Fayum Funerary Portraits
Ancient Egypt Meets Classical Rome
Online Lecture
SNAPSHOT
Lecturer: Dr Kate da Costa
Date: Thursday 26 September, 2024
Duration: 1 hour
Start Time: 10.00am AEST | 9.30am SA | 8.00am WA | 12.00pm NZST
Price: $25 AUD
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Overview
Two thousand years ago, a series of extraordinary portraits were painted in Egypt, which was then under Roman control. The majority have survived from the Fayum oasis in the western desert – preserved by sand and heat, today their gazes look us in the eye, asking us to understand them.
Join archaeologist Dr Kate da Costa to explore the twin cultural traditions of Egypt and Rome, and understand how they collided through the extraordinary tradition of commemorating the deceased by painting their faces for posterity.
This lecture explores what the portraits themselves mean, but, more broadly, also what they reveal about the fascinating historical context in which they were created - including the religious practices, silk and jewellery trade, and complex identities that evolved during the Roman rule of Egypt.
Your Expert lecturer
Dr Kate da Costa is an archaeologist with over 30 years experience, specialising in the archaeology of the Roman empire in the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. She is a co-Director of the University of Sydney’s Pella in Jordan project, as well as leading her own Borders of Arabia and Palaestina project.
Kate has a BA (1st class Hons) in Near Eastern and Classical Archaeology, a MA in International Development Studies (UNSW) and a PhD from the University of Sydney. She has lectured extensively to undergraduate students at Sydney and Macquarie University in archaeology, at conferences, and through adult education programs on aspects of art and archaeology from the Neolithic to Mediaeval periods. She is an expert on ancient lamps and lighting.
Kate has travelled extensively in Europe, Turkey, Syria and Jordan. She also has a keen interest in architecture, traditional agriculture and birdlife.
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