Archaeology of Egypt IIII - Seminar - AEA100031

• Title: Seminář k archeologii Egypta III
• Guaranteed by: Czech Institute of Egyptology (21-CEGU)
• Faculty: Faculty of Arts
• Actual: from 2025
• Semester: summer
• Points: 3
• E-Credits: 3
• Examination process: summer s.:
• Hours per week, examination: summer s.:0/2, C [HT]
• Capacity: unknown / 20 (20)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: Czech
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment
• Guarantor: doc. PhDr. Mgr. et Mgr. Filip Coppens, Ph.D.; Mgr. Kristopher Molčan
• Teacher(s): doc. PhDr. Mgr. et Mgr. Filip Coppens, Ph.D.; Mgr. Kristopher Molčan

Annotation

ARCHAEOLOGY OF EGYPT III – SEMINAR
ARCHEOLOGIE EGYPTA III – SEMINÁŘ
(AEA100031 / Povinně volitelný předmět)


Lecturers
doc. PhDr. Filip Coppens, Ph.D.
Mgr. Kristopher Molčan

Language of instruction: English

Type of attestation: Credit (based on active participation during the course and the presentation of a paper)

Schedule: Friday April 10 – Friday May 22 (9.10–10.45, and 10.50–12.25)

Lecture room: C 505

Abstract
The seminar complements the lectures "Archaeology of Egypt III" and will give students a more detailed look at specific aspects of material culture and selected sites from the Third Intermediate Period to the Ptolemaic and Roman era (approx. 1000 BC – 300 AD). As part of the seminar, students will prepare a short presentation based on their own reading of specialist literature, and discuss selected topics.

The course focuses on the following topics:
a. The Theban sacred landscape in Ptolemaic and Roman times (Filip Coppens)
b. Apotropaic temple rituals, with a focus on animals (hippopotami, snakes, turtles) (Kristopher Molčan and Filip Coppens)

Literature
a. The Theban sacred landscape
* D. Arnold, Temples of the Last Pharaohs, New York 1999.
* R. S. Bagnall – D.W. Rathbone (eds.), Egypt from Alexander to the Copts. An Archaeological and Historical Guide, London 2004.
* A. K. Bowman, Egypt after the Pharaohs. 332 BC – AD 642. From Alexander to the Arab Conquest, Berkeley 1986.
* F. Coppens, “Late Dynastic, Graeco-Roman, and Christian Times; Post-New Kingdom Graffiti”, in R. H. Wilkinson – K. R. Weeks (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Valley of the Kings, Oxford 2016, 469–480.
* R. B. Finnestad, “Temples of the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods: Ancient Traditions in New Contexts”, in B. Shafer (ed.), Temples of Ancient Egypt, London–New York 1997, 185–237.
* G. Hölbl, Altägypten im römischen Reich. Der römische Pharao und seine Tempel I-III, Mainz 2000–2005.
* D. Klotz, Caesar in the City of Amun. Egyptian temple construction and theology in Roman Thebes, MRE 15, Turnhout 2012.
* M. Smith, Traversing Eternity. Texts for the Afterlife from Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt, Oxford 2009.
* C. Riggs (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Roman Egypt, Oxford 2012.

b. Apotropaic rituals
* H. Altenmüller, “Die Schildkröte in Ritual und Magie des alten Ägypten”, in: J. Hallof (ed.), Auf den Spuren des Sobek: Festschrift für Horst Beinlich zum 28. Dezember 2012, Dettelbach 2012, 15–29.
* F. Coppens, “The Ptolemaic Basileus slaying Apophis for the gods of Egypt. Observations on the ritual smA aApp in a Ptolemaic temple context”, in: K. Iwaszczuk – K. Kapiec – J. Popielska-Grzybowska (eds.), 10th Symposium on Egyptian Royal Ideology: Rites, Rituals and Festivals as Instruments of Stability of the Royal Power, Königtum, Staat und Gesellschaft früher Hochkulturen 4/7, Wiesbaden 2025, 57–74.
* F. Coppens, “The Ptolemaic Basileus and the Roman Emperor slaying the enemies of Egypt. The smA sbi/xftyw/XAswt/%Tt ritual scene in context”, in: F. Coppens (ed.), Continuity, Discontinuity and Change. A Perspective from the New Kingdom to the Roman Era, Prague 2021, 405–489.
* F. Coppens – K. Molčan, “Casting the harpoon towards the hippopotamus. The stt (wa) r db ritual scene in the Horus temple at Edfu”, in: A. Maravelia (ed.), Sous le Ciel Étoilé: Proscynème cordial au Dr Nadine Guilhou-Ambroise, JHIE 8 (2026), in print.
* F. Coppens – K. Molčan, “Turtle (Bull and Man). Destroying the effigies of Apophis in Ptolemaic and Roman Temples”, in: F. A. Löffler – A. Rickert – B. Ventker – D. von Recklinghausen (eds.) Tempel, Tiere, Sternenhimmel. Studien zur altägyptischen Religion und Wissenschaft für Christian Leitz. Teil 2: Tiere und Sternenhimmel, Wiesbaden 2025, 585–602.
* J. Gee, “Execration rituals in various temples,” in: M. Dolińska – H. Beinlich (eds.), 8. Ägyptologische Tempeltagung: Interconnections between temples, KSGH 3/3, Wiesbaden 2010, 67–80.
* A. Gutbub, “La tortue animal cosmique bénéfique à l'époque ptolémaïque et romaine”, in: J. Vercoutter (ed.), Hommages à la mémoire de Serge Sauneron 1927–1976. I: Égypte pharaonique, Le Caire 1979, 391–435.
* H. Kockelmann, “Apotropäische Texte und Bilder der Türdekoration in de griechisch-römischen Tempeln Ägyptens. Zum Schutz der Zugänge des Kultbaus und seiner Räume”, in: S. Baumann – H. Kockelmann (eds.), Der ägyptische Tempel als ritueller Raum, SSR 17, Wiesbaden 2017, 177–196.
* H. Kockelmann, “Jenseitsgericht und Priesterweihe: ein singuläres Zeugnis für die Tür als Ort der Rechtfertigung und Initiation aus der Tempelanlage von Philae”, BIFAO 125 (2025), 249–277.
* C. Kühne-Wespi, Ägyptische Ächtungsfiguren und Ächtungslisten im Wandel der Zeit, Philippika 168, Wiesbaden 2023.
* K. Molčan, Turtle as a negative agent: The Nile softshell turtle (Trionyx triunguis) in the context of the smA StA ritual, unpublished M.A. thesis, Charles University, Prague.

Last update: Coppens Filip, doc. PhDr. Mgr. et Mgr., Ph.D. (13.01.2026)