Ancient Egypt Society of Western Australia

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We meet at 7pm on the first Wednesday
of each month (except January) at:

The Institution of Engineers
712 Murray Street
(near Thomas Street)
West Perth

COST:	Members $4.00, non-members $7.00
	Refreshments and biscuits will be provided.

		Current Lectures 2012
	February 1 (Wednesday) Scarab pectoral	"Understanding Egyptian Art" Presented by Dr Jasmine Day Education Officer, John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library (Curtin University) Using images of objects from Egyptian Antiquities from the Louvre: Journey to the Afterlife exhibited at the Art Gallery of Western Australia in 2007, this lecture explains the key ideas behind Egyptian art, from magic and mythology to humour. Learn to interpret the coded images in sculpture, jewellery, offering stelae, mummy cartonnages and the Book of the Dead. Be among the few people in Perth to see this exclusive lecture adapted from material prepared specially for the Art Gallery’s own staff.
	March 7 (Wednesday) Death Mask of Tutankamen	"King Tut's Family Secrets" Presented by Russell Decke, JP CMC, Pres. AESWA Enjoy an enchanting journey back in time as we explore the fascinating and wonderous world of the boy pharaoh: Tutankhamen.
		Previous Lectures 2012
	January 22 (Sunday) The Pyramids at Giza	"The Pyramids": Two Lecture Series Presented by Dr Michael Birrell Macquarie University (Sydney) Special Visit    The The Early Development of the Pyramids    The Later Pyramids WHEN:     Sunday January 22, 2012   1:30 PM to 4:00 PM WHERE:  Subiaco Primary School Hall, Bagot Road in Subiaco COST:       $15 (This cost includes afternoon tea) Note: Combined cost for lectures on both January 21 (incl. lunch) and January 22 (incl. afternoon tea) is $45 and may be purchased at the door on January 21
	January 21 (Saturday) Yul Brynner as Ramesses II	"Ramesses the Great": Five Lecture Series Presented by Dr Michael Birrell Macquarie University (Sydney) Special Visit Ramesses II was one of the most significant rulers of Egypt's New Kingdom. Renown for his conflict at Qadesh against the Hittite Empire, he was one of the greatest builders of the ancient world. But his long reign seems to have resulted in decline in the aftermath of his death. This lecture series today examines whether he should really be called 'Ramesses the Great'.    The Origins of Ramesses    Ramesses the Warrior    Ramesses the Builder    Ramesses the Family Man    The Death and Burial of Ramesses WHEN:     Saturday January 21, 2012   10:00 AM to 4:00 PM WHERE:  Subiaco Primary School Hall, Bagot Road in Subiaco COST:       $35 (This cost includes lunch) Note: Combined cost for lectures on both January 21 (incl. lunch) and January 22 (incl. afternoon tea) is $45 and may be purchased at the door on January 21
		Previous Lectures 2011
	December 5 (Wednesday) Merry Xmas	Annual Christmas Party Free Entry Starts at 6:30 PM Please bring a plate of savouries, salad or dessert to share. The raffle gives you multiple chances to win fabulous raffle prizes. Share this festive occasion, which marks the end of a very successful 15th year. Bring friends, partners and children.
	November 2 (Wednesday)	“Hatshepsut’s Men” plus signing of Trish’s new novel The Eye of Re Presented by Dr. Patricia L. O’Neill AESWA Committee Member and author of The Hatshepsut Trilogy The female Pharaoh Hatshepsut was one of Ancient Egypt’s greatest rulers, but she could never have succeeded without the help of a devoted group of loyal, talented men. Who were the men who served this remarkable woman, and what kinds of relationships did she develop with them? Come and hear about the heroes and villains who accompany Hatshepsut on her adventures in The Hatshepsut Trilogy. You’ll find how the characters were brought to life using the ancient evidence along with a bit of psychological detective work, and how that led to cracking the mystery of Hatshepsut’s persecution by Tuthmosis III. After the lecture, copies of The Eye of Re, the gripping conclusion to The Hatshepsut Trilogy, will be available for purchase. Trish will inscribe each book bought on the night with a special hieroglyphic spell from Hatshepsut’s temple.
	October 5 (Wednesday) Nefertari playing Senet	A.G.M commences at 6:30 PM. It is important that financial members attend this meeting. Ancient Egyptian Boardgames, and Play-off Tournament Presented by Becky Steven and Dr Jasmine Day Bring your senet and Mehen board games along to challenge each other. Don't worry if you don't have your own set: Game boards provided and for sale on the night.
	September 7 (Wednesday) Cleopatra's Needle	"The Odyssey of Cleopatra’s Needle: a walk down Memory Lane" Presented by Becky Steven (Secretary, AESWA) for Beauchamp Paine This year we celebrate our fifteenth anniversary, and this fascinating lecture was originally delivered by our beloved Beauchamp Paine, life member and former Vice President of AESWA. Beau traces the perilous journey of this famous obelisk from its original site to its final resting place, with his original illustrations and artworks along the way. Beau’s talent as a champion woodcarver brings us interesting insights into the building techniques used in creating this stunning monument.
	August 3 (Wednesday) Ramses II	"Ramses II" Presented by Russell Decke, JP CMC President Ancient Egypt Society W.A. Rameses ll, also known as Ramesses the Great, was the third Egyptian pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty. He was Egypt’s most illustrious Pharaoh in the period of history known as the New Kingdom. The splendour of his achievements and the length of his reign also ensure his place among the ranks of the greatest monarchs of the entire civilization of Egypt, a span of nearly three thousand years. Evidence of his piety, his love of his people and his land - and accounts of his courage and military prowess - are inscribed on monuments throughout Egypt and it’s surrounding territories. His buildings, halls, statues and temples still rise from the sand in an impressive testimony to his omnipotence. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Egyptologists of the nineteenth century bestowed upon him the title of - Rameses the Great.
