FRIENDS OF ASOR WEBINARS
Into the Unknown: Exploring a “Lost” Old Kingdom Tomb & Egypto-Nubian Connections
Friends of ASOR present the next webinar in our monthly series on February 23, 2023, at 6:00 pm EST, featuring Prof. Greg Mumford and moderated by Prof. Stuart Tyson Smith. This presentation briefly introduces the complicated circumstances and setting of a decorative program from a late Old Kingdom tomb belonging to Niankhnisut, who spanned late Dynasty 5 through early Dynasty 6 (temp. Kings Unas to Teti). Like many Ancient Egyptian elite tombs, this tomb chapel apparently displayed extensive damage by the time of its rediscovery and looting in 1917 (during World War I), with looters removing numerous blocks and extensive scenes, which were in turn obtained and dispersed by a dealer, Jacob Hirsch, to at least 18 museums and collections across the globe. Although the precise location of Niankhnisut’s tomb remained unknown for many decades, in 2000 the Supreme Council of Antiquities (now MoA) located and excavated this tomb, finding further scenes and numerous ex-situ fragments.
This webinar continues with an examination of an aspect of the decoration from Niankhnisut’s tomb, namely Egypto-Nubian relations in the Old Kingdom: Several scenes from this tomb, like many other Old Kingdom elite tombs, illustrate the presence of exotic fauna, frequently in conjunction with little people (i.e., “dwarfs” and/or pygmies), which reflect Egyptian interrelations with Nubia and Punt, which is widely attested via archaeological and textual-pictorial sources. The Old Kingdom court and elite often feature the employment of little people as animal handlers alongside imported Nubian primates, felines, and dogs, with an added emphasis upon the desirability of utilizing dwarfs and sometimes sub-Saharan pygmies, for diverse employment within the royal court and broader settings, including jewelry production, animal handlers, bearers, entertainers, and other roles. The presentation cannot encompass the much broader aspects of Egypto-Nubian relations during the second millennium BCE, but will touch upon further aspects in relation to Niankhnisut’s tomb scenes and the importation of exotic animals from Nubia. The webinar will conclude with a live Q&A session moderated by Prof. Stuart Tyson Smith (University of California, Santa Barbara).
Professor Greg Mumford grew up in Kenya (1965-1976) and South Africa (1977-1980), during which he accompanied his parents on frequent trips to archaeological sites, museums, and public lectures in these and adjacent countries. Mumford later pursued studies in archaeology and Egyptology at the University of Toronto, expanding his interests to Egypt’s relations with its neighbours. He direct projects at Tell Tebilla (NE Delta) and Markha Plain (SW Sinai) in Egypt, and work frequently with his spouse, Dr. S. Parcak, on several joint projects, including assisting at el-Lisht, Egypt. Mumford has also participated variously in prehistoric through Roman-Coptic period projects at East Karnak (Luxor), Tomb of Merenptah (Valley of the Kings), Amarna and its vicinity (Middle Egypt), Dakhleh Oasis (Western Desert), Mendes (NE Delta), Tell Kedwa (NW Sinai), and Tell Borg (NW Sinai), and has taught at Wilfrid Laurier University (1995), UCLA (1999-2000), the University of Toronto (1999-2005), and the University of Wales Swansea (2005-2006), and is now based –as an associate professor– at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (2006/7-present).
This webinar will be recorded and all paid registrants will be sent a link to view the recording.
ASOR Sustaining Members: $0 | ASOR Members: $6 | Public: $12
Season Pass: ASOR Sustaining Members: $0 | ASOR Members: $75 | Public: $150
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To receive your ASOR member discount, log into the online store. If you are new to ASOR, please click on the “New Visitor Registration” link to register your e-mail address and choose a password for our online store. Once logged in, navigate to “Meeting and Event Registration” to register for the webinar and pay the fee. Each paid registrant will receive a confirmation e-mail when you pay for the webinar. If you do not receive this e-mail, then you are not registered. Please e-mail membership@asor.org with any questions or issues with registering.
You will be e-mailed the Zoom Webinar link in the week prior to the lecture on February 23, 2023. If you do not receive the link by the close of business on the Tuesday before the webinar, please e-mail membership@asor.org immediately. This webinar will be recorded and all paid registrants will be sent a link to view the recording.
All proceeds from this webinar are used to fund scholarships for members as well as increasing ASOR’s online resources, which are free to the public.
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If you have missed webinars earlier in the season and still want to buy the pass, you will receive the links to the recordings of the webinars you missed in your automatic confirmation email after you buy the pass.
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Pricing:
Members: $75.00
Non-Members: $150.00
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Log into our online store to purchase the season pass for 2022-2023. If you are new to ASOR and do not have a record in our store yet, click here to register. After you login, navigate to the left to “Meeting and Event Registration.” Please e-mail membership@asor.org if you have any questions or issues.
