These discussions are based on simple readings about topics related to ancient Egypt. These are spaces for both experts and beginners to talk and ask questions. See your email for an invitation to the discussion.
Discussion on Saturday, November 6th 2021, at 12:00pm PST
Topic: Female Saints in Late Antique Egypt
Dr. Sabrina Higgins, an Assistant Professor at Simon Fraser University, will lead us through a discussion group focusing on the cult of female saints in late antique Egypt, with a particular focus on the cults of St. Thecla and the Virgin Mary. In this 1-hour session, we will look at both the textual evidence and material culture of these two particular saints and what it can tell us about the spread of Christianity in Egypt and the ways in which female saints were venerated.
In preparation for this discussion group, please listen to Dr. Higgins’ podcast episode on the early cult of the Virgin, and watch her video on the cult of Thecla, both of which are also available on the Peopling the Past website.
Contact ARCE Vancouver for the zoom link
Past Discussion Groups
Discussion on Saturday, May 29th 2021, at 12:00pm PST
Topic: Ships and Shipping in Ancient Egypt!
Note!: For this discussion, we invite members of the Vancouver Maritime Museum to join us. If you are interested, please email arcevancouver@gmail.com to receive an invite to the online discussion.
Boats, ships, and shipping were a key feature of Egyptian society. River crafts were created for movement up and down the Nile, seafaring vessels were used for trade with south Asia and southern Africa, and ceremonial ships were used to transport cult images and coffins. We’ll discuss the incredible technical ingenuity of the Egyptians, and the different types of vessels they created and used. For a basic reading on Egyptian boats, please read this article.
Discussion on Saturday, March 27th 2021, at 12:00pm PST
Topic: Food in Ancient Egypt!
The ancient Egyptians loved food – to eat, to offer, to mummify in their tombs… This week we will discuss what the ancient Egyptians ate and drank, and in which contexts. For a basic reading on the type of food they ate, see this post here. For some recipes, try this site or this site. I highly recommend trying out one of the recipes – we can discuss what you think of it! 🙂
Discussion on Saturday, February 27th 2021, at 12:00pm PST
Topic: Daily Life in Deir el-Medina!
Deir el-Medina was the village that housed the workers who built the tombs of the Valley of the Kings! For a short discussion of this site and its elements, see the article here. For additional information on some of the daily activities practiced by the inhabitants, see this article here.
Discussion on Saturday, January 30th 2021, at 12:00pm PST
Topic: Hathor!
For some readings on Hathor, please see this overview of the goddess and her many forms on Ancient Egypt Online, here; A short discussion of one of Hathor’s more important myth’s can also be found here.
Discussion on Saturday, November 28th, at 12:00pm PST
Topic: Cleopatra!
For some readings on Cleopatra, see these short articles created for the ARCE resource library: one as a general overview, here. And another focusing more on Cleopatra’s intellectual pursuits, here.
Discussion on Saturday, October 31st at 12:00pm PST
Topic: The Pyramids!
You can watch the ARCE Members only video lecture on The People Who Built the Pyramids – How We Know by Mark Lehner. (Released on October 17, available for 48 hours – check your emails from ARCE National!)
For a reading on the (relatively) recent papyrus by the inspector Merer, see here.
For a discussion of the “Alien’s built the pyramids” theory, see here.
For a reading on the “Pyramid Age” – about the pyramids and the Egypt in which they were created, see here.
Discussion on Saturday, September 26th at 12:00pm PST
Topic: Mummies and Mummification!
For a short reading on mummification from the UEE, click here.
For a recent blog article about the continuing controversy over Tutankhamun’s death, click here.
Discussion on Saturday, August 29th at 12:00pm PST
Topic: THE BOOK OF THE DEAD!
Prior to the discussion, we recommend you read a few brief resources on the topic.
For the Book of the Dead resource from ARCE, click here.
For a reading on the judgement of the dead from the UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology, click here.
You will find the link to the Zoom invitation in your emails. If you need it resent, please contact us.
ARCE Vancouver 