Were The Ancient Egyptians Just Like Us?

Schedule

Wed May 06 2026 at 07:30 pm to 09:15 pm

UTC+01:00

Location

The Three Sisters | Edinburgh, SC

Advertisement
Everyday life in New Kingdom Egypt exploring humour, grief, identity, and how modern bias shapes our understanding of the past.
About this Event

Title: Were The Ancient Egyptians Just Like Us? What It Meant To Be Human In Ancient Egypt

Speaker: Zsuzsanna Vegh, Egyptologist

Did the ancient Egyptians experience the world the same way we do? What made them angry and what made them laugh? How did they cope with loss, grief – or boredom? What challenges did they face and where did they search for help? This talk explores some key aspects of the everyday life experience in New Kingdom Egypt (1550-1069 BCE), from childhood to death, and beyond, while also reflecting on our modern biases while searching for an eternal human experience in past societies.

Key takeaways:The audience will…

  • get a very brief introduction to the history of New Kingdom Egypt
  • gain a glimpse into the everyday life in Deir el-Medina (the village of the workers who built the tombs in the Valley of the Kings), including local gossips, intergenerational conflicts and criminal proceedings
  • will hear some ancient Egyptian jokes
  • will learn about key themes in current Egyptological discourse, such as the concepts of prestige and the construction of identity
  • will gain an understanding of how the colonial origins of Egyptology still strongly influence how we reconstruct the social and cultural history of ancient Egypt

Doors - 7:30pm - First come first served on seating. Catch up with friends and grab a drink.

Intros - 7:50pm

Talk - 8pm

Q&A - 8:40pm


Agenda

🕑: 07:30 PM - 07:50 PM
First come first served on seating. Catch up with friends and grab a drink
🕑: 08:00 PM - 09:15 PM
Were The Ancient Egyptians Just Like Us? What It Meant To Be Human In Ancient
Advertisement

Where is it happening?

The Three Sisters, 139 Cowgate, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

GBP 14.25

Icon
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Moving Minds

Host or Publisher Moving Minds

Ask AI if this event suits you:

Discover More Events in Edinburgh

Heavyskint
Wed, 06 May at 07:00 pm Heavyskint

Sneaky Pete's.

The words to say I love you with Kai Spellmeier &  Gayathiri Kamalakanthan
Wed, 06 May at 07:00 pm The words to say I love you with Kai Spellmeier & Gayathiri Kamalakanthan

Lighthouse - Edinburgh’s Radical Bookshop

ART LITERARY-ART
Murray Pittock:  The Shortest History of Scotland
Wed, 06 May at 07:00 pm Murray Pittock: The Shortest History of Scotland

Blackwell's Bookshop

Concerns of the Day: Is Peace Possible?
Wed, 06 May at 07:00 pm Concerns of the Day: Is Peace Possible?

The Quaker Meeting House

MEETUPS
Aki Remally Presents: Hendrix and Us [Jazz Funk - Rock]
Wed, 06 May at 08:30 pm Aki Remally Presents: Hendrix and Us [Jazz Funk - Rock]

The Jazz Bar

MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Action Research to Examine the Interruption of Social Inequalities
Thu, 07 May at 10:00 am Action Research to Examine the Interruption of Social Inequalities

Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh

ART
Audiovector R 10 Arret\u00e9 Launch Event
Thu, 07 May at 01:00 pm Audiovector R 10 Arreté Launch Event

Commercial Quay, 94 Commercial Street, EH6 6LX Edinburgh, United Kingdom

BURNS-NIGHT
Edinburgh IOSH Community - HSE Workplace Noise Inspection Plan
Thu, 07 May at 01:00 pm Edinburgh IOSH Community - HSE Workplace Noise Inspection Plan

Royal Scots Club

HEALTH-WELLNESS NONPROFIT
Edinburgh Fun Puzzle Treasure Hunt! Singe route or double for racing! :)
Tue, 24 Oct at 10:30 am Edinburgh Fun Puzzle Treasure Hunt! Singe route or double for racing! :)

Omni Centre

SPORTS CONTESTS
Niddry Street Vaults Ghost Hunt Edinburgh Scotland With Haunting Nights
Sat, 20 Feb at 11:00 pm Niddry Street Vaults Ghost Hunt Edinburgh Scotland With Haunting Nights

Edinburgh Vaults

WORKSHOPS
Gladstone's Land Guided Tour
Wed, 07 Jul at 03:00 pm Gladstone's Land Guided Tour

Gladstone's Land

WORKSHOPS
Treasure Hunt Edinburgh - The Old Town Adventure - 2-2\u00bd hours
Thu, 13 Jan at 09:00 am Treasure Hunt Edinburgh - The Old Town Adventure - 2-2½ hours

1 Cockburn St

TRIPS-ADVENTURES
The Dark Side of Edinburgh
Mon, 27 May at 08:00 pm The Dark Side of Edinburgh

Edinburgh Old Town

DOG
Welcome to the Library tours
Thu, 15 Aug at 03:00 pm Welcome to the Library tours

National Library of Scotland

EXHIBITIONS
Discover Edinburgh\u2019s hidden gems with an exciting scavenger hunt!
Sun, 03 Nov at 07:00 am Discover Edinburgh’s hidden gems with an exciting scavenger hunt!

Scott Monument

CONTESTS TRIPS-ADVENTURES
Medical Tales
Sun, 23 Mar at 04:00 pm Medical Tales

Gladstone's Land

Old to New: A Journey Between Two Towns
Thu, 03 Apr at 12:30 pm Old to New: A Journey Between Two Towns

Gladstone's Land

Gory Chronicles: Unearthing Old Town's Dark Justice Secrets
Thu, 08 May at 04:00 pm Gory Chronicles: Unearthing Old Town's Dark Justice Secrets

Gladstone's Land

Edinburgh Old Town Private Self-Guided Tour
Thu, 26 Jun at 12:00 am Edinburgh Old Town Private Self-Guided Tour

Edinburgh

ART LITERARY-ART
Edinburgh Spooky Tour
Fri, 06 Mar at 04:00 pm Edinburgh Spooky Tour

St Giles' Cathedral

TRIPS-ADVENTURES

What's Happening Next in Edinburgh?

Discover Edinburgh Events