Sun Worship in Ancient Egypt

Archaeology

Egyptology

Residential course

Lucia Gahlin

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11 March 2022 to 13 March 2022

From £240 Non-residential fee

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Description

Think of ancient Egypt and you might well think of pyramids and obelisks. These are icons of the ancient Egyptian solar religion.

In this course we will explore pharaonic art, architecture and inscriptions to find out more about ancient Egyptian sun worship. We will consider the significance of the cult of the sun god within the context of the ancient Egyptian polytheistic religion. We will explore the mythology of Ra, and consider the other solar deities of the ancient Egyptian pantheon. We will find out what we can about the Temple of Ra at Heliopolis, and will consider other archaeological sites with close connections to the solar aspect of the ancient Egyptian religion – sun temples and courts, as well as the pyramids and obelisks.

Around 1400 BC the ancient Egyptian religion became more heavily solarised than ever before, and this solarised religion was more closely linked to the pharaoh than previously. We will see this taking place during the reigns of Thutmose IV and Amenhotep III of the 18th Dynasty, culminating in the worship of Aten and the deification of the pharaoh during the reign of Akhenaten.

All comers welcome.

Residential Fees From: £358.   Non Residential: £240

Course runs from Dinner on Friday to Lunch on Sunday.

Tutor information

Lucia Gahlin has been teaching Egyptology courses for Dillington House since 2006. She is an Honorary Research Fellow at UCL’s Institute of Archaeology, and lectures throughout the UK. She has a close affiliation with the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology in London and has been Registrar for Barry Kemp’s archaeological expedition at Tell el Amarna in Middle Egypt. She regularly leads tours to Egypt, and her publications include Egypt, Gods, Myths and Religion, and chapters in The Egyptian World (ed. Toby Wilkinson). She is Chair of the Friends of the Petrie Museum and an accredited lecturer for The Arts Society.

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