kings are enormous subterranean structures, with steep sloping passages into the depths of the mountain, with huge sarcophagus chambers, brightly painted walls decorated with the various mythological compositions concerning the journey of the sun-god through day and night. Surprisingly, the archaeology of the Valley has uncovered extremely little in terms of material finds of the original contents of these tombs. The exceptions to this are well-known sensational finds like KV 62, the tomb of the boy-king Tutankhamun located in 1921 (KV 62); the prior discovery of the tomb of Yuya and Thuya in 1905; or the gold hoard in the tomb of Queen Tawosret (KV 56) revealed in 1908. Join Dr Susanne Binder as she explores interpretations of the curious situation of missing material finds that surrounds the story of archaeological discovery in the Valley of the Kings. Cost: Free event Bookings: Essential by using the link below or calling 1300 134 081 Book Online Now Perth Sat 29 June 2013 2:30pm – 5:00pm State Library Theatre, SLWA. Bookings essential. The remains of second century BCE mudbrick buildings within a large trench at Tell Timai - Image courtesy of Sean Winter Change, adaptation and destruction at Tell Timai: Results from the 2011-2012 field seasons Presented by Sean Winter PhD Candidate, Archaeology, University of Western Australia 6.00pm, Friday 26 July 2013 State Library Theatre, State Library of Western Australia (entrance via Francis St) This lecture will discuss ongoing archaeological field work at Tell Timai, the location of the ancient Greco-Roman city of Thmouis, one of Alexander the Great’s administrative centres in the Nile Delta. Field work has been ongoing at Timai since 2007, conducted by a multi-national team led by researchers from the University of Hawaii. Initial field efforts focused on archaeological survey and understanding the layout of the town. Since that time the site has been suffering severe encroachment from modern development, and from 2010 excavations have placed priority on salvaging areas slated for demolition. The 2011 field season concentrated on an industrial area of the ancient city and uncovered evidence of a major destruction event in the first century BCE (Before Common Era). In contrast the 2012 season concentrated on a more affluent area of the ancient town and excavated houses dating to the third century CE. Join Sean Winter as he discusses results from both seasons of excavation at Timai, and shows how archaeology is providing evidence of change and adaptation in the ancient city. Cost: Free event Bookings: Essential essential using the link below, or calling 1300 134 081 Book Online Now Perth Friday 26 July 2013 6:00pm – 7:00pm State Library Theatre, SLWA. Bookings essential. Pectoral Carter 261 p 1 from Tutankhamun's tomb - Image courtesy of Araldo de Luca WAMCAES Double Lecture - Dr Marc Gabolde & Dr Luc Gabolde Western Australian Museum and the Western Australian Museum Centre for Ancient Egyptian Studies (WAMCAES) present a double lecture event The genesis of a temple, the birth of a god: The origins of Karnak and the rise of Amun Dr Luc Gabolde Senior Research Fellow, National Scientific Research Centre (CNRS), Montpellier (France) 2.30pm, Saturday 3 August 2013 State Library Theatre, State Library of Western Australia (entrance via Francis St) The origins of Karnak, the greatest temple in Egypt, has long been questioned by archaeologists: is it a prehistoric site, an Old kingdom sanctuary or a Middle Kingdom creation? Taking into account the geomorphological data and some previously ignored prehistoric material, a new vision of the development of Karnak can be proposed. The origins of it's god, Amun, was previously obscure and new research ideas may enlighten us to the dawn of this great dynastic deity. Are the mentions of Amun in the pyramid texts relevant? What was the impact of historical events on the rise of Amun’s theology as the god of Karnak, and what importance can be placed on this development of influences that draw on the solar deity, Ra-Atum or that of the ‘fecundity god’ Min? Join Dr Luc Gabolde as he discusses a tentatively complete review of the archaeological data and recent research, combined with a new approach to the geomorphological history of the site which has offered the basis for a new hypothesis as to the historical settlement of Karnak. The Amarna period: Akhenaten, Nefertiti and successors … new data and new conclusions Dr Marc Gabolde Lecturer, University Paul Valéry - Montpellier III 4.00pm, Saturday 3 August 2013 State Library Theatre, State Library of Western Australia (entrance via Francis St) Who was who at Amarna? Who was buried where and when in the Royal Necropolis? Who was Tutankhamun? This talk offers an overview of the Amarna period focusing on the political events at the end of Akhenaten's reign and succession, drawing on recent archaeological work in the Royal Necropolis and some new details on Tutankhamun's reign and DNA data. The Amarna Period is surely one of the most fascinating periods of ancient Egypt with the first historical monotheism, ‘the most beautiful lady’ of antiquity and the most fabulous archaeological treasure ever found. However, this time period is confusing from the historical point of view with obscure personalia and unclear familial relationship. Reappraising some well-known sources and finding new ones has allowed researchers to suggest new identities and to solve some embarrassing problems regarding the succession of Akhenaten. The archaeological work in the royal wady at Amarna has contributed interesting evidence which helps to answer the still intriguing question: who was buried where and when at Amarna? Taking a fresh look at some poorly known objects from Tutankhamun’s tomb - such as the king's fan and reed cane - has provided striking new information on his life. Tutankhamun’s broad collar, the first object placed on the breast of his mummy, sheds new light on his fate and explains the mysteriously missing ribs and sternum of the most famous of pharaohs. New work in recent DNA analysis of the royal mummies provides unexpected genealogical links which allow new genealogical tree for the royal family to be proposed. Join Dr Marc Gabolde as he describes the new insights and understanding of the Amarna Period emerging through field research undertaken in the Royal Necropolis and other related archaeological enquiry. Cost: Free event Perth Sat 3 August 2013 2:30pm – 5:00pm State Library Theatre, SLWA. Bookings essential. Abydos Middle Cemetery Project - Image opyright Abydos Middle Cemetery Project Sun, sand, mosquitoes and the dead: digging the middle cemetery at Abydos, Egypt Presented by Heather Tunmore Honorary Associate West Australian Museum, Department of Archaeology and Anthropology; Epigrapher, Abydos Middle Cemetery Project, University of Michigan 6.00pm, Wednesday 28 August 2013 State Library Theatre, State Library of Western Australia (entrance via Francis St) The Middle Cemetery at Abydos contains many burials ranging from the hastily interred to elite burials in elaborate tomb chambers. This site has been plundered, surveyed and excavated over time by a range of archaeologists searching variously for treasure, artefacts and information. As a result of this archaeological activity material from the site is either missing or scattered throughout the world. An immediate example in the Secrets of the Afterlife exhibition includes several model Opening of the Mouth Tools from the tomb of Idi (Idy) at Abydos. These items were excavated and removed from the site - along with numerous other artefacts - by Henry Salt, the British Consul-General in Egypt. They were later sold to the British Museum in 1835 after his death. As was normal practice at that time, no adequate records were made of their excavation that would assist modern research and interpretation of the site. Join Heather Tunmore as she reports on the challenges faced in the 2013 season while working on this site, and outlines the use of modern scientific methods in excavation, interpretation and conservation of finds. Cost: Free event Perth Wednesday 28 August 2013 6:00pm – 7:00pm State Library Theatre, SLWA. Bookings essential. ‹ The Papyrus of Reri High Tea ›