SSEA Annual Symposium and Scholars' Colloquium

The Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities (SSEA) is hosting its Annual Symposium and Scholars' Colloquium "Sakkara: Where the Pyramids Were Born" from November 3 to November 5, 2023.

The spirit of Imhotep, deified architect of the Step Pyramid, is still felt at this famous site of Sakkara, which served as the necropolis for the ancient Egyptian capital city of Memphis. He is remembered in the Imhotep Museum, which is a part of the vast area of this site, dominated by the pyramid that today forms the most visible portion of his legacy. 

While it is impossible to do justice to such a massive site with its numerous layers, we will give it a good try in this year’s Symposium, again being planned as a hybrid event. We are returning to the Koffler Auditorium at the University of Toronto, the venue for the Symposium last Fall. Following the welcome and introduction, Professor Ronald J. Leprohon will give us an overview of this site and its importance over the centuries. Mark Trumpour follows with a brief look at the discovery of one of the fascinating, later sites at Sakkara, the Serapaeum, pointing out a Canadian connection, and speaking of the discovery’s importance in the history of Egyptology. After a break, Dr. Miroslav Barta, director of the Czech mission at Sakkara, will join us from Prague, having just returned from Egypt. He will focus on the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser itself and its unique place in Egyptian – and world – history. Our afternoon opens with Prof. Christelle Alvarez. Currently working at the pyramid of Pepi II, Christelle looks at the Pyramid texts, whose discovery overturned the former belief that pyramids were uninscribed. Dr. Christian Greco, Director of the famous Turin Museum and of the joint Italian-Dutch Mission at Sakkara, will talk about the New Kingdom tombs that his team has discovered. Extensive animal cemeteries are a feature of the Sakkara site, and Professor Paul Nicholson of Cardiff University will shed some light on these and in particular, on the canine Anubis cemeteries. Our day will conclude with Professor Steve Vinson, telling the well-known tale of Setna Khaemwase, which is set at Sakkara.   

Location: 
In Person:

• November 3: 200B, Bancroft Building (4 Bancroft Ave, Toronto)
• November 4 & 5: Koffler Building, University of Toronto (569 Spadina Crescent)

Online through Zoom

For more information, visit the SSEA website (www.thessea.org) as they become available.

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/47th-annual-sseaseea-symposium-and-colloquiu...

* See the Symposium poster: Symposium Poster - SAKKARA 2023.pdf