Afterlives of Ancient Egypt with Kara Cooney

Kara Cooney
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Afterlives of Ancient Egypt with Kara Cooney

History isn’t repeating itself; history is now ancientnow.substack.com

  1. Hunting & Eating Divinity: Pyramid Texts, the "Cannibal Hymn,” and Divine Kingship

    4 DAYS AGO

    Hunting & Eating Divinity: Pyramid Texts, the "Cannibal Hymn,” and Divine Kingship

    Kara and Amber take a deep dive into the so-called “Cannibal Hymn” (Utterances 273–274) of the Pyramid Texts, which date to the late Old Kingdom and First Intermediate Period (ca. 2375–2055 BCE) and are the oldest funerary texts from ancient Egypt. They do some reading, some interpreting, and talk about the great power the ancient Egyptians believed these texts held, and how they're a part of the restricted knowledge and magical power that the Egyptians kept for their god–kings. Sources Eyre, Christopher. 2002. The Cannibal Hymn: a cultural and literary study. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. Faulkner, R. O. 1969. The ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts: translated into English, 2 vols. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Goebs, Katja. 2004. “The Cannibal Spell: continuity and change in the Pyramid Text and Coffin Text versions.” In: Bickel, Susanne and Bernard Mathieu (eds), D'un monde à l'autre: Textes des Pyramides & Textes des Sarcophages. Actes de la table ronde internationale, "Textes des Pyramides versus Textes des Sarcophages", IFAO - 24-26 Septembre 2001, 143-173. Le Caire: Institut français d'archéologie orientale. Hornung, Erik. 1992. Idea into image: essays on ancient Egyptian thought. Translated by Elizabeth Bredeck. New York: Timken. Sethe, Kurt. 1908-1922. Die altaegyptischen Pyramidentexte: nach den Papierabdrücken und Photographien des Berliner Museums, 4 vols. Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs. Get full access to Ancient/Now at ancientnow.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 53m

  2. NOV 6

    October 2024 Supporter Q&A

    In month’s Q&A we have questions concerning kingship & the gods, turtles (!!), and the Book of the Dead. Kara also answers some frequently asked questions about her new online course on ancient Egyptian cosmogony and cosmology. Ancient Egyptian Cosmogony and Cosmology: Secrets of the Primordial Waters An eight-part lecture series by Dr. Kara Cooney SHOW NOTES Kingship & Religion * Overview of the King’s role in state religion * Dunand, Françoise and Christiane Zivie-Coche. 2004. Gods and men in Egypt: 3000 BCE to 395 CE. Translated by David Lorton. Ithaca, NY; London: Cornell University Press. * Baines, Lesko, and Silverman. 1991. Religion in Ancient Egypt. Gods, Myth, and Personal Practice. Cornell University Press. * Maat vs. Isfet * Third Intermediate Period & the High Priests of Amun * Herihor * Piankhy * Royal Ka- Bell, Lanny 1985. Luxor temple and the cult of the royal Ka. Journal of Near Eastern Studies 44 (4), 251-294. * Abydos King List Book of the Dead and Ideological Textual Knowledge * Gloss * Book of the Dead, Chapter 17 Turtles vs. Tortoise in Ancient Egypt * Fischer 1968. Ancient Egyptian Representations of Turtles. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Papers 13. New York * El-Kady. 2011. The Religious Concept of the Dual Character of the Turtle in Graeco-roman Egypt * Ritner, Robert K. 2000. The "Breathing-permit of Hôr": thirty-four years later. Dialogue: a journal of Mormon thought 33 (4), 97-119 Retainer Sacrifice * Review our episode with Dr. Rose Campbell- Part I & II * Animal Sacrifice/Butcher scene Recycling for Death: Coffin Reuse in Ancient Egypt and the Theban Royal Caches If you are a paid subscriber on Substack or Patreon and would like a signed bookplate, you can reply to this post or email us at karacooney@gmail.com. Get full access to Ancient/Now at ancientnow.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 10m
  3. Recycling for Death: How to publish a big academic book without it killing you

    OCT 28

    Recycling for Death: How to publish a big academic book without it killing you

    Kara’s latest book, Recycling for Death: Coffin Reuse in Ancient Egypt and the Theban Royal Caches, is now available! In this episode UCLA PhD candidate Kylie Thomsen joins the Afterlives crew to talk about the years of research and preparation behind the publication of this meticulous study of the social, economic, and religious significance of coffin reuse and development during the Ramesside and early Third Intermediate periods. Get your copy of Recycling for Death Get full access to Ancient/Now at ancientnow.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 25m
  4. Egyptian Hieroglyphs with Dr. Melinda Nelson-Hurst

