The laboratory aims to increase students’ familiarity with the vivid character of Egyptian written culture in the classical form of the language and will engage in close reading of selected Middle Egyptian hieroglyphic texts. Primary sources will include both monumental inscriptions as well as passages from literary compositions and religious/funerary corpora. Through a focused practice of translation, analysis and comment students will expand reading skills and knowledge of Egyptian writing system, build up vocabulary, consolidate grammatical experience.
Assigned secondary literature, and related discussion, will address issues of genre, material support, social setting, cultural and religious background of the analysed documents and monuments, improving students’ ability to critically understand the content and context of the texts, independently tackle problems raised by their reading and interpretation, fully appreciate their value as historical sources.