	July 6 (Wednesday) Tutankhamun	"Tutankhamun's DNA" Presented by Dr Michael Birrell Macquarie University (Sydney) Special 15th Anniversary Guest Lecturer The discovery of Tutankhamun’s intact tomb in the Valley of the Kings by Howard Carter sparked global fascination with the life, death and heritage of this enigmatic boy King. Modern archaeologists team up with sophisticated technology to discover fascinating insights into the young Pharaoh’s past,
	July 2 (Saturday)	"The Black Pharaohs: Egypt's 25th Dynasty" Presented by Dr Michael Birrell Macquarie University (Sydney) Special 15th Anniversary Lecture WHEN:     1:30 pm, Saturday 2nd July 2011 WHERE:   Subiaco Primary School Hall, 271 Bagot Road Subiaco COST:       $10 The end of the New Kingdom around 1100 BCE saw the northern part of the Sudan revert to local control. A native kingdom developed around the sacred site of Jebel Barkal where the local rulers expanded a temple to Amun. Eventually, in the 8th Century BCE, the Black pharaohs of the 25th Dynasty expanded their control and took Egypt for themselves.
	June 1 (Wednesday) Judgement of Ani	"Resurrection in Ancient Egypt" Presented by Jason Braunstein AESWA Committee Member and Web Scribe Ancient Egypt had a rich spirituality that permeated every facet of their lives. Judgement and resurrection were important beliefs that developed from Egypt's earliest history and culminated in the New Kingdom with the worship of Osiris. The story of Osiris gave hope to the Ancient Egyptians, a possibility of a life of joy in the hereafter. In this talk and slide presentation Jason will touch on a variety of subjects, culminating with the ceremonies honouring Osiris at Abydos.
	May 2 (Wednesday) Wadi-el-Seboua	"Temples of Nubia" Presented by Dean Kubank Treasurer of AESWA Inc. Dean will talk about the Nubian temples rescued from a watery grave by the creation of Lake Nasser and the Aswan High Dam by the Egyptians and the Russians in the 1960s. These include: the Temple of Kalabsha, Wadi-el-Seboua (pictured), the Kiosk of Qertassi, Temple of Beit ei-Wali, and the Temple of Gerf Hussein. The talk will give a brief history of the decision to build the High Dam and take you on the Lake Nasser cruise stopping at each site until you reach Abu Simbel.
	April 6 (Wednesday) Artifacts Under Threat	"Egyptian Antiquities in Peril" Presented by Amany Hanna Egyptologist & AESWA Inc. founding President The Egyptian Revolution of 2011 aimed to instigate massive changes in Egypt’s government, but an unintended effect of this period of chaos has been looting and vandalism of antiquities sites on a scale unparalleled since the nineteenth century. A breach of the Cairo Museum, in which a number of artifacts – including some of the treasures of Tutankhamun – were damaged and stolen was just the first and most notorious of a series of attacks upon ancient sites and museums that continues to this day. Amany Hanna, our founding President, will review the damage, identify missing objects, discuss the causes of present day looting and consider what can be done to stop the destruction of Egypt’s priceless world heritage. She will also reflect upon the heroic actions of ordinary Egyptians who rallied to protect the Cairo Museum and drive looters away from ancient sites.
	March 2 (Wednesday) The Celebrated Lotus	"The Lotus in Ancient Egypt" Presented by Judith Andrews The lotus flower has been held sacred in many cultures, with different powers and meanings attributed by different societies to each of the various species of this beautiful blossom. Believed by the Egyptians to have been the first flower at the beginning of the world, the Blue Lotus played a vital role in creation mythology. Its associations with life-giving forces brought about its use in religious ceremonies, but recent research suggests that in combination with wine, the lotus also possessed mild aphrodisiac properties. Were the banqueting ladies who shared and smelt lotus blooms innocently enjoying their fragrance, or was the lotus an Egyptian form of Viagra for women?
	February 2 (Wednesday) Mummy Fiction in Europe 19th Century	THE RAPE OF THE MUMMY: women, horror fiction and the Westernisation of the curse & THE SEEDS OF DOOM: mummy wheat and resurrection flowers in folklore, poetry and early curse fiction Two lectures first presented at the 6th International Congress on Mummy Studies, Teguise, Lanzarote, Canary Islands 2007 Dr Jasmine Day (Anthropologist; AESWA Committee Member) The recent digitisation of nineteenth century newspapers, journals and creative works has revolutionised the study of Victorian life and literature, including our understanding of mummymania – the roles of mummies in popular culture. Through the research of S. J. Wolfe and Robert Singerman, hundreds of forgotten poems, plays, short stories and news articles can now be added to the list of mummy themed works and studied for the first time in almost two centuries. Mummymania is becoming a major branch of the new Egyptological subfield called ‘History of Egyptology’. One of the most exciting literary discoveries made possible by digitisation has been the revelation that “mummy’s curse” stories were first written as far back as the mid nineteenth century, predating more famous works by Arthur Conan Doyle and Bram Stoker – and they were written by women. Jasmine Day shows that female authors of lurid fiction likened the unwrapping of mummies to rape as a way to condemn the objectification not only of mummies, which were treated as commodities, but also of themselves in a patriarchal society. This analogy lies at the heart of the “mummy’s curse” legend. Digitisation also reveals evidence of mummy legends that have now disappeared, such as “mummy seeds”. Many Victorians believed newspaper reports that seeds from Egyptian tombs, when planted, had grown into peas, dahlias and entire crops of wheat. Poets drew analogies with Biblical accounts of life giving wheat as God’s gift to humanity and authors depicted cursed seeds that grew into beautiful but poisonous flowers. Can ancient seeds miraculously return to life?
		Previous Lectures 2010
	December 1 (Wednesday) Merry Xmas	Annual Christmas Party Free Entry Please bring a plate of savouries, salad or dessert to share. The $5.00 raffle gives you multiple chances to win fabulous raffle prizes. There will be a disploay of Ancient Egyptian replicas and special video entertainment. Bring friends, partners and children.
