Poets, Hooligans, Scoundrels and Wise Women - People of Ancient Egypt (Oxford University Dept of Continuing Education Course)
Overview
The lives, interests and characters of individuals from Deir el Medina, the unique Village of Pharaoh's tomb-builders on the West Bank of Luxor c. 1300 BCE, will be reviewed through a remarkable range of evidence
Description
Deir el-Medina, the tomb-builders' community on the West Bank of Luxor, was home to some five hundred inhabitants. Remarkably, we know many by name and can evaluate their live course and careers. For some it is even possible to assign a distinct personality. In so doing, we can learn much about unruly behaviour, marriage, adultery and divorce, intellectual pursuits, and attitudes to women and older people. Specific questions include: How were hooligans dealt with in the Village? Was Paneb really a scoundrel and adulterer? Who were the Village historians and poets ? Why did the widow Naunakhte disinherit four of her eight children? As we explore the construction of identity through issues such as class, gender, age, occupation, and ethnicity, we can assess similarities and differences between daily life in the Deir el-Medina of c. 1300 BCE and the revolutionary Egypt of 2011 CE.
Programme details
Week 1: Introduction to Village Life
Week 2: The Overseer Kha
Week 3: The Workman Sennudjem
Week 4: The Historian Qenhihkhopshe
Week 5: The Widow Naunakhte and Older Women
Week 6: The Hooligan Merysekhmet
Week 7: The Scoundrel Paneb
Week 8: Visit to the Pitt Rivers Museum
Week 9: The Poet Amennakhte
Week 10. Dhutymose and his son Butheamun
Background reading:
Bierbrier, M., The Tomb-Builders of the Pharaohs, London: British Museum Publications, 1982.
McDowell, A.G., Village Life in Ancient Egypt. Laundry Lists and Love Songs, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999.
Romer, J., Ancient Lives. The Story of the Pharaohs' Tombmakers, London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1984.
Assessment methods
An in-class 10 minute presentation with the submission of brief notes. Or a c. 1000 word essay. Full guidance and individual support will be given in the preparation of the coursework.
Rosalind Janssen
Rosalind is Senior Honorary Research Fellow, UCL Collections, University College London. She is the author of articles describing attitudes to both young hooligans and old age at Deir el-Medina Place: Ewert House, Ewert Place, Summertown, Oxford Dates: 10 lectures from Tue 4 Oct to Tue 6 Dec 2011 Time: 14.00 - 16.00 Cost £150.00
Website and Booking: http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/ |
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