Ancient Egyptian texts 1A ADED1006E

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: Short Courses
  • Credits: 10
  • Level: Level 1 (SCQF level 7)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

Aimed at complete beginners, this course teaches you how to read ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. As well as learning to recognise the most common signs, you will also be grounded in Middle Egyptian grammar with a view to reading funerary inscriptions. The religious and social lives of the ancient Egyptians are also studied to put the texts we read into their cultural context.

Timetable

Block 1

2 hours per week for 10 weeks

Thursday, 14.00-16.00

Requirements of Entry

None

Excluded Courses

Note that this course evolved from Egyptology Module 2 - Hieroglyphic monuments which it replaced in part (together with Ancient Egyptian Texts 1B).

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

1 translation exercise: due in Week 7 (30%)
End of course exam involving two translation exercises (one 'seen', i.e. covered during the course, one unseen) and a short essay question (70%)

Course Aims

This course aims to teach students how to read Egyptian hieroglyphs and how to contextualise their understanding of the texts they read against the backdrop of ancient Egyptian culture. This semester focuses particularly on funerary formulae.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

At the end of the course, students should be able to

■ Demonstrate a good, working knowledge of the Egyptian hieroglyphic script and the Middle Egyptian language through their translation skills

■ Contextualise the funerary stelae studied in class and for assessment within broader ancient Egyptian culture 

■ Discuss key topics pertaining to the textual material studied within ancient Egyptian religion

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.