	November 3 (Wednesday) The Horus Throne by Patricia O'Neill	"The Horus Throne" - Reading and Signing and “Judging a book by its cover: What should ancient Egypt look like?” presented by Dr. Patricia L. O’Neill Patricia will be reading from her newly released novel, The Horus Throne, the second book in The Hatshepsut Trilogy. She’ll also be giving a brief presentation about the ways publishers present ancient Egypt to the consumer market as well as answering any questions you might have about Hatshepsut and her reign. Signed copies of The Horus Throne with a special hieroglyphic inscription will be available for purchase on the night.
	October 6(Wednesday) Hathor and Pharaoh	October 6. Today is the A.G.M. It will start at 6 P.M. before the lecture below. First presentation at 7:00 PM "Egyptomania in London" Episode 12 of Heritage Key's Ancient World in London internet documentary series (9 minutes) Dr Jasmine Day tours London's most spectacular Egyptianising monuments, including Cleopatra's Needle, the fabulous Art Deco Carreras "Black Cat" Factory and the mysterious Kilmorey Mausoleum, a Victorian masterpiece only recently revaealed to the public.View online at http://heritage-key.com/video/episode-12-egyptomania-london or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLe-N-5xJe8 Second presentation "A Taste of Things to Come: AESWA Inc. Museums Tour" Speaker: Dr Jasmine Day (Life Member of AESWA) Are you interested in the AESWA 2012 Museums tour? Join Dr Jasmine Day on a virtual journey through Europe's greatest Egyptian collections to sample some of the highlights of our forthcoming tour, from the massive British Museum collection and Manchester Museum's famous mummy displays to priceless art treasures from the Louvre in Paris, Museo Egizeo in Turin, Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden and the Egyptian Museum in Berlin. On tour in 2009
	September 1 (Wednesday) The Aten Akhenaten and family in prayer to Aten	"The Rise of the Aten" Presented by Professor Raymond Williamson Uni. W.A.: Oral & Maxillofacial Unit R.P.H.: Plastics & M/F Unit Aten was a being who represented the god or spirit of the sun, and the actual solar disk. He was depicted as a disk with rays reaching to the earth. At the end of the rays were human hands which often extended the ankh to the pharaoh. Aten's origins are unclear and he may have been a provincial Sun-god worshipped in one of the small villages near Heliopolis. The Aten, the sun-disk, first appears in texts dating to the 12th Dynasty, in The Story of Sinuhe, where the deceased king is described as rising as a god to the heavens and uniting with the sun-disk, the divine body merging with its maker. Ra-Horus, more usually referred to as Ra-Herakhty (Ra, who is Horus of the two horizons), is then a synthesis of two other gods, both of which are attested from very early on. Aten was called the creator of man and the nurturing spirit of the world. In the Book of the Dead, Aten is called on by the deceased, "Hail, Aten, thou lord of beams of light, when thou shinest, all faces live." It is impossible to discuss Aten without mentioning his biggest promoter, the pharaoh Amenhotep IV, or Akhenaten. Early in his reign, Akhenaten worshipped both Amon (the chief god in Thebes at the time) and Aten. The first as part of his public duties, the latter in private. When he restored and enlarged the temple of Aten first built by his father Amenhotep III, relations between him and priests of Amon became strained. Eventually, relations became so strained that Akhenaten decided to build his own capital by the Nile, which he called, "Akhetaten", the Horizon of the Aten. This lecture will describe the Rise of the God Aten and look at an interesting theory that may explain how the eruption of a volcano on one the Greek islands may have influenced Amenhotep III and his son, Akhenaten to promote this historically minor Egyptian God and to have all the other Egyptian gods abolished, their images smashed, their names excised, their temples abandoned, and their revenues impounded.
	August 4 (Wednesday) Remni and his wife, Iritenakhti (from the tomb of Remni, the Teti Necropolis)	"The Teti Pyramid and Necropolis in Saqqara: an insight into the lives of the people of Saqqara and Memphis" " Presented by Alanah Buck Forensic Anthropologist (PathWest, UWA) and Honorary Research Associate for the W.A. Museum Department of Anthropology The Teti Pyramid and it's associated necropolis, situated in Saqqara, holds great significance for both the Old and New Kingdoms. For much of the Old Kingdom, Saqqara was the burial place for the Memphite royalty and their families. As a result, several important Old Kingdom mastabas are located within the Teti complex, including those of Mereruka and Kagemni. The occupation of this highly significant site continued from the Old Kingdom until the Late Period. For a number of years, including the 08-09 field season, a number of New Kingdom structures and burials were uncovered by the Macquarie University missions. These burials, from the 18th Dynasty through to the Late Period, shed light on the use and re-use of this highly signficant cemetery and the human remains recovered provide a facinating insight into the lives of the people living in the Saqqara/Memphis area during this time.
	July 7 (Wednesday) The Pharaoh Horemheb	"Horemheb - The Forgotten Pharaoh" " Presented by Colin Simcock (former president of AESWA, and a founding member) We know much about Akhenaten & Tutankhamun and of course we all know about Ramesses II and but we very rarely talk about Horemheb except to malign him as the possible murderer of Tutankhamun. But without Horemheb and his astute decisions then maybe the Egyptian Civilisation would have ended with Ay, maybe we would never had heard of the Pharaoh Ramesses. Colin will discuss how Horemheb took over a country rife with corruption and put it back on the road to greatness. He will also try to put a human face on Horemheb so that you will remember him not as one of those pharaohs between Tutankhamun and Ramsess II but a great Pharaoh in his own right.
	June 2 (Wednesday) Dynasties through Time	"Ancient Egyptian Dynasties: From Early Dynastic to Greek - Roman" " Presented by Russell Decke, JP and President (AESWA) The large number of dynasties can be very daunting to the novice, especially over a huge expanse of time. Russell will add clarity to this huge panorama of successions.
