Studying Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia at University

Egypt and Mesopotamia (modern Iraq; ancient Sumer, Assyria and Babylon) bequeathed to posterity some of the most fascinating remains from all of the ancient world. Today it is possible to learn the languages, study the artefacts, and reconstruct the most varied aspects of these ancient civilisations in astonishing detail.

But since these subjects are not offered at A level, few sixth-formers are aware that they exist as University subjects; indeed, many A level students might never have had the opportunity to learn about these cultures.

The purpose of this one-day conference is to give sixth formers an opportunity to explore what it is like to study Egypt and Mesopotamia at British Universities: to see what makes the subject area so intellectually and culturally exciting, learn about the various degree courses, and understand what admissions tutors are looking for.

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SCHEDULE

Time Speaker University Topic

10:00-10:10 Nancy Highcock Cambridge Introduction

10:10-10:25 Jana Matuszak SOAS Sumerian Women

10:25-10:40 Christina Geisen Oxford Naming Practices in Ancient Eygpt

10:40-10:55 Monica Palmero Fernandez Reading/Glasgow Studying Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology at University

10:55-11:10 Christian Knoblauch Swansea TBC

11:10-11:30 TEA/COFFEE BREAK

11:30-11:45 Martin Worthington Cambridge A question of questions in the Epic of Gilgamesh

11:45-12:00 Paul Nicholson Cardiff Excavation and Experiment in Egyptian Archaeology:The Case of Akhenaten’s Glass

12:00-12:15 Louise Steel UW-TSD Enchanting Objects from the Royal Tombs of Ur

12:15-1:00 LUNCH

1:05-1:20 Silvia Zago Liverpool Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt

1:20-1:35 Selena Wisnom Leicester Asking the entrails: Babylonian answers to modern political questions

1:35-1:50 Katharina Zinn UW-TSD Being hands-on: Ancient Egypt, material culture and heritage

1:50-2:15 CAREERS PANEL

3:00-5:00 BRITISH MUSEUM GALLERY TOURS AND TREASURE HUNT