Talk:Egyptology

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Contents

[edit] Stub

I defined this article as a stub today. It should contain more about the subject, at least a presentation of the most important and best known egyptologists, and the different areas and topics of ongoing resarch. It should perhaps also contain a section on the history of egyptology. I am merely an interested layman in the field, but it seems unlikely that someone with a better grip on the subject matter, for instance the person or persons behind the portal to egyptology, should not be able to make this article into a real introduction to the subject. One of the objectives of this article should be to get more people interested in its subject. --Thorsen 09:02, 25 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] General

Only with knowledge of Egyptian writing and language was it possible to study Ancient Egyptian culture.

That's not correct, surely? And the line about `modern Egyptology starting in 1822'---is that true, i.e. is there a good reason for the statement, or is it just twee nonsense? Penfold 09:02, 4 Jun 2004 (UTC)

Of course, it is possible to study ancient Egyptian culture without a knowledge of Egyptian writing and language, but it would make our understanding all the poorer. I think this is just a matter of wording and semantics..... Far too generalised a comment that needs changing. Perhaps better to say that such an understanding provided keys to studying the culture and provided a strong impetus for the same.
The bit about modern Egyptology starting in 1822 is reasonably valid - 1822 marks the announcement by Champollion of his general decipherment of hieroglyphics for the first time..... Which brings us back to the writing and language point..... I think we could let this comment stand - most professional Egyptologists, including myself, would trace the beginnings of the discipline back to this early point. Pjamescowie 10:44, 4 Jun 2004 (UTC)
Nice work. Ta. Penfold 12:09, 4 Jun 2004 (UTC)
No worries. I'm looking to make quite a few other changes within the Wikipedia for archaeology topics within my own research domain.... Watch this space! Pjamescowie 13:07, 4 Jun 2004 (UTC)


So, what meter is this article in? --Richard.lofberg 11:15, 27 July 2005 (UTC)

[edit] An old version of this article is a poem!

Egyptology's the study of Egypt,
By looking at Egyptian antiquities:
They scientifically examine pyramid and the crypt
With an eye out for historical iniquities.


Egyptology's a regional and thematic division
Of the discipline of archeologist
And ancient historian; whose broader vision's
less regional and thematic than the Egyptologist.


Egyptology investigates the range
of Ancient Egyptian cultural change
(In language and writing,
Religion and fighting,
Art, Economics and rhetorical citing)
From the height of the 5th millennium BC
To the end of the Romans in 300 AD.


Modern Egyptology (as opposed to an antiquarian
Interest in Egypt and what is therein)
Is generally perceived as beginning in or on
1822, when Jean-François Champollion
Announced his general decipherment of the system
Of hieroglyphics (for those who'd previously missed them),
With the Rosetta Stone
All on its own
He was able to work out the symbols and list them.


But now we have a far more attractive academic tender
Of Egyptian writing, language, architectural splendour
And the study of Egypt
Is superbly well equipped
To proceed with a rigour that comprehension of written sources was able to engender.

[edit] Canals of the Sudan

It could prove interesting to extend your research into the canals of the Sudan which are equally thought to have been destroyed, like Egypt, by the original, physical, collision with Mars.

When debris rained down from Mars people threw themselves into the canals, as much was hot material. Later it was thought that this was some sort of battle or ritual execution, but it was, in fact the collision. (Hell fire and brimstone, etc.)

[edit] Recent edits

Can anyone explain what the [s]above[/s] deleted sections have to do with Egyptology? If not, then I will report them as vandalism. Cheers Markh 11:42, 30 May 2006 (UTC)

Mark, I deleted them as Ian Chattan (talk · contribs) is spamming them or something very like them to several talk pages. Check his contributions list; I'm getting rid of the rambles if you want to deal with the reporting. -- nae'blis (talk) 18:25, 30 May 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Stuff to work in

  • Methods: How did the Egyptians shape, form, and work granite?
  • Methods: When did Egyptians start producing glass?
  • Methods: Why is there not a neat progression to an Egyptian iron age? Why did the Egyptians take so long to utilize iron?
  • Methods: Were the Egyptians capable of long distant navigation in their boats? When did they become knowledgeable seamen?
  • Knowledge: Did Egyptians have some form of understanding of electricity? Did the Egyptians use batteries? What is the relief at Dendera?
  • Knowledge: What does the Tulli Papyrus describe? Did it come from the reign of Thutmosis III?

01:13, 15 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Stuff to Work In--Worked On

  • Knowledge: What was the Saqqara Bird?
    • Just completed a major article overhaul. It still needs work, obviously, but is somewhat less sketchtastic now. Addition of cites please? Anybody? Zhukora (talk) 23:39, 12 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Dodgy history

Egyptology may only study Egypt up to the 4th century AD, but thats NOT when Roman rule ended. Duh. Ever heard of the BYZANTINE EMPIRE? Check out the Byzantine-Arab wars (which for some stupid reason is in red), please, before you make me laugh. Gees. I changed this to save your sorry asses. Pardon the language and exression but...come on... Gees!! Tourskin.

[edit] Scope of this article

There seems to some confusion here. The article should be about the discipline of Egyptology, not about Ancient Egypt (that is, although it should describe what sorts of things Egyptology studies, it stops there and doesn't start to discuss them).Doug Weller (talk) 07:30, 26 April 2008 (UTC)