Riddles of the Dogs of Karakhamun and the Jackals of Karabasken

Fund-Raising lecture jointly with SAES- via Zoom
Date: 25th October 2025 at 2.00 pm
By Dr Elena Pischikova
Cost: £5 (TVAES/SAES/SACT Members) and £8 visitors
Tickets: Booking will open soon

Abstract

Numerous images of dogs and jackals were recreated out of small fragments of the original decoration during the almost twenty-year meticulous process of the reconstruction of the Twenty-fifth Dynasty tombs of the South Asasif necropolis.

Each image presents countless riddles due to the multitude of their unconventional features including iconography, composition, orientation, location and style of carving.

This lecture will discuss some of the mysteries of the images of canines in the highly innovative temple-tombs of the South Asasif necropolis. These beautifully carved artistic gems are among the most important key images that help us to decipher the complex symbolism of Kushite tombs.

Biography

Dr. Elena Pischikova has been directing the South Asasif Conservation Project since 2006. The Project is working under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and dedicated to the clearing, conservation and reconstruction of the decorated monumental tombs of Karabasken (TT 391), Karakhamun (TT 223) and Irtieru (TT 390). Her previous field work includes directing the Metropolitan-ARCE project in the Twenty-sixth Dynasty tomb of the Vizier Nespakashuty (TT 312) which included re-clearing of the tomb and reconstruction of its entrance gate.

Dr. Pischikova is a co-organizer of the Thebes in the First Millennium BC conferences which took place in Luxor in 2012, 2018 and 2024. She is a co-editor of the proceedings of the conferences and editor of the AUC series, Tombs of the South Asasif Necropolis. Dr. Pischikova published extensively on the art and iconography of the Theban tombs of the Twenty-fifth – Twenty-sixth Dynasties.