	May 5 (Wednesday)	"Boats in Ancient Egypt" Presented by Dean Kubank (AESWA Committee Member) Herodotus said Egypt was ‘the gift of the River’ . The Nile was the main highway for travel, trade, religious ceremonies, entertainment, as well as being an abundant source of food. The importance of boats for the Ancient Egyptians cannot be ignored, for they are reflected in the mythology, religious practices and working life. Dean will talk about how the boats were made and the purposes for which they were used.
	April 7 (Wednesday) Hatshepsut	to this date "Kings and Kas: Hatshepsut's Path to the Throne" Presented by Dr. Patricia L. O’Neill (AESWA Committee Member) The female Pharaoh, Hatshepsut, was one of ancient Egypt’s legendary rulers, but how and why she became a king has perplexed Egyptologists for generations. Trish will present the evidence that led her to a radical new interpretation of Hatshepsut’s rise to power, and which formed the basis for her award-winning novel, Her Majesty the King. You’ll hear about Pharaohs who were living gods, tombs and temples, royal intrigues and a cover-up that has lasted over three thousand years as we explore one of ancient Egypt’s most baffling mysteries.
	March 3 (Wednesday) Hunter in the Delta	"Why was Ancient Egypt so Stable?" Presented by Russell Decke (AESWA President and Justice of the Peace) The stability of Egypt provided the basis for its long, ancient history. The factors that provided this stability will be fully explored by Russell. Other questions will be answered this evening, including: What was the "soul" of Ancient Egypt? How did the Pharoahs rule? What were the legal traditions of this ancient country? The answer to these and other questions will be revealed tonight.
	February 3 (Wednesday) Her Majesty the King: front cover	"Her Majesty the King" Reading and Signing Presented by Dr. Patricia L. O’Neill (AESWA Committee Member) A tale of kings and queens, a bloodstained struggle for the throne and forbidden love—when power was absolute and life was short—a young woman was destined to rule the world’s first empire. Dr. Patricia L. O’Neill will be giving a reading from her new novel, Her Majesty the King, based on the true story of the female Pharaoh, Hatshepsut. Her Majesty the King is the result of eight years of original research and presents the most accurate picture of life in New Kingdom Egypt ever presented in fiction. Her Majesty the King was awarded the NSW/New Holland Publishers Genre Fiction Prize for 2008. Come along and find out what the legendary female Pharaoh was really like. After the reading, Trish will answer questions and sign copies of her book which will be available for purchase on the night.
		Previous Lectures 2009
	December 2 (Wednesday) Merry Xmas	Annual Christmas Party Bring a plate of savouries, salad or dessert to share. Win fabulous raffle prizes. There will be stalls and Big Screen Entertainment. FREE ENTRY Bring friends, partners and children.
	November 4 (Wednesday) Murder most horrible.... but who did it?	Presented by Marshall Hindley Former President of the AESWA Farewell Lecture This will be Marshall's last lecture for the Society owing to health problelms. He looks forward to meeting with old friends and making a few new ones.
	October 7 (Wednesday) Senet the game	"The Game of Senet" Presented by Becky Steven (AESWA committee member) Becky Steven presents the first in a series of talks about ancient board games. One of the best known and loved ancient board games was the game of Senet. Tracing its origins through the dynasties and exploring the connections the game has with the journey into the Underworld, Becky will also explore researchers’ attempts to establish the rules of the game and then offer members a chance to try their hand at the game.
	September 2 (Wednesday) At Giza	"THE PYRAMIDS, SPHINX AND DYNASTIES" Presented by Russell Decke President of the AESWA Russell will lead us through the Dynasties from the Archaic Period to the Eighteenth Dynasty and will stop at the time of Tutankhamun. This journey will be about pyramids generally though mostly about the Giza Pyramids, the Sphinx and the theories related to their construction.
	August 3 (Wednesday) Horus in Edfu Temple	"EDFU – History and Temple" Presented by Mara Leisavnieks (AESWA committee member) Edfu is considered the traditional location of the mythological battle between Horus and Seth, and is famous for its sandstone Ptolemaic temple. But before taking a journey through this temple we discover the ancient heart and city of this 2nd Nome of Upper Egypt. Join Mara as she introduces you to the provincial town and it's people during the predynastic, Old and Middle Kingdom periods.Then learn some interesting facts about the Ptolemaic temple and the hieroglyphic translation work being done by the German Edfu project team.
	July 1 (Wednesday) Mentuhotep II	"MENTUHOTEP II AND THE MIDDLE KINGDOM" Presented by Ihab Eletreby Ihab Eletreby was born and lives in Cairo, Egypt. An Egyptologist and tour guide, Ihab is our special guest presenter for July's lecture. Journey through the Middle Kingdom as Ihab takes you into Mentuhotep II's temple in Luxor, the pyramids, other famous kings and monuments of this era.
	June 3 (Wednesday) Buhen - recovered artifacts	"BUHEN - THE LOST TOWN" Presented by Colin Simcock, previous president of the AESWA In 1965 the Aswan Dam flooded the ancient Fort Town of Buhen and it was lost forever to humanity. Fortunately the Egyptian Exploration Fund sent a team of Egyptologists to excavate and report as much as possible on this ancient site. The result was the publication of several volumes of work detailing the history of Buhen. Colin will be giving a lecture based on the work carried out by the EES and explain the high importance of Buhen during the Middle and New Kingdoms.
	May 6 (Wednesday) Abu Simbel - temple of Ramses II	"DISCOVER HOW EGYPT'S GEOLOGY HAS INFLUENCED ITS LANDSCAPES AND CIVILISATION" Presented by Jenny Bevan, Senior Curator of the Earth Science Museum WA A country’s landscapes, landforms and rocks and other geological materials have profound effects on its development. Like every civilization, Ancient Egypt was influenced by its environment. Find out about aspects of this (including visiting some well-known monuments), and about the development of the landscapes of Egypt, the easy way, in an illustrated talk designed for non-specialists. Afterwards see some of the samples collected by the author on a recent visit to Egypt.
