I love listening to podcasts. Whether it’s when I go running or take the train to work, there is never an excuse not to listen to a podcast and get smarter in the process. With the exploding popularity of them, I round up here some podcasts who I listen to regularly that deal with ancient…
Category: Scribal Spotlight
Heavenly Concoctions: the World of Egyptian Perfumes and Oils
What do duck fat, cinnamon, and lilies have in common? Keep reading to find out! The global essential oil market remains immensely popular – annual gains of over 9% are expected to continue throughout the mid-2020s. Essential oils are often used today for aromatherapy and relaxation, added to food and cleaning products, and are associated…
Beautiful Trees and Vibrant Flowers: Visiting Ancient Egypt’s Gardens
Many of us have spent a lot of time inside over the last few winter months, so this spring we are looking forward to getting outside and enjoying the warmer temperatures. Gardens are a wonderful place to enjoy trees, plants, and all kinds of flowers. The ancient Egyptian landscape likewise was lush and verdant along…
The Symbolism of the Fly in Ancient Egypt
The ancient Egyptians held a deep reverence for the natural world, a reverence that led to the adoption of animal imagery as symbols of the divine and of kingship. Egyptian deities, even human-headed ones, often had one or more animal manifestations – animals considered sacred to the deity that were given to the god as…
Minding your Business: A Look at Egyptian Sanitary Practices
Sanitation and cleanliness are a major focus around the world as we continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. What about the Ancient Egyptians? Where did they live, and what information did their communities provide about sanitary practices? These are the issues we will explore in this blog. Thomas H. GreinerPassionate about all things Egypt,…
5 Ancient Egyptian Words You Didn’t Know You Knew
Author’s Note: This blog has been updated for publication in Nile Magazine #26. To read the most recent version of this blog click here.
Scribal Spotlight: Victor Fakhoury and Neo-Coptic Icons
The Nile Scribes had the pleasure of visiting Toronto’s Coptic Museum of Canada last summer, where we were introduced to Coptic Icons and the modern artists creating Neo-Coptic iconography. This week we want to highlight the history of the Neo-Coptic School of Iconography and one of the modern Egyptian artists who is reviving ancient Coptic…
Common Misconceptions about Ancient Egypt
Among the myriad ways that Egypt has touched our imaginations, many misconceptions have spawned from how Egypt is creatively represented in films, books, and other media. From booby trapped tombs to hieroglyphs as the ancient precursor of emojis, misconceptions of Egyptian ideas and concepts continue to thrive in popular culture. This week, the Nile Scribes address…
Hiddenness and Darkness in Ancient Egyptian Love Songs
This week, many parts of the world celebrated Valentine’s Day on February 14. In celebration, this week’s topic revolves around ancient Egyptian Love Songs. The Nile Scribes welcome back our guest blogger Carla Mesa Guzzo to shed some light on aspects of hiddenness and darkness and their meanings within these love songs. Guest Scribe: Carla Mesa Guzzo…
‘Mummy-Speak’ in Nineteenth Century Fiction
For Halloween last year, the Nile Scribes attended a talk given in Toronto on the mummy in nineteenth century fiction. We are pleased to have the presenter, Dr. Steven Shubert, share his expertise on the subject in a guest blog that takes a closer look at the history and enduring popularity of the mummy genre.