Two PCMA scholar’s seminars at the Research Centre in Cairo

The PCMA UW Research Centre in Cairo organised two lectures of PCMA scholarship-holders. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the events remain closed to the public.

  • Mieszko Karnas, The Ptolemaic school textbook P. Cairo 65445 in the light of educational practices in the Graeco-Roman world.

Cairo 65445 is a unique school textbook from the 3rd century B.C. It contains reading exercises, a mini-anthology of poetry and simple math exercises. In my talk, I will discuss the specifics of ancient education, trying to demonstrate how P. Cairo 65445 was used in the Hellenistic school.

  • Dagmara Haładaj, Religious conceptions expressed by the decorative programmes of 25th and 26th Dynasty coffins from Thebes

The aim of this speech is to present the results of studies carried out on coffins from the 25th and 26th Dynasties in order to determine the main decorative programs being in use during this period and their religious significance. On coffins, certain theological ideas are expressed by decorative programmes formed using symbols and scenes illustrating certain abstract notions, like protection or resurrection, or more complex religious concepts about the fate of man after death. The analysis of changes visible in the iconographic material made it possible to establish the main eschatological conceptions expressed by the decoration of coffins and the role the coffin served in the ancient Egyptian funerary beliefs.