One year ago today Em Hotep was present for the premier of Khufu Reborn at la Géode in Paris, France. Phase Two of Jean-Pierre Houdin’s work with the Great Pyramid of Khufu was revolutionary, but was preceded by another revolution in Egypt just two days prior. Now, on the one year anniversary of Khufu Reborn, we visit with Jean-Pierre to ask a few questions about his work, the impact of the January Revolution, and where we go from here.
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Tags: Dassault Systemes, Florence Tran, January Revolution, Jean-Pierre Houdin, Khufu Reborn, Khufu Revealed, Khufu's Pyramid, Laval University, Mehdi Tayoubi, Mohamed Ibrahim, Pyramid Shafts, Richard Breitner
Last week as news was breaking about the new tomb—KV64—Em Hotep received word from Stephen Cross, an Egyptologist and Geologist specializing in the Valley of the Kings, that he had photographed the tomb while conducting his own, unrelated research in the Valley. Naturally, Steve held onto this wonderful shot until after the University of Basel had made their announcement. Now that the whole world knows about KV64 and its lovely occupant, Steve has very kindly agreed to allow us to publish the photo, along with answer some questions about what is going on in the Valley of the Kings.
Inside: Current projects in the Valley of the Kings, Steve’s meeting with the new head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, and a picture of KV64 you will not see anywhere else!
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Tags: KV34, KV40, KV42, KV64, KV8, Mohamed el Bialy, Steve Cross, Valley of the Kings
In case you haven’t heard, there is a new addition to the list of tombs in the Valley of the Kings! As I am currently focused on the next pyramid shaft article, and my multi-tasking cache already runneth over, I am pointing you to the sources I go to for information about such things—my brother and sister bloggers.
As always, these are not typical bloggers (have I mentioned how much I dislike that marginalizing term, blogger?), these are folks who are thoughtful, critical, analytical, and who often have direct channels to the primary sources. Don’t forget to check out the comments sections, as this is where the story tends to develop. And you have my word that these kind people will welcome your comments and questions as well.
(Kate gets two entries because VoK is her bailiwick)
Tags: Andrea Byrnes, Jane Akshar, Kate Phizackerley, KV64, Tim Reid
Last May the Project Djedi Team caught the world’s attention, and imagination, when they announced that the robot crawler designed to explore the southern shaft leading out of the Queen’s Chamber of the Great Pyramid had transmitted back images of markings left behind by the pyramid’s builders. Hidden behind a “door” that had either thwarted or limited previous attempts to investigate the shaft, the markings prompted much speculation about their nature and purpose.
The Djedi Project was back in the headlines at the end of December when New Scientist magazine named the discovery one of the Top 10 Science Stories of 2011. For the next few articles, Em Hotep will bring you up to date on the history of the exploration of the mysterious shafts in the Great Pyramid. This current article will cover the ground from Waynman Dixon up to the Pyramid Rover Project, with the next article focusing exclusively on Project Djedi. This will be followed by a couple of very special interviews you will not want to miss..
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Tags: Charles Piazzi Smyth, Djedi Project, Gantenbrink's Door, Khufu's Pyramid, Project Upuaut, Pyramid Rover Project, Pyramid Shafts, Queen's Chamber, Queens Chamber Shafts, Rainer Stadelmann, Rudolf Gantenbrink, Waynman Dixon, Zahi Hawass
Posted by: Shemsu Sesen
Categories: Mummies
Mummy forensics is more than just a show on The History Channel, it is an entire field of Egyptology that helps us understand how the ancient Egyptians lived, worked, played, died, and how they prepared for the afterlife.
In this installment of the Em Hotep mummy series (which will eventually become the Mummy Section) we will take a look at the terms and concepts related to the various methods Egyptologists use to study mummies with links to carefully selected websites and articles to further your own investigation. Whether you are working on a term paper or just interested in mummies, this primer will get you started.
And just a quick note—some of the subheadings in this primer, such as the part on facial reconstruction, will have their own more detailed sections that will include more media, as well as original interviews, so stay tuned!
