CRIME, SORCERY, AND SCANDAL: A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT VIEW OF ANCIENT EGYPT
Schedule
Sun, 28 Jun, 2026 at 10:00 am to Fri, 03 Jul, 2026 at 05:30 pm
UTC+01:00Location
University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom | London, EN
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Monday 29 June to Friday 3 July 2026
Course Director: Dr Christina Geisen (British Museum)
This is a 5-day course to be held in person, livestreamed, and video recorded.
Discover a new side of ancient Egypt! Instead of focusing on famous achievements, this course explores the scandals, crimes, and everyday struggles that shaped Egyptian society from the Old Kingdom to the Graeco-Roman Period (c.2686 BCE – 395 CE). Explore dramatic events such as the harem conspiracy under Ramesses III and the tomb robberies of the late New Kingdom, along with misdeeds in the towns of Deir el-Medina and Elephantine. Magical practices used in a harmful way — sometimes at the heart of these events — will be highlighted as well. Even the gods were not flawless, and myths like the murder of Osiris and the Destruction of Mankind reveal a world of divine drama. We will also examine related tales in ancient literature and discuss modern-day looting. The course includes a special object study session in the British Museum (in-person participants only) and a creative workshop where participants design a concept for a museum display on the topic.
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Where is it happening?
University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom, 8 Gower Street, London, WC1E 6DP, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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