	April 1 (Wednesday) Roman Egyptian Woman, A.D. 100-150	"THE POST PHARAOHNIC PERIOD IN EGYPTIAN HISTORY" Presented by Amany Hanna The study of Egyptology which started from the end of the eighteenth century till today has revealed a lot of mysteries and secrets. In this talk Amany will answer some important questions, such as where did the pharaohs and their people disappear? What happened to the rituals and traditions of the Ancient Egyptians? What happened to their language?
	March 4 (Wednesday) Group at Fort Qaitbay in Alexandria	"AESWA STUDY TOUR: JANUARY, 2009 DVD presentation by Mara Leisavnieks (committee member) Mara will take you on a journey through ancient and modern Egypt as experienced by the 32 members and friends on the Study Tour January 2009.
	February 4 (Wednesday) Luxor Temple	"LUXOR TEMPLE" Presented by DEAN KUBANK Treasurer and AESWA Committee Member Join Dean as he walks you through Luxor Temple – known in Ancient Egyptian as Ipet-resyt or ‘the Southern Harem’. The temple was built for the purpose of the annual Opet festival where images of Amun were taken from Karnak by boat down the Nile to meet his consort Mut at Luxor.
		Previous Lectures 2008
	December 3 (Wednesday)	ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY Bring a plate of savouries, salad or dessert to share. Win fabulous raffle prizes at $5.00 a ticket. There will be stalls and Big Screen Entertainment. FREE ENTRY Bring friends, partners and children.
	November 5 (Wednesday) Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum	"A VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE ROSICRUCIAN EGYPTIAN MUSEUM" Presented by Dr Jasmine Day Anthropologist; AESWA Committee Member The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San José, California, holds the largest Egyptology collection in the western United States. Situated among Nilotic flora and recreations of ancient buildings in scenic Rosicrucian Park, the Museum itself is housed in a reproduction temple and contains a full-scale, walkthrough replica of a Middle Kingdom tomb. Explore this remarkable museum inside and out in a spectacular photographic tour. Also see Jasmine’s live TV interview at the museum! Hear Jasmine’s REM Egyptomania podcast online at http://odeo.com/episodes/23263048-Jasmine-Day-Interview and it will open in a window of its own.
	October 1 (Wednesday) Outer Coffin of Tutankhamen	"NEW TECHNIQUES FOR INVESTIGATION OF ANCIENT EGYPTIAN MUMMIES" Presented by Professor Raymond Williamson Head of the Maxillofacial Surgery Department at Royal Perth Hospital and the University of WA. Professor Raymond Williamson – is Head of the Maxillofacial Surgery Department at Royal Perth Hospital and the University of WA. This department deals with reconstructive surgery of the face, which has proven to a useful background for studying mummies. Prof Williamson has had a keen interest in Ancient Egypt for most of his life and joined the WA Ancient Egypt Society in its first year of inception. He has been to Egypt on a number of occasions and has work as an amateur Archaeologist with Greg Gilbert, Colin Simcock and Kim Lesouef. This lecture will begin with a brief overview of the process of mummification used by the Ancient Egyptians, followed by a discussion of the new techniques for the investigation of Ancient Egyptian Mummies. The examination of ancient Egyptian mummies has traditionally been performed by unwrapping the mummies and dissecting them which destroys the mummy. During the last few decades, however, several research groups have provided clear evidence that the combination of various non-invasive approaches for the examination of mummies offers distinct advantages over the previously used methods of unwrapping and dissection. These new techniques for the examination of Ancient Egyptian Mummies include: ENDOSCOPIC EXAMINATION DNA SAMPLING COMPUTER TOMOGRAPHY (CAT SCAN) Scans of two mummy heads, carried out in Perth, will be used to illustrate how Computer Tomography can used to gain valuable information on mummies. The final part of the lecture will review the findings of the CT scans of taken of Tutankhamen in January 2005 and discuss possible causes of his death.
	September 3 (Wednesday) Medinet Habu	"MEDINET HABU" Presented by Dean Kubank Treasurer of the Ancient Egypt Society of W.A. In another one of his temple talks, join Dean as he walks you through Medinet Habu, the mortuary temple of Ramses III. For those members who are on the tour in January 2009, this will give you a thorough history of the temple and points of interest to look out for.
	August 6 (Wednesday)	"An Introduction to the Field of Ancient DNA and its Relevance to Research on Mummified Remains." Presented by Dr Michael Bunce Ancient DNA lab, Murdoch University Researchers in the field of ancient DNA specialise in isolating and amplifying DNA from “old” material in order to learn information from the genes of things long dead. Mummified human remains from Egypt were among some of the first studies conducted in the field of ancient DNA in the 1980’s. In 1988 a technique (PCR) was developed with allowed DNA to be copied billions of times in a single reaction. For the first time this Nobel prize winning “idea” enabled researchers to obtain DNA “profiles” from degraded material. Coupling molecular archaeology together with more traditional approaches has provided some fascinating insights into the past. This presentation will introduce you to the science behind the field of ancient DNA and discuss some of the (numerous) problems associated with DNA profiling human remains such as Egyptian mummies. Dr Michael Bunce is a Senior Lecturer at Murdoch University where he lectures in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Forensic DNA analysis and heads the Murdoch ancient DNA laboratory. He was awarded a PhD from the Australian National University and has held postdoctoral fellowships at Oxford and McMaster Universities before starting a laboratory at Murdoch. Mike’s area of expertise revolves around using ancient DNA to study evolutionary processes and using ancient DNA profiles to investigate past biodiversity and extinctions. He has worked on a diverse variety of projects with the common theme of extracting and amplifying degraded DNA. More information about the speaker can be found at: http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~mbunce/
	July 2(Wednesday) Akhenaton	"AKHENATEN – HERETIC, HERO OR HYPOCRITE?" Presented by Dr Anthony Holmes Author of Tutankhamun: Speak My Name, Member of The Egypt Exploration Society and The Egyptian Society of South Africa In the latter period of the New Kingdom a strange Pharaoh called Akhenaton abruptly declared the ancient gods to be obsolete! He declaredd the sun disc, the Aten to be the single omnipotent deity. After two millennia the temples of the ancient pantheon were closed and the divine statues destroyed. The economy of Egypt was brought to the brink of ruin. Was Akhenaton a Herectic or a Prophet? Was he heroic or insane? Join Anthony Holmes in an investigation into the motives for the extreme action of this fascinating Pharaoh.