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Tags: CT Scan, Endoscopy, Facial Reconstruction, Forensic Mummy Studies, Genetic Mapping, Mass Spectrometry, Mummies, Paleo-odontology, Paleoimagery, Paleopathology, Paleoserology, Richard Wilkinson, Rosalie David
It has been nearly a year now since architect Jean-Pierre Houdin premiered the second phase of his work with the Great Pyramid—Khufu Reborn. How has his work been received so far? Where does the project stand at the moment? Has the Arab Spring affected the progress of Project Khufu? Where do we go from here?
My good friend Marc Chartier of Pyramidales (and more recently of Égypte-actualités, but more on that endeavor later..) had a chance to sit down recently with Jean-Pierre and discuss these questions and more. Thanks to Em Hotep’s partnership with Pyramidales, I am able to bring you the English language version of this interview. Enjoy, and please feel free to join the conversation, as they say…
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Tags: Clemente Ibarra Castanedo, Dassault Systemes, Jean-Pierre Houdin, Khufu Reborn, Khufu Revealed, Khufu's Pyramid, Marc Chartier, Matthew Klein, Pyramids, Xavier Maldague
Posted by: Shemsu Sesen
Categories: Mummies
Medicine and Mysteries is a sneak preview of the much larger mummies section coming to Em Hotep. The format of the mummies section will be to present introductory summaries of relevant topics followed by video clips, followed by links to primary and secondary resources.
In this installment: The search for Nefertiti, mummies and heart disease, was Tut murdered, mummies and dental care, ancient brain surgery, tracking Lady Tahat and sexing Lady Hor.. Much more..
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Tags: Akhmim Mummy Studies Consortium, Carlos Museum, Djed-Hor, Djehutynakht, Forensic Mummy Studies, Hor, Horus Study Group, KV35YL, Mummification, Nefertiti, Ramesses I, Swiss Mummy Project, Tanakhtnettahat, TT320, Tutankhamun
Most permanent and touring exhibitions featuring ancient Egypt have features that are kid-friendly, but some really go above and beyond the call of duty. In this article we will feature eight exhibitions and/or museum programs that go out of their way to cater to young people with an interest in ancient Egypt. Video clips are included where available.
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Tags: Cleopatra VII, Indianapolis Children's Museum, Tutankhamun Exhibition
If you weren’t able to make it to the premier of Khufu Reborn, the second episode of Jean-Pierre Houdin’s theory of how the Great Pyramid of Khufu was built, then you are in luck—the full presentation is now available on the web, courtesy of Dassault Systèmes! This isn’t just a dry lecture with some slides, this is the full 3D presentation, with narration.
In addition to providing the full simulation illustrating Jean-Pierre’s theory in detail, the Khufu Reborn universe is interactive. You can actually navigate you way around the Giza Plateau of 4,500 years ago. But if you aren’t ready to dive into Khufu’s world just yet, this Em Hotep tour and tutorial will equip you for the journey.
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Tags: Dassault Systemes, Jean-Pierre Houdin, Khufu Reborn, Khufu's Pyramid, Project Khufu
Last week we met Mumab, the modern-day ancient Egyptian mummy, and learned a little about what he is up to now. To recap, he is now on permanent loan to the San Diego Museum of Man and is currently serving as the centerpiece of their new exhibit, Modern Day Mummy: The Art and Science of Mummification.
Since that article ran, the Museum of Man has kindly provided Em Hotep with some photos from the exhibit, so we are returning the favor with a closer look at the exhibit itself. We will also take an in-depth look at the story behind one of the displays—Ronald Beckett’s trip to New Guinea to help a village set up a program of better mummy maintenance.
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Tags: Andrew Nelson, Forensic Mummy Studies, Jerry Conlogue, Mumab, Mummies, Paleoimagery, Ronald Beckett, San Diego Museum of Man, Ulla Lohmann
A new online resource for Egyptologist, enthusiasts, and sundry Egyptophiles has made its world premiere—Egyptological. This new periodical is produced by two names with whom we should all be familiar: Andrea Byrnes of Egyptological News and Kate Phizackerley of News from the Valley of the Kings.
