- Leiden University Institute for Area Studies
Department of Egyptology
Witte Singel 25
Postbus 9515
2300 RA Leiden
the Netherlands
Olaf Kaper
Universiteit Leiden, Egyptology, Faculty Member
Jüngste Ausgrabungen in den sakralen Bauten von Berenike haben eine Reihe von Statuen ans Licht gebracht, die den Ort mit dem Königreich von Meroe in Verbindung bringen. Vier Statuen werden besprochen, insbesondere eine komplexe... more
Jüngste Ausgrabungen in den sakralen Bauten von Berenike haben eine Reihe von Statuen ans Licht gebracht, die den Ort mit dem Königreich von Meroe in Verbindung bringen. Vier Statuen werden besprochen, insbesondere eine komplexe lebensgroße Statue des Sebiumeker. Sie erscheint in einer hybriden Form, die sie nahe an die Ikonographie des Osiris bringt. Eine Bronzestatuette des Arensnuphis wird nur mit Vorbehalt identifiziert, aber eine Würfelstatue weist eindeutige Parallelen in Naga auf. Ein Kopf des Amun hat eine Parallele in Meroe, was aber nicht unbedingt auf einen meroitischen Ursprung des Stücks hinweist. Die Funde deuten auf die Anwesenheit meroitischer Händler in Berenike als Beteiligte am Fernhandel hin.
Research Interests:
Research Interests: Archaeology, Egyptian Archaeology, Graeco-Roman Egypt, Late Roman Empire, Late Roman Archaeology, and 14 moreAncient Near East (Archaeology), Roman Egypt, Ancient Egyptian Iconography, Ancient Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Ancient Egypt, Tardoantigüedad, Archeozoology, Ancient Greece and Rome, Barbarians and Romans in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages, Late Roman and early Byzantine Egypt, American Archaeology, Greek and Roman Egypt, Egipto romano, and Greek and Roman Archaeology in Egypt
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The winter 2020 season resulted in the excavation in whole or in part of 11 trenches in four areas. Two of these lay in the Early Roman trash dump/animal necropolis at the northern end of the site. Two others were in the Norther Complex,... more
The winter 2020 season resulted in the excavation in whole or in part of 11 trenches in four areas. Two of these lay in the Early Roman trash dump/animal necropolis at the northern end of the site. Two others were in the Norther Complex, which was east of the animal cemetery. One was at the intersection of a north-south/east-west street at the eastern side of the site. Six trenches lay inside or abutted the Isis temple, situated at the highest point in the approximate center of the site.
Research Interests:
The 2019 excavation season was the largest in terms of numbers of staff and workmen, and the longest since the initiation of the project in 1994. The project excavated all or portions of 19 trenches in five areas of the site ranging in... more
The 2019 excavation season was the largest in terms of numbers of staff and workmen, and the longest since the initiation of the project in 1994. The project excavated all or portions of 19 trenches in five areas of the site ranging in date from the Ptolemaic era to the 4th-5th centuries AD. Investigated areas included Ptolemaic-era water channels,
Roman period necropoleis for humans and animals, and a large monument at the intersection of a major northsouth/ east-west street. Excavations especially focused on the Isis temple and on a quarter to the north that seems to have had, at least in part, a religious purpose. Also briefly surveyed were areas north of the city that had previously been unrecorded. Noteworthy finds from the excavation included impressive architectural remains, numerous and varied inscriptions on stone, among them one recording the name of a Blemmye king, and donations made to the Isis temple, and numerous sculptural finds in metal, stone and wood. Some of the stone sculpture, both relief and in the round, included images of Buddha and other South Asian deities. Examination on site of malacological and botanical (including wood) remains provided additional insights regarding life at this ancient Red Sea emporium.
Roman period necropoleis for humans and animals, and a large monument at the intersection of a major northsouth/ east-west street. Excavations especially focused on the Isis temple and on a quarter to the north that seems to have had, at least in part, a religious purpose. Also briefly surveyed were areas north of the city that had previously been unrecorded. Noteworthy finds from the excavation included impressive architectural remains, numerous and varied inscriptions on stone, among them one recording the name of a Blemmye king, and donations made to the Isis temple, and numerous sculptural finds in metal, stone and wood. Some of the stone sculpture, both relief and in the round, included images of Buddha and other South Asian deities. Examination on site of malacological and botanical (including wood) remains provided additional insights regarding life at this ancient Red Sea emporium.
Article in Dutch about the god Amon-nakht, a local deity of the oasis Dakhla, whose temple from the Ptolemaic and Roman period was found at Ain Birbiya. The god's name and iconography and discussed and his relation to Amun and Seth is... more
Article in Dutch about the god Amon-nakht, a local deity of the oasis Dakhla, whose temple from the Ptolemaic and Roman period was found at Ain Birbiya. The god's name and iconography and discussed and his relation to Amun and Seth is analysed.
Research Interests:
Article in Dutch about the forms and usage of artificial lighting in ancient Egypt. After discussing lighting of the home, the tomb and the temple, two newly found depictions from Kellis are discussed. In these, a tree of lamps is shown... more
Article in Dutch about the forms and usage of artificial lighting in ancient Egypt. After discussing lighting of the home, the tomb and the temple, two newly found depictions from Kellis are discussed. In these, a tree of lamps is shown as is known from texts, but no actual examples have been preserved. A reconstruction of such a device, used in lighting temples, has been made in 2008 at the Museum of Antiquities in Leiden.
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Article in Dutch on rhythm and recitation in ancient Egypt. The use of music in cultic acts is commented upon, in singing and performing. In this context the hnw-pose is interpreted as reflecting a specific recitation technique that was... more
Article in Dutch on rhythm and recitation in ancient Egypt. The use of music in cultic acts is commented upon, in singing and performing. In this context the hnw-pose is interpreted as reflecting a specific recitation technique that was practiced by priests. Also, animals sounds were imitated by priests in the temples. And finally, a clicking sound is discussed that was made with the hands in Ancient Egypt and that is still practiced in some countries today. This is the sound produced by the goddess Meret.
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The 2018 season at the Red Sea port of Berenike marked the bicentennial of Giovanni Belzoni’s rediscovery of the site in 1818. In keeping with this anniversary, the international team concentrated on Berenike’s central temple, which had... more
The 2018 season at the Red Sea port of Berenike marked the bicentennial of Giovanni Belzoni’s rediscovery of the site in 1818. In keeping with this anniversary, the international team concentrated on Berenike’s central temple, which had been the focus of most of the visiting 19th-century explorers. Architectural fragments, temple reliefs, statuary, and numerous Greek and hieroglyphic inscriptions mainly of the Roman period were among the many
were excavations in the Ptolemaic hydraulic station at the settlement’s western edge, in an early Roman trash dump
and pet cemetery, in a putative administration building, and at a central intersection with a tetrakionion. The season
also included two brief surveys at the emerald mining settlement at Zabara in Wadi Ghadeer and a gold mining
community in Umm Howeitat al-Qibli.
were excavations in the Ptolemaic hydraulic station at the settlement’s western edge, in an early Roman trash dump
and pet cemetery, in a putative administration building, and at a central intersection with a tetrakionion. The season
also included two brief surveys at the emerald mining settlement at Zabara in Wadi Ghadeer and a gold mining
community