Ancient Egypt this Week: A little bit of everything

Unlocking the medical mysteries of King Tut’s tomb

Tutankhamun ruled ancient Egypt for a little more than a decade, from around 1333 B.C. (when he was only 9 years old) to about 1324 B.C., during the 18th dynasty (circa 1550-1295 B.C.) of ancient Egypt’s New Kingdom (circa 1550-1070 B.C.). His brief reign, disabled left leg and foot, and premature death at 18 or 19 have long been sources of fascination.

Soon after Carter’s discovery came rumors of a death curse for anyone disturbing Tut’s deathly repose. Tales of the curse soon grew like a snowball rolling down a huge hill, gaining force and size with each turn.

An Anti-Indiana Jones is Solving the Pyramids’ Secrets
PHOTOGRAPH BY MOMEN BADR

When Yukinori Kawae explores the Great Pyramids at Giza, he isn’t after treasure or lost chambers—he’s looking for dimensions. For all that the pyramids have been dug, scanned, and photographed, the exact measurements of many are still unknown.

The American University in Cairo Press e-newsletter
Already November! For some, that may mean packing away Halloween costumes, bracing for the US elections, anticipating Thanksgiving, preparing for Christmas, and perhaps contemplating new resolutions.

November is also an ideal time to leave the rain and cold weather outside, plunge into drier universes and discover new authors.

Too Many People Have Stolen Egypt’s History; Here’s How It’s Getting It Back
COURTESY OF U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT
en one asks Tarek Sayed Tawfik about the centuries of theft of Egypt’s historical treasures, he becomes visibly angry.

“We are not encouraging anybody to continue stealing Egyptian objects,” declares the general director of the Grand Egyptian Museum, which is set to open at the beginning of 2018. “In spite of it being difficult and agony to retrieve objects, and it’s not cheap and it takes time. But … anybody who in an illicit way tries to take objects out of Egypt will be prosecuted.”

CT Scans of Mummy of an Ancient Priest Reveal He Was Stricken with Modern Diseases

The mummy of an ancient Egyptian man from 2,200 years ago was recently scanned by researchers. The results proved that the man, who lived during the reign of the Ptolemies, had weak bones and tooth decay – two issues that are generally associated with a more modern way of life.

Timelapse Animations Present The ‘Unexpected’ 3D Facial Reconstruction Of Cleopatra

Cleopatra – the very name brings forth reveries of beauty, sensuality and extravagance, all set amidst the political furor of the ancient world. But does historicity really comply with these popular notions about the famous female Egyptian pharaoh, who had her roots in a Greek dynasty? Well the answer to that is more complex, especially considering the various parameters of history, including cultural inclinations, political propaganda and downright misinterpretations.

Akhnaten as you've never seen him: How L.A. Opera delivers Philip Glass' Egyptian Pharaoh tale

Philip Glass’ “Akhnaten” is the un-“Aida.”

Verdi and Glass both re-imagined an ancient Egypt suited to the composers’ own times. But whereas Verdi relies on the great 19th century Italian opera themes of forbidden love and the like to make the exotic realm of Pharaohs and gods knowable, Glass operates on the late 20th century perspective of history as unknowable.

To see more amazing photos like the one in the title and the following one and other info from the LA production, click here:

Here is an interesting trailer from another production of the opera.


Akhnaten (Philip Glass) - trailer from Opera & Ballet Vlaanderen on Vimeo.