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Egyptology Resources Bulletin Board

Requests for information 1998

10/10/98: Requests for information--school papers

I'm doing a research paper in school on ancient Egypt. I have yet to decide on a topic but have narrowed it down to two. Egyptian sribes or medical practice. I will chose my topic depending on the amount of useful information. The paper must be 5 pages handwritten or 2 1/2 pages typed. It must have a thesis that proves something about the topic and 3 sub-topics to help support my Thesis statement. Please help! I need any good info or books on either of these two topics ASAP!!!! Thanks!


Taryn Birch

I am doing a research paper for my history class and I believe I'd like my topic to be about the controversy over the real age of the Sphinx. If anyone could tell me about some resources I could use, whether it is books or a webpage or a magazine, I would be grateful. I have a personal interest in Egyptian history, so even if you think a tidbit of info you have won't help much, send it anyway. I love learning new things. Thanks.

Jennifer Gibson

5/9/98: Anubis and Winged Scarabs

I am searching for detailed information regarding Anubis, any correlation to constellations, and depiction's, paintings, or photographs of him. I would also like to know if there has been a royal necklace in the form of a winged scarab discovered, and if so which royal owned such a piece, or is known for wearing one. Any information is appreciated, and thankful to receive,

Andria Nasset

5/9/98: William N. Groff

I'm doing research on green flashes, a group of low-Sun phenomena that were studied in the 1890s by William N. Groff, an Egyptologist who believed that green flashes had been seen by the ancient Egyptians and incorporated into their written language as a pictograph representing this phenomenon (see B.I.E.(3) 6,243-262(1895) and 7,279-301(1896) for his two major papers on this subject, preceded by a series of shorter notes.) I can assure you that Groff's observations of green flashes are accurate (see for more information about them). The question is, are his archaeological inferences valid? I have asked a couple of egyptologists about this, but nobody seems to have heard of Groff or his green-flash work. Can you refer me to anyone who might be able to offer an informed opinion on this matter?

Andrew T. Young

12/8/98: Egyptian language

I am looking for a way to learn ancient Egyptian; are there any books or classes available outside of university programs? Any suggestions would be appreciated

Chris Hodge

12/8/98: Bastet

Who is able to provide me with information, how the people in ancient Egypt payed their respect to Bastet and tried to seek contact with her (ceremonies). I cannot find it on the Internet. Do you know a book or web-site about this subject?

Albert de Pauly


12/8/98: Prospecting

I'm seeking specific information relating to prospecting activities (as compared to mining) of Egypt (from any period). Looking for gold would be great, gemstones, etc. very useful. Location of references would be helpful too. Thank you.

David W de Havelland


26/7/98: Pottery

I have a siltware lug handle with two perforations. Can anyone come up with a parallel? (18-19th dynasty).

Linda Hulin
P.O.B. 8161, Nicosia, Cyprus

20/7/98: Alexandria

From: Andy Lewis
Art Director
Tehabi Books

RE: Photo Call for the book: Cleopatra's Palace
A Discovery Channel Publication

I am working on a book with Discover Channel Communications to produce a highly visual book on the city of Alexandria and the search for Cleopatra's sunken Palace of the Ptolemaic Period of 332-30 BC. This book will be published in conjunction with television documentary and educational programming on the same subject. I am looking for any photo materials surrounding the subject matter listed below.

The books visuals will balance contemporary imagery of Cleopatra, Caesar, Antony, Octavian, and other characters like Pompey the Great, Cicero, Calpurnia (Caesar's last Roman wife), Fulvia (Antony's second Roman wife), Octavia (Antony's third Roman wife), Servillia (Caesar's long-time mistress and mother of Brutus), Lepidus, Cassius, Decimus Brutus, and Brutus.

We would be looking for coins, sculpture, illustrations, maps, carvings, and fine art of ancient Alexandria and its splendours, and of Cleopatra herself (the subject of many fine painters, among works we favour are those of French and English). We will cover the beginnings of the city when Alexander the Great designed it, to the everyday lifestyle of the very sophisticated people. We will be showing everyday items like tools, plates, etc.

In addition to this subject, we are also looking for any material for a book on Napoleon.

If anyone can help me out, please respond.

5/7/98: Man-made stone?

As an engineer (with no knowledge of Egyptology) I was fascinated by "Vth Egyptology Congress, Cairo, 1988: The Famine Stele and the construction of Pyramids with man-made stone" and some of the other relate "Famine Stele" papers from the Geopolymer Institute.

Are there any papers available which provide an Egyptologist's critique of these papers? I have assumed that as the theory does not seem to have progressed that there must have been a fundamental flaw with it.

Cameron Crampton

23/6/98: Sobek

I am doing some research about the crocodile god - Sebek, sometimes Sobek and would appreciate some pointers as to sources.

Also need translation of the word aart - as in the aart of Ra which cured Geb and later transformed into a crocdile. Many thanks, Karin Altmann

23/6/98: Maps

I am currently working on a Fantasy Novel with Ancient Egypt of 1000 to 2000 B.C. as the setting. I am currently looking for maps of this time period of the Delta and surrounding area. If anyone can point me in the right direction of legible and printable maps. I would greatly appreciate it. Since this is a Fantasy Novel, the maps do not have to be historically correct but, I would like for them to be as close as possible. If you have any information or ideas, please feel free to contact me.

Thank You

Timothy Bass

18/5/98: Luxor in 1945

I am Robert Legleitner of Covington, Kentucky, USA, working on a novel set in Egypt in late 1945. I need information regarding Luxor/Thebes for descriptions of the monuments as they then appeared, i.e. Medinet Habu, the Ramesseum, Hatshepsut's temple at Deir el Bahri, and Karnak/Luxor temples. Also, were there any English teams working the area at that time? What rest houses, if any, were available (such as Carter's house)? I would greatly appreciate any information, especially from someone who had been there.

