Ancient Egyptian art and culture often gives the impression of a very homogenous society. This Harmony week though, we will challenge this perception and explore human diversity in ancient Egypt. This diversity can take many forms, including ethnic diversity within the Egyptian population, disability, as well as experiences of gender and sexuality. Across time and culture, the human experience has always had room for an enormous range of individual identity and expression, but these voices are often overlooked in the ancient world. This course aims to bring their stories to life.

DELIVERY MODE

• Hybrid (F2F & Online simultaneously)

SUGGESTED READING

• Graves-Brown, C. and Cooney, K. (eds). 2008, Sex and gender in ancient Egypt: 'don your wig for a joyful hour', (Classical Press of Wales), ISBN: 9781910589410
• Morris, A. F. and Vogel, H. (eds). 2025, Disability in Ancient Egypt and Egyptology: All Our Yesterdays, (Routledge), ISBN: 9781032576503
• Riggs, C. and Baines, J. 2012, Ethnicity, in A. Austin & W. Wendrich (eds.), UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology, available at: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/32r9x0jr

COURSE OUTLINE

• Ethnic diversity: beyond 'foreigners'
• Bodily diversity: disability in ancient Egypt
• Gender and Sexuality: queering Egyptology

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Explore how aspects of diversity are reflected in material and written culture of ancient Egypt
2. Consider the limitations of historical evidence
3. Critically examine bias in both ancient and modern sources