About the lecture
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Ancient Egyptian religion was closely connected with nature, natural phenomena, animals and plants. Birds are particularly prominent in Egyptian writing and art. Examples include the peregrine falcon, associated with the sky, celestial bodies and royal authority; the sacred ibis, linked with the moon, wisdom and Thoth; and the griffon vulture or lappet-faced vulture, regarded as an emblem of Upper Egypt and associated with the iconography of the goddess Nekhbet.
Hieroglyphic texts and the decoration of temples and tombs also frequently depict two unusual birds. One is smaller, with a long pointed bill and a crest: the northern bald ibis. It inspired the sign for akh, denoting the spirit of the dead and the magical power of deceased ancestors. The other is tall, with a long, strong bill and a large wingspan: the saddle-billed stork, the largest flying bird in ancient Egypt. Its image represented divine power and its earthly manifestation.
Both birds disappeared from Egypt at particular points in its history. Soon afterwards, the hieroglyphic signs associated with them gradually changed, followed by changes in the related religious ideas. This is a historically documented example of how climatic and religious changes can profoundly influence human thought, religion and magic.
The lecture will take place online and can be watched on YouTube:
Lecture date and time: 14. 12. 2022, 17:30 – 19:30
The lecture series was supported using public funds by the Slovak Arts Council.
