A Journey through the Field of Reeds:
Life and Death in Ancient Egypt
A Journey through the Field of
Reeds: Life and Death in Ancient Egypt is the perfect
way to introduce participants to the wonders of Ancient
Egypt as they are taken on a visual journey of the world
of the Egyptians! Ma'at Productions' A Journey through the
Field of Reeds: Life and Death in Ancient Egypt School can
be presented as either a three full-day course or as one-
or two-day Workshops/Activities depending on your interests.
Whatever your needs, presentations will include PowerPoint/dvd
illustrated lectures, detailed and illustrated notes, and
activities to keep participants focused and enthralled.
DAY ONE
The day of Geb, Nut and Shu, gods
of earth, sky and atmosphere.
 The
Two Lands an investigation of the geography of the Nile
Valley and its natural resources, the surrounding deserts
and Egypt's near neighbours.
Our
sources an introduction to the bases of our knowledge
of ancient Egypt and a summary of the development of Egyptology.
An
Egyptian view of the world how did the ancients view their
world and their place in it? What laws did they believe
governed the cosmos? What role did magic play in daily life?
How well do we really understand the ancient Egyptian mind?
An
outline of Egyptian history an introduction to the major
periods of Egypt's development (the period of initial unification,
the 'Three Kingdoms', the Intermediate periods, the 'Late'
period and beyond). The deeds of famous kings and pharaohs
such as Khufu, Thutmosis III, Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, and
Ramesses II will be examined within an historical framework.
DAY TWO
The day of Horus, god of the Two
Lands.
Social
order how was Egyptian society structured? How did people
of different social levels view each other? What roles did
women play in daily life and government? To what degree
was there social mobility in ancient Egypt?
State
and private religious worship what were the Egyptians'
religious beliefs? What gods and goddesses did they worship?
What were the characteristics of these deities? What differences
existed between the ways in which the gods were revered
in the state temples and in private homes?
Writing
systems an introduction to the major scripts and media
used by the Egyptians for their written communications.
Egyptian
art and architecture - an introduction to the distinctive
characteristics of Egyptian painting, sculpture and architectural
forms (pyramids, temples and obelisks).
DAY THREE
The day of Osiris, god of the
netherworld.
Egyptian
beliefs in the Afterlife how did the Egyptians view the
afterlife? Did they really think that they could 'take it
all with them'? What measures needed to be taken to ensure
a life in the next world? How 'democratic' was the hope
of an afterlife and entrance to the 'Field of Reeds'?
Mummification
why did the Egyptians mummify their dead? What were the
major stages in the process? What funerary objects were
associated with the mummy and how were these made?
Protecting
the deceased and their tombs were tombs really cursed?
How did the Egyptians attempt to secure their final resting
places? What role did magic play in the functioning of a
tomb?
The
art and architecture of private and royal tombs a selection
of royal and private funerary complexes from a variety of
periods in Egyptian history will be studied.
Funerary
texts what wisdom is contained in 'The Book of the Dead'?
A case study of the coffin texts of Ankh-Pefy-Hery.
Feedback from past participants:
"Excellent lecturer!"
"Enthusiastic and interesting presentation."
"Materials and presentations were
excellent. Very comprehensive, interesting and useful."
"Presentation was excellent; good
use of video/slides; very useful handouts; material presented
in a clear, relaxed and 'user friendly' manner with good
touches of humour. One of the best [Schools] I've attended."
"We were very lucky to have not only
a person who knew his topic thoroughly but who was sensitive
to his audience. Activities varied and well spaced."
"Excellent presentation [the] lecturer
made the experience enjoyable and extremely interesting."
"Lecture style was good clear and
well structured, well tied together and major points reiterated
frequently. Handouts excellent!"
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