    OCT 21

    Egyptian Hieroglyphs with Dr. Melinda Nelson-Hurst

    In this episode Kara and Jordan talk to Egyptologist Melinda Nelson-Hurst about her online Egyptology platform, Voices of Ancient Egypt, which teaches you how to read the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs that you’ll see in museums, online, and on your next trip to Egypt – in less time and without the overwhelm. About our Guest: Melinda Nelson-Hurst is an Egyptologist (Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania), specializing in the social history and archaeology of ancient Egypt, especially during the Middle Kingdom. In particular, Dr. Nelson-Hurst's research has focused on families and their influence within the state administration, office acquisition, inheritance, and family members' obligations to deceased relatives, as well as on Third Intermediate Period burial assemblages and the history of modern collections.Since 2018, Melinda has run the online Egyptology platform, Voices of Ancient Egypt. Through online courses and YouTube videos with over a million views, Voices of Ancient Egypt brings the study of ancient Egypt out from behind the classroom and library walls, so you can experience it in the real world. Voices of Ancient Egypt’s programs specialize in teaching you to read the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs that you’ll see in museums, on Instagram, and on your next trip to Egypt – in less time and without the overwhelm. Youtube- Voices of Ancient Egypt IG- Voices of Ancient Egypt Voices of Ancient Egypt YouTube Video on how to write your name in hieroglyphs Resources for the Episode Scripts: Hieratic and Demotic Hieroglyphs Stages: Old Egyptian Middle Egyptian Late Egyptian Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 View the Rest of the Examples Mentioned in the Episode SIGN UP FOR SCRIBAL SCHOOL! Want to learn more? Get all the details about Scribal School and how Melinda's students learn to read hieroglyphs by signing up for Melinda's free class: "3 Steps to Fast-Track Your Journey from Student to Scribe" Get full access to Ancient/Now at ancientnow.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 17m
  5. BONUS Ancient Egyptian Creation: Exploring Secrets of the Primordial Waters

    OCT 18

    BONUS Ancient Egyptian Creation: Exploring Secrets of the Primordial Waters

    Many of you asked for it, and it’s finally here—an new online course from Kara is now available. Kara and Amber take a behind-the-scenes look at how her new course on ancient Egyptian cosmogony and cosmology came together and what is covered in this eight-part lecture series. Get full access to Ancient/Now at ancientnow.substack.com/subscribe

    31 min
  6. A Coffin Girl’s Guide to the Book of the Dead

    OCT 11

    A Coffin Girl’s Guide to the Book of the Dead

    Journey into the afterlife with Kara and Amber as they take a look at the Book of the Dead (more properly known as The Book of Going Forth by Day), a well-known collection of spells from ancient Egypt meant to aid the dead in their transition into the afterlife. Kara provides a Coffin Girl’s Guide to the Book of the Dead, focusing on spells that are most associated with New Kingdom sarcophagi, coffins, and burial chambers. More on the Book of the Dead: Book of the Dead on Google Arts & Culture Explore the Book of the Dead (The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge) The Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead (World History Encyclopedia) Get full access to Ancient/Now at ancientnow.substack.com/subscribe

    2h 4m
  7. August Live Q&A Event

    SEP 20

    August Live Q&A Event

    Show Notes Religion of the Masses * Kemp BJ. How Religious were the Ancient Egyptians? Cambridge Archaeological Journal. 1995;5(1):25-54. doi:10.1017/S0959774300001177 * UEE Encyclopedia- Votive Practice/Personal Religion Continuity of Ancient Egyptian Religion * Abu el-Haggag Festival: The Modern-Day Opet * Moulid Festival of Abu'l Hajjaj Entertainment in the Egyptian Court * Autobiography of Harkhuf [the king saying] “Come north to the residence at once! Hurry and bring with you the pygmy (sic) whom you brought from the land of the horizon-dwellers life, hale, and healthy, for the dances of the gods, to gladden the heart, to delight the heart of King Neferkare who lives forever! When he goes down with you into the ship, get worthy men to be around him on deck, lest he fall into the water! When he lies down at night, et worthy men to lie around him in his tent. Inspect ten times at night! My majesty desires to see his pygmy (sic) more than the gift of the mine-lands of Punt” (Lichtheim 1973, 27). * Little People in ancient Egypt * Blind Harper motif * Westcar Papyrus and the Magician Djedi His majesty said: “Is it true , what they say, that you can join a severed head?” Said Djedi: “Yes, I can, O King, my lord.” Said his majesty: “Have brought me a prisoner from the prison, that be be executed.” Said Djedi: “But not to a human being, O king, my lord! Surely, it is not permitted to do such a thing to the noble cattle [i.e. the populace].” (Lichtheim 1973, 219) * Female Dancers * Seneb King’s Ancestors * Royal titulary * Divine Birth * Oppenheimer, Adela. The Early Life of Pharaoh: Divine Birth and Adolescence Scenes in the Causeway of Senwosret III at Dahshur," in M. Bârta, F. Coppens, and J. Krejci, eds., Abusir and Saqqara in the Year 2010 (Prague, 2011), 171-88 * Alexander Romance Get full access to Ancient/Now at ancientnow.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 9m
  8. Karnak: Creation and Destruction of a Living Temple

    AUG 12

    Karnak: Creation and Destruction of a Living Temple

    In this episode Kara and Amber discuss the builders and destroyers of Karnak. Who could create and who could destroy? If we look at the ancient living temple space of Karnak as social document, what can it tell us? Evolution of a Temple (Elizabeth Blyth) More info on Karnak University of Santa Cruz Digital Karnak UCSC Maps of Karnak Get full access to Ancient/Now at ancientnow.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 23m
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History isn’t repeating itself; history is now ancientnow.substack.com

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