Thank you for any help.

Robert Legleitner

18/5/98: Incense

Could someone put me on to a bibliography for the use of incense in Egypt. I am especially interested to learn about the formulae and form of incense and aromatics. Sticks? Cakes? Animate forms? I am a specialist on pre-roman Italy. Thanks in advance.

Faya Causey
National Gallery of Art, Washington

18/5/98: Egyptian pottery

I am researching Egyptian pottery and would like some information about it, specifically red burnished ware and blue glazed pieces. Also, if anyone has any theories or ideas on why Egyptian art still has such an appeal to the world today.

Eric Hart

30/4/98: Animal mummies

Regarding animal mummies, were they sacrificed before mummification, or did they live their natural life span and then be mummified after death. I have read opinions which state both points of view and am not sure which is correct.

Randa Baligh, Ph.D.
Yale University

30/4/98: Travel restrictions

I am trying to find out about travel restrictions in the Luxor area. Has anyone recently returned (April '98) and able to say if unrestricted travel is now possible to Wadi Hammamat, or even Abydos?


Pete Hill.

30/4/98 Rosetta Stone

I am looking for information on the Rosetta stone and how it influenced our views on Ancient egypt. I'm looking for information on the stone itself, what it's message was, how it was deciphered, or anything else that would be useful. Any form of information would be useful, whether it's in the form of Web sites, books, magazines, or interviews via Email. Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Mark hengge


22/3/98: Curses

I am looking for a site or a source which would contain images of curses written on the walls of a tomb. I've heard that many can be found on the walls of the tombs and pyramids found in Saqqara. Any guidance that can be offered would be appreciated.


Jenn Moore

22/3/98: Pyramids

I am interested in how the Great Pyramid is structurally built. How many layers, how many stones per layer, how large are the stones in each layer, etc. Do you know of a reference that has that kind of information?

T Meserole

22/3/98: Puns, numerology, and wordplay

Can anyone point me in the direction of literature on the above, also work on consonants being infused in astronomical knowledge and their being affected by zodiacal influences and vowels being astrally affected. I'd be grateful for any feedback on this.

Thank you

Julie Westland

27/2/98 King's names

Can anyone tell me the title of a book that lists the five titulary titles of the Kings of Egypt - the nomen, pre-nomen, the Horus name, the golden Horus name and the two ladies name.

Thank you.

Russell A. Rudzwick

27/2/98: Footsoldiers

My name is Sharon McDermott, I am a postgraduate student at the University of Manchester where I am writing my thesis on ancient Egyptian footsoldiers and their weapons. I have looked at all British collections that have Egyptian exhibits, and at many international collections, but I would welcome any comments on rare examples of artistic representations of soldiers, this includes models, reliefs or painted fragments of soldiers with or without weapons.

Thank you for your help

Sharon McDermott

27/2/98: Housing of commoners in Ancient Egypt

I am currently working on a study concerning the housing of commoners in Ancient Egypt. Buildings, structures, materials used, settlements if any. I am trying to build a scale model of a house/hut and/or a settlement.


Paul Ganzeboom

27/2/98: Rituals of Ancient Egyptian society

I am researching the various rituals of ancient Egyptian society, i.e. burial rites etc. Besides the book of the dead, it has been difficult to locate information on specific substances used, hallucinogens etc. Any detailed information would be helpful. Thank you.

Titania Summet

27/2/98: Cleopatra

I am a Liberal Studies student requesting information on Cleopatra. I am seeking information on artefacts, jewellery and clothing of the time.

Thank you for any help.

Carrie Friend

27/2/98: Antiquities smuggling

I have been searching for the articles on the Times of London dated 12 and 13 March 1995 concerning the captioned subject, could anyone help?

Ada Hui Ming Mei
(when replying, please clearly state that the message is for ADA, many thanks!)

27/2/98: Some general questions

I'm writing a book on adventure travel called "Let's Get Lost" that will be published in 18 months by Warner, and one chapter takes place in Egypt (or more specifically Kemet and Sin), and I was wondering if someone could help me with two issues:

-- Is it generally thought that the hypostyle halls with columns topped in lotus and papyrus crowns represent a bountiful wetlands such as those commonly depicted on the walls?

-- Were the ancient Egyptians a mix of black and Levantine skin colors, or were they all one or the other, or something else besides?

My attempts to answer either of these questions with other sources have been unsuccessful so any help that could be given to this layman would be greatly appreciated, and if the answer is 'we don't know,' that would be just as appreciated.

Craig Nelson

27/2/98: Book of the Dead images

I am looking for images of the Book of the Dead to study. If someone knows where I might find some, that would be very helpful. gifs and jpegs would be cool, but printed references would also be welcome. Thank you!

ERiC Miller

27/2/98: DNA question

I am an amateur (VERY, VERY AMATEUR) aficionado of ancient Egyptology. I heard Dr. Scott Woodward say on The Discovery Channel's "Secrets of the Pharaohs," "From the samples that we have so far which cover eight generations of the 18th Dynasty, we see a very narrow gene pool." Does that mean that he has sampled King Tutankhamen's DNA, and, if so, how close was the match to the DNA of the two infant mummies found in his tomb and to preceding Pharaohs of the 18th Dynasty?

I have been making futile searches for information in this regard on the WWW and have been unable to find out any definitive information or theories.

May I please hear from you. Thank you very much.

James Coe Linn
Austin, Texas

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