	June 4 (Wednesday) Painting from the tomb of Amenemopet, Prophet of the Temple of Amun, Dyn.20 (TT148). © Alanah Buck	"Human Remains From Dra Abu el-Naga: The Theban Tombs Project " Presented by Dr Alanah Buck Forensic Anthropologist (PathWest, UWA) and Honorary Research Associate for the W.A. Museum Department of Anthropology This lecture will review the finds of human material, which reflects the occupation of the tombs from the original New Kingdom owners through until the Coptic Period. A profile of the lives of the tomb users will be gained through examination of population numbers, physical characteristics and health status.
	May 7(Wednesday)	"SACRED SENSUALITY" Perfumes cosmetics and personal hygiene in Ancient Egypt Presented by Dr. Patricia L. O’Neill Egypt was the Paris of the ancient world. Egyptians were famous for their artistry with cosmetics and perfume, and renowned for their devotion to personal hygiene. You will learn how ancient Egyptians kept themselves clean, sweet-smelling and beautiful, and why these attributes were of vital importance in their culture. You’ll be able to examine real ingredients used in ancient Egyptian cosmetics and fragrances and try Trish’s authentic recreations of the legendary perfumes of Tutankhamen and Hatshepsut.
	April 2(Wednesday)	“THE POST PHARAOHNIC PERIOD IN EGYPTIAN HISTORY” Presented by Amany Hanna The study of Egyptology which started from the end of the eighteenth century till today has revealed a lot of mysteries and secrets. In this talk Amany will answer some important questions, such as where did dthe pharaohs and their people disappear? What happened to the rituals and traditions of the Ancient Egyptians? What happened to their language?
	March 5 (Wednesday) Hypostyle Hall at night	“IPET-ISUT - KARNAK” Presented by Ann Butcher and Dean Kubank Join Ann and Dean as they walk you through Ipet-isut – Karnak. If you have already been to this great temple – be prepared to see something new – if you have never been – be prepared to be amazed by its grandeur.
	February 6 (Wednesday) Inner coffin of Keku, Late Period Dyn.26, Thebes	“MUMMIES: ANCIENT EGYPT AND THE AFTERLIFE An Exhibition at the Melbourne Museum” Presented by Dr Jasmine Day Cultural Anthropologist Secretary, The Ancient Egypt Society of W.A. Inc. In 2005, a major exhibition from the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden toured eastern Australia but, unfortunately, Perth missed out. However, Dr Day was able to secure permission from the Rijksmuseum, Nicholson Museum (Sydney) and Melbourne Museum to photograph the Melbourne installation of this exhibition about the life, death and afterlife of Keku, a young woman of the Late Period (2700 years ago). See human and animal mummies, jewellery, cult statues, Books of the Dead and much more in this special presentation exclusive to the AESWA.
		Previous Lectures 2007
	December 5 (Wednesday)	Annual Christmas Party Enjoy some Ancient Egyptian holiday cheer at AESWA's annual Christmas windup. Bring your partner and a plate to share. There will be special Christmas raffles and items for sale. We'll be repeating the entertaining slide and music show, "Imagining Egypt", featuring artistic works representing Ancient Egyptians and their lives. See if you can improve your score on the "Name the Pharaoh" section!" BYO plate of salad, savouries or dessert to share.
	November 7 (Wednesday) Malkata ruins	" A study of the palace and city of Malkata Home to Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye during the last ten years of his reign A descriptive lecture by Marshall Hindley Illustrated by recent photographs of the site taken by Vivianne Rowan Little remains today of the magnificent palace built by Amenhotep III for the celebration of his first Heb-sed festival in his year 30. In this talk the speaker will describe the plan and the function of the palace and its associated structures in an attempt to breathe life back into these scattered ruins.
	October 3 (Wednesday) Debod Temple originally from Nubia Now in Madrid	“In Search of Egypt” Presented by Dr Jasmine Day, Discipline of Anthropology and Sociology, UWA / AESWA Secretary Earlier this year, Dr Jasmine Day attended the 6th International Congress on Mummy Studies held in the Canary Islands. She then spent several days in Spain, exploring Egyptian collections in Madrid. This lecture features highlights from Jasmine’s trip: behind the scenes at the Mummy Congress, a tour of Spain’s Museo Arqueologico Nacional, plus a trip around – and inside – the magnificent Debod Temple from Nubia, which now stands in a beautiful park atop a hill overlooking Madrid. Special repeat screening by request!
	September 5 (Wednesday) Horus necklace	“Shop Like an Egyptian: Hunters and Collectors” For Purveyors Of Fine Merchandise Presented by Dr Jasmine Day, Discipline of Anthropology and Sociology, UWA / AESWA Secretary Dr Patricia O'Neill, AESWA Committee AESWA's most savvy shoppers team up to show you where to get a mind-boggling array of items with an ancient Egyptian theme. Dr Jasmine Day and Dr Patricia O'Neill will show you their favourite online shopping sites, featuring the latest and rare books, art, clothing, jewellery, museum replicas, home décor, toys and more. You'll get tips on safe online shopping and how to import from overseas. Becky Steven has also discovered the best spots around Perth to find Egyptian treasures. The presentation includes a display of items from the ladies' personal collections. Come and see all kinds of neat stuff the FedEx man will deliver!
