Encounters with Ancient Egypt

The civilization of ancient Egypt, which lasted from 3,000 B.C. to 332 B.C., before being conquered by Alexander the Great, continues to enthrall us. Egyptologist Mary Vaught will explore this fascinating world in images and words.

Ancient Egyptian Literature

Ancient Egyptian literature is a vast collection of texts that includes religious works like the Book of the Dead, narratives such as the Story of Sinuhe, and various forms of poetry, wisdom literature, and historical accounts. These works were written in hieroglyphic, hieratic, and demotic scripts on papyrus, tomb walls, and stelae, offering insights into ancient Egyptian beliefs, society, and daily life. We will look at examples of these throughout Egyptian history from the earliest times through the Ptolemaic period.

Ptolemaic Egypt

The Ptolemaic Dynasty of Egypt was a Macedonian Greek royal house that ruled the Ptolemaic Kingdom in Egypt from 305 BCE, after the death of Alexander the Great, until its incorporation into the Roman Republic in 30 BCE. Reigning for 275 years, the Ptolemaic was the longest and the last dynasty of ancient Egypt. Beginning with Ptolemy, a general and one of the somatophylakes (bodyguard companions) of Alexander the Great, and ending with Cleopatra VII, one of the most famous Queens of Egypt, we will explore how the Greeks influenced the Egyptians, how the Egyptians influenced the Greeks, and how it all came together, until the Romans arrived.