Preliminary Course Syllabus

Stanford Continuing Studies Dr. Patrick Hunt ARC 14 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/expeditions/experts/patrick-hunt/ Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology Tuesdays, 7:00-8:50 pm, 5 sessions, June 23 – July 21

Course Aims What is “Egyptomania”? Is it merely a fascination with Egypt and Egyptology? Egypt’s long and magnificent ancient history of more than three millennia allowed it to develop unique achievements that had a lasting influence on the arts, mythology, literature, and monumental architecture of the ancient world. Its relative isolation—surrounded by deserts and a marshy delta and mostly accessible only by the Nile River—encouraged it to thrive independently and maintain a uniquely stable culture mainly free from invasion during the Early to Late Bronze Ages (2600–1100 BCE). From pyramids and temples to wall paintings, illustrated hieroglyphic papyri, funerary arts, science and engineering practices, stone working, and jewelry, along with its reputation as the Land of Gold in antiquity, the legacy of Egypt is astonishing. So much survives from that its heritage is far better preserved than many other, almost forgotten cultures.

In this course, we will revel in Egypt’s remarkable past, examining the history of such places as Hierakonpolis, Memphis, Giza, and Thebes (Waset), and the mysteries of rulers including and , Senusret III, , Thutmose III, and his Amarna Period, , and some of the Ramesside dynasties. We will also reflect on the archaeologists who pioneered Egyptology, including Champollion, Flinders Petrie, and others. We will also focus on the Rosetta Stone as a key artifact that unlocks Egyptian history and language. Course Requirements Students attend virtual live sessions and complete assigned readings from assigned or recommended texts, and supplemental texts as provided. If taken for credit (as MLA or prospective students must fulfill), a brief 10 page critical paper will be completed with topic having prior instructor consent or students complete written responses in Discussion sections. Course Texts Ian Shaw, ed. Oxford , Oxford, 2004; Patrick Hunt, Ten Discoveries That Rewrote History, Penguin Group, 2007, chs. 1, 4, 8. ARC 14 Ancient Egypt Course Outline Summer 2020

1 June 23 Introduction, What is “Egyptomania”?, Geography of Egypt, Egyptian Cosmology Reading: Shaw, Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, Intro., chs. 1-4 (pp. 1-82), Glossary (472-9) “Egypt’s Earliest Agricultural Settlement Unearthed” (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080212131300.htm); Patrick Hunt, Ten Discoveries, “King Tut’s Tomb”, ch. 4

2 June 30 Egyptian Religion & Funerary Culture, Predynastic to Ptolemaic Times Reading: Shaw, chs. 5-7 (pp. 83-170); “Dwarfs Commanded Respect in Ancient Egypt” (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/12/051227102614.htm) Patrick Hunt, “Egyptian Kingship and Animal Husbandry” Electrum Magazine June 2014 (http://www.electrummagazine.com/2014/06/egyptian-kingship-and-animal-husbandry/)

3 July 7 Egyptian Hieroglyphs, the Rosetta Stone Legacy, Egyptian Language: Key to History Reading: Shaw, chs. 11-13 (308-87); Patrick Hunt Ten Discoveries, Rosetta Stone”, ch.1 Andrew Robinson, “Who really deciphered the Egyptian Hieroglyphs?” (http://blog.oup.com/2012/07/who-deciphered-egyptian-hieroglyph/)

4 July 14 Egyptian Genius in Stoneworking: Egyptian Architecture and Sculpture Reading: Shaw, chs 8-10 (pp. 172-307); Patrick Hunt, ARCE, “Egyptian Genius: Stoneworking for Eternity” (http://www.arce-nc.org/hunt.htm) Patrick Hunt, Ten Discoveries, “Thera”, ch. 8; Reading: Patrick Hunt, “Turin’s Egyptian Museum”, Electrum Magazine, Aug. 2012; (http://www.electrummagazine.com/2012/08/turins-egyptian- museum/); Patrick Hunt, “Ancient Egyptian Tilapia Story” Electrum Magazine, Sept. 2012 (http://www.electrummagazine.com/2012/09/ancient-egyptian-tilapia-fish-story/)

5 July 21 Egyptian Technology, Science & Medicine Reading: Shaw, Ch. 15 & Epilogue (414-37); “Ancient Egyptians Transported Pyramid Stones over Wet Sand” (http://www.sci-news.com/physics/science-ancient-egyptians-wet-sand-01894.html)

Note: Instructor reserves the right to amend schedule.