	August 1 (Wednesday) Wooden treasures (Tomb of Tutankhamun)	"Wonderful Things About Woodwork in Ancient Egypt" By Beauchamp Paine Presented by Kim Lesouef Carpenters were amongst the artisans who worked with pride to produce not only the wonderful funerary items for the Pharaohs’ tombs but also furniture and other items for the household. With only the most rudimentary of tools and limited supplies of their primary material, they produced an astonishing array of works, including most of the wonderful thingsfound in Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb. Kim Lesouef takes us on the journey of the “chippies” of Ancient Egypt, seen through the eyes of our dear Beau Paine, award-winning woodcarver and life member of AESWA.      Our beloved Beau Paine
	July 4 (Wednesday) Scarab beetle from the Louvre collection	"EGYPTIAN ANTIQUITIES FROM THE LOUVRE: JOURNEY TO THE AFTERLIFE " Dr. Jasmine Day, Discipline of Anthropology and Sociology, The University of Western Australia To celebrate Egyptian Antiquities from the Louvre: Journey to the Afterlife coming to the Art Gallery of Western Australia in July, this lecture previews highlights from the exhibition, including sculpture, jewellery and funerary equipment. Prepare for your visit by learning to interpret offering stelae, mummy cartonnages and in the Book of the Dead. Be among the first people in Perth to see artworks from the Louvre’s storerooms now on exhibit for the first time, in this exclusive lecture adapted from material prepared specially for the Art Gallery’s own staff.
	June 6 (Wednesday) Debod Temple in Madrid	"IN SEARCH OF EGYPT" Dr. Jasmine Day, Cultural Anthropologist Earlier this year, Dr Jasmine Day attended the 6th International Congress on Mummy Studies held in the Canary Islands. She then spent several days in Spain before continuing her search for Egyptian Revival monuments in London. This lecture features highlights from Jasmine¹s trip: behind the scenes at the Mummy Congress, London¹s architectural gems and crumbling Victorian cemeteries, and Spain¹s Museo Arqueologico Nacional, plus the magnificent Debod Temple from Nubia, which now stands in a beautiful park atop a hill overlooking Madrid.
	May 2 (Wednesday) The Ramesseum	"The Ramesseum and Temple of Hathor at Dendara" Dean Kubank This talk will be divided in two; with the first half devoted to the Ramesseum – mortuary temple of Ramses II and the second to the Temple of Hathor at Dendara. Both temples were recently visited in October 2006 by Ann and Dean. The talk will give a potted history of both temples, plus the opportunity to look at recent on-site photos.
	April 4 (Wednesday) The Judgement of Ani	"The Book of the Dead" Colin Simcock President, The Ancient Egypt Society of W.A. Inc. Religion guided every aspect of Egyptian life. Egyptian religion was based on polytheism, or the worship of many deities. The Egyptians had as many as 2000 gods and goddesses each representing characteristics of a specific earthly force, combined with a heavenly power. The Book of the Dead was a collection of spells, hymns, and prayers intended to secure for the deceased safe passage to and sojourn in the other world. The Book of the Dead is the common name for the ancient Egyptian funerary texts known as The Book of Coming [or Going] Forth By Day. Colin will give an outline of the importance of these spells as well as the tests the deceased was required to pass in order to go through into the next world.
	March 7 (Wednesday) Hieroglyphs	"Hieroglyphs" Colin Simcock President, The Ancient Egypt Society of W.A. Inc. Egypt was one of the first civilisations to commence writing as a means of communication. In fact evidence now exists which apparently proves that Egyptians may have actually invented writing. Hieroglyphs have fascinated all travellers who have visited Egypt over the ages. It is not simply that it is a written language but that it is a piece of art and the pictures want you to know more. Do they represent what they are? Is an owl an owl? If not what does an owl represent? Because every hieroglyph represents something real, it is not simply a squiggly line or a square box – it is most likely water and a square mat. In this two-part lecuture Colin will discuss how hieroglyphs developed and what they meant to the Egyptians as symbolic figures. In the second part Colin will give a brief discussion on how to decipher hieroglyphs.
	February 7 (Wednesday) Bronze Horus	"Treasures of Ancient Egypt: Masterpieces of Egyptian Art in the Musée du Louvre " Dr Jasmine Day Cultural Anthropologist & Secretary, The Ancient Egypt Society of W.A. Inc. Come on a lavishly illustrated virtual tour of the Egyptian Art galleries in the fabulous Musée du Louvre in Paris. Discover the treasures of ancient Egypt recovered by Napoleon’s scholars that gave birth to the science of Egyptology and inspired modern Egyptomania. From sacred images of gods and pharaohs to intricately decorated coffins and magical amulets, from fascinating glass inlays to rare home furnishings and board games, from monumental statuary to delicate musical instruments and stunning gold and gemstone jewellery, this massive collection features some of the most precious and beautiful Egyptian artefacts ever found. Refreshments and biscuits will be provided.
		Previous Lectures 2006
	December 6 (Wednesday)	Christmas Party Bring a plate and your partner. We'll have raffles, prizes and an Egyptian gift stall. Dr Jasmine Day will be signing copies of her recently published book, The Mummy's Curse. Running in the background will be a slide and music show produced by Dr Patricia O'Neill: Imagining Egypt What did Ancient Egypt actually look like? For centuries artists have presented reconstructions of Ancient Egyptian life - some meticulous, some ludicrous - but all fascinating. "Imagining Egypt" presents a selection of artistic works depicting life in the Land of the Pharaohs. Have a look, perhaps a laugh, while you nibble, chat and nourish your Ka.
