The first time I came to Egypt, and Zamalek, I was 12 years old. It made a lasting impression on me, leading me to study Egyptology. But the first time I really saw the country was when I was a student of 20 years old, back in 2008. At that time I was doing my…
Author: Nicky B
Dealing with grief
It was a hot day for a funeral. The local cemetery was basking in sunlight. The family was sat inside, socially distanced, with the open coffin in front. A grandchild stood up to speak, “Goddamn it, grandma,” began the speech. I was not a part of this. It was not my family. I sat outside…
Egyptologists’ Notebooks
Egyptologists’ Notebooks (2020) Chris Naunton Thames & Hudson 264 pages, 242 ill. ISBN: 9780500295298 Publisher link To be fair, the reason I wanted to review this book was simply to have it in my possession. It being a gorgeous bound and embossed volume with matte paper that beautifully brings out the 242 sketches, maps, plans,…
Digging up the past in films
I’ve been meaning to write another blog for a while now, but my past year has been an incredible mess. As you may know my mother died very suddenly short of a year ago, just as I was starting my PhD in Mainz between two waves of the pandemic. When I gained the courage to…
Dealing with the Dead
Dealing with the Dead in Ancient Egypt: The Funerary Business of Petebaste Koenraad Donker Van Heel AUC Press ISBN 9781617979965 156 pp. $29.95 After three delightful popular books about entrepreneurs in ancient Egypt (see reviews here and here), Koen Donker van Heel is back with a worthy fourth installment in the series. It deals with mortuary…
Short update and a museum game
So it’s been a million years since I last blogged, because three things happened: 1) Covid (don’t even get me started) 2) Getting a funded PhD position and subsequently moving to Germany 3) My mother died So 2020 has been a hell of a bumpy ride, and I am nowhere near recovering. Right now I…