LIB578
Journeying Through the Ancient Egyptian Underworld
Mummies, tombs and pyramids colour our popular perception of death in ancient Egypt (ca. 3000 BCE - 300 CE). Let’s explore the archaeology of the ancient Egyptian afterlife beyond the basics reflected in Hollywood and the History Channel. We’ll learn about ancient Egyptians’ beliefs surrounding death, rebirth and the afterlife, and study their funerary traditions and burial practices. We’ll examine the ancient Egyptian soul’s quest to avoid damnation during its long journey through the Duat (underworld). And we’ll consider the complex relationships between the living and the dead and “meet” a few real ancient Egyptians along the way.
Note: An optional “field trip” via Zoom will be scheduled on December 10 at 11:30 a.m. to virtually explore ancient Egyptian objects from the collections Harvard Art Museums with Egyptologist Dr. Jen Thum. Further details will be provided in class. This course also runs during the Royal B.C. Museum’s special exhibition “Ancient Egypt: Obsessed with Life.”
This course is offered in person.
A $50 discount is available during check-out for adults 55+.
Overview
Location: Vancouver
Duration: 6 weeks
Tuition: $180 plus GST
Can be applied to:
Liberal Arts for 55+ Certificate
Upcoming Offerings
- Thu, Oct 29, 11:30 a.m. - 1:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Thu, Nov 5, 11:30 a.m. - 1:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Thu, Nov 12, 11:30 a.m. - 1:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Thu, Nov 19, 11:30 a.m. - 1:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Thu, Nov 26, 11:30 a.m. - 1:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
- Thu, Dec 3, 11:30 a.m. - 1:20 p.m. Pacific Time (class/lecture)
Course outline
- Week 1: Ancient Egypt—physical and metaphysical landscapes
We’ll begin with an overview of ancient Egyptian history and archaeology. Then, we’ll examine the key roles played by the Nile Valley and Sahara Desert in establishing ancient Egyptian cultural practices. - Week 2: "Death is only the beginning"—funerary and burial practices
How and why did ancient Egyptians mummify their deceased loved ones? We’ll cover the ancient Egyptian concept of the soul, as well as some of the archaeological evidence for changing burial practices. - Week 3: Tombs and pyramids—earthly infrastructure for the afterlife
The ancient Egyptians needed structures on earth to help care for their spirits in the afterlife. We’ll cover the evolution of ancient Egyptian tombs and funerary chapels, as well as the famous Great Pyramids and the Valley of the Kings. - Week 4: Navigating the underworld—spells, magic and equipment
Fortunately, the ancient Egyptians had guidebooks, supplies and protective spells to help them traverse the Duat (underworld). We’ll discuss the religious texts and magical spells they relied on, as well as the items they took with them into the afterlife. - Week 5: Becoming Osiris—the transfigured dead and the Field of Reeds
What happened after a successful journey through the underworld? We’ll discuss the Final Judgement and how the nature of the ancient Egyptian afterlife changed over time—a good afterlife even became more accessible for the average person. - Week 6: Learning about life from the dead
What can studying the burials and tombs of real people teach us about ancient Egyptian life? We’ll examine a few case studies to see what we can learn about ancient Egyptian individuals and their culture.
What you will learn
By the end of the course, you should be able to:
- Summarize the ancient Egyptians’ beliefs about death and the afterlife.
- Describe the objects and infrastructure (e.g., tombs) used in ancient Egyptian burial practices.
- Explain how archaeologists learn about ancient individuals from their burials.
How you will learn
- Lectures
- Participating in class discussions and activities
- Reading academic and non-academic articles/book chapters
- Viewing films and video clips
- Reflective essay (applicable only to certificate students)
Learning Materials
No textbook is required. We will provide all course materials online.
Technical Requirements
Handouts and other course resources will be available on Canvas, SFU’s online learning system.
To access the resources, you should be comfortable with:
- Using everyday software such as browsers, email and social media
- Navigating a website by clicking on links and finding pages in a menu
- Downloading and opening PDF documents