	November 1 (Wednesday)	"Return of the Mummy's Hair" Further observations on the hair of two Egyptian mummies residing at the Western Australian Museum in Perth Pierre Filion Electron Microscopy, PathWest Laboratory Medicine W.A., Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Perth The hair of two ancient Egyptian mummies in the Western Australian Museum in Perth was examined by a range of microscopic techniques. The excellent preservation of hair structure allowed a detailed study of the cellular substructure and pigment granules. The red colouration of the hair is due in part to the enveloping resin and minerals, but the hair of the female mummy shows evidence of intrinsic blonde and red pigment. The embalming resin retains traces of ancient life. Pierre Filion first presented his research at the AESWA Conference in 2004.
	October 4 (Wednesday)	"Further Observations on the Geography of the Beyond and the Navigation of the Divine Barque" Charlie Mann Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Western Australia Following on from his previous AESWA lecture "The Cosmogony of Heliopolis: the Temple and the Geography of the Beyond", Charlie Mann will continue his exploration of the Heliopolitan cosmogony (the legends of Ra) and the temple as an abode of the divine. The royal tombs of the New Kingdom illustrate the sun god¹s perilous voyage through the millions of miles of the netherworld, to death and ultimate rebirth in the eastern horizon.
	September 6 (Wednesday)	"A Review of Tattooing in Ancient Egypt" Kelvin Poon, MForSc/PhD Student, School of Biomedical, Biomolecular & Chemical Sciences, The University of Western Australia Very few physical examples of tattooing from ancient Egypt exist and there is almost no mention of tattooing in surviving written records. When searching for evidence of tattooing in ancient Egyptian art and literature, the main problem faced is that the interpretations are subjective and the examples may represent cases of tattooing, ornamental scarring, body painting or branding. From priestesses to alluring musicians, this presentation will review the neglected art of tattooing in ancient Egypt.
	August 3 (Wednesday) An Ushabti Face	"Understanding Egyptian Art" Dr Jasmine Day, Cultural anthropologist Discover the art of ancient Egypt, from the mythology portrayed in religious art and the magical power of amulets to the meanings hidden in everyday objects. This illustrated lecture introduces you to the history, functions and styles of Egyptian art and features original photographs of masterworks in the world's most spectacular museum collections.
	July 5 (Wednesday) Pageant Marchers at Christmas	"Egyptian Literature" Colin Simcock, President of the AESWA One of the undervalued arts of Egypt is their literature. Not a great deal of it has survived the passing of time. The little that was preserved shows that Egypt was capable of great drama, comedy, love, etc. Colin will be story-telling from selected pieces of literature giving you an example of what the ancient Egyptians created. This promises to be a fun but educational night. We hope that you will all come to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Ancient Egypt Society of WA with an entertaining story night of ancient Egypt’s literature. We will have a stall with Egyptian items for sale, finger food for sale, and a mega raffle with some terrific prizes.
	June 7 (Wednesday) The Pyramid of Chephren	"The Old Kingdom (When the pyramids were built)" Tullio De Domenico With its legacy of pyramids, mastabas, statues, pharaohs and sphinx - the Old Kingdom is still the most mysterious period of Ancient Egyptian civilisation The Old Kingdom is called the "golden age" of Egyptian civilization and it has determined the form and style of Egyptian art and culture for 3000 years. In this lecture Tullio will look at the rise of Egyptian civiliation and the development of agriculture, Egypt's rulers, the major achievements of the period, the arts, monuments, mastabas and pyramids. The various theories, some controversial, about the construction of the pyramids will be mentioned, and who really built the sphinx - and what they both represent.
	May 3 (Wednesday) Sphinx on Time Piece	"Egyptomania at Home" Dr Jasmine Day, Cultural anthropologist Take an exclusive tour inside the homes of some of the world’s foremost Egyptomania collectors. Gavin Watson’s massive collection of rare books, priceless Wedgwood and Royal Doulton porcelain, clocks, lamps and statues is tucked away inside a terrace house in Stirling, Scotland. Bob Brier and his wife Pat Remler live in a flat in the Bronx, surrounded by Egyptian treasures from historic posters and antiques to ushabtis and even a mummy’s arm!
	April 5 (Wednesday) KV5 – A Map of the Area	"KV5 – The Tomb of Princes" " Colin Simcock, President of the Ancient Egypt Society The great Pharaoh Ramesses II supposedly lived to over 90 and had over 100 siblings, many of them young males you did not survive their father to the throne. Where are they all buried? Relatively recent excavations in the Valley of the Kings have resulted in the discovery of the final resting places for many of these princes. But it is not simply the discovery of burial of Ramesses sons that make this tomb so fascinating but the tomb itself. The tomb is like no other in Egypt, it is the biggest by far in the Valley of the Kings. Its design is unique. Colin will discuss the discoveries made in the tomb, its structure and why it was built.
	March 1 (Wednesday) Tutankhamen	"NEBKHEPERURE TUTANKHAMEN - The Enigmatic Pharaoh" Marshall Hindley, ex-President of the Society Everyone has heard of the boy-king Tutankhamen the discovery of whose tomb in 1922 caused a tremendous resurgence of interest in the history and culture of Ancient Egypt. But what is actually known about this Pharaoh? In this lecture we shall deal with his place in the history of Egypt's 18th Dynasty. His reign came at a time when Egypt was beginning to recover from the effects of the so-called Amarna Heresy and he played a pivotal role in that recovery. His parentage is still a matter for some debate and the examination of his remains last year have thrown some new light on how he could have met his premature death. In this lecture we will also deal with the discovery of his tomb and what light that threw on the burial customs of the time.
	February 1 (Wednesday) Egyptomania	"EGYPTOMANIA IN LONDON" Dr. Jasmine Day, Cultural Anthropologist Tour the greatest modern Egyptianising monuments of London, from Art Deco marvels such as the Carreras Cigarette Factory and Carlton Cinema to the Victorian ruins of Highgate Cemetery and the famous Crystal Palace, tragically destroyed by fire. See the high kitsch interior of Harrod’s department store and the newly refurbished grave of Howard Carter.

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