Andie and Kate have both made unique contributions to the field of Egyptology, shattering the notion that the Egyptological blogosphere is the domain of semi-informed speculation and the musings of “mere amateurs.” We already owe them a debt of gratitude for setting the bar high and establishing an expectation of credibility, and I am personally very excited to see where this new endeavor will lead.
Egyptological is divided into three sections—Journal, Magazine, and Colloquy—according to content. And as always, your comments and participation are heartily encouraged. For those of us who cannot contain ourselves to a comment, there is a section where you can submit your own original articles, papers, reviews, and photographs.
Heads up students: this is an excellent opportunity to have your work seen and reviewed by peers, professionals, and everyday folk who share your passion. Let’s all get behind Kate and Andie to make Egyptological a voice to be relied on/reckoned with!
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Tags: Andrea Byrnes, Kate Phizackerley
Following up to the Mumab article, Em Hotep presents sixteen different mummy exhibits either already running or opening soon, from all corners of the world. Who knows? Maybe the mummies are coming your way soon…
With video clips when available (some clips are from previous runs of the same exhibit, but the content should be pretty consistent). Enjoy!
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Tags: Mummies
Whether it was officially declared or not, this June has certainly been the Month of the Mummy. June 10 saw the opening of the Modern Day Mummy: The Art and Science of Mummification exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Man, and then the incredible Mummies of the World exhibit opened at the Franklin Institute on June 18. All that was needed for a perfect Month of the Mummy was an American convention of the World Mummy Congress, and that was delivered on June 12 – 16 in San Diego.
It is probably not a coincidence that the Seventh World Mummy Congress was convened at the University of San Diego, a short trip across town from the San Diego Museum of Man, where Mumab had just settled into his new home. Mumab—short for Mummy of University of Maryland at Baltimore—has the distinction of being the first modern ancient mummy. The inspiration for his creation came in the mid 90’s when mummy expert Dr. Bob Brier realized that the only way to know how ancient Egyptian mummies were made would be to mummify a human cadaver using the same tools and methods the Egyptians used. And so he did.
In this article Em Hotep will look at the history of Mumab—how he was made, what was learned from him, and what he is up to now.
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Tags: Bob Brier, Canopic Jars, Forensic Mummy Studies, Herodotus, Ibu, Mumab, Mummies, Natron, Ronn Wade, San Diego Museum of Man, World Mummy Congress
Last week the news about the preliminary findings of the Djedi Project broke worldwide, and not without a little sensationalism. While sensationalism can be fun, it can also backfire when people form preconceived notions about what the findings mean.
“Red-painted numbers and graffiti are very common around Giza,” advises Peter Der Manuelian, an Egyptologist at Harvard University and director of the Giza Archives at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. “They are often masons’ or work-gangs’ marks, denoting numbers, dates or even the names of the gangs.”
There is a lot to be excited about with the Djedi mission, but we need to keep the discoveries in context until Egyptologists have had an opportunity to analyze the findings and their implications. But that does not mean that we can’t have some fun in the meanwhile…
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Tags: Dassault Systemes, Djedi Project, Leeds University, Mehdi Tayoubi, Peter Der Manuelian, Queens Chamber Shafts, Shaun Whitehead
Follow Pharaoh Khufu’s funeral procession into the Great Pyramid where we learn the layout of the two very different routes to the King’s Chamber—one used by the workers in the construction of the vast monument, and one created for the sole purpose of the king’s last journey from his Valley Temple to the burial room.
This is the seventh article in a series based on Marc Chartier’s discussions with Jean-Pierre Houdin following the premier of Khufu Reborn, the long awaited revelation of the second chapter of Project Khufu. These articles are provided in English to Em Hotep via special arrangement with Marc Chartier/Pyramidales, Jean-Pierre Houdin and the Project Khufu team at Dassault Systèmes.
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Tags: Dassault Systemes, Jean-Pierre Houdin, Khufu, Khufu Reborn, Khufu Revealed, King's Chamber, Marc Chartier, Noble Circuit, Project Khufu, Service Circuit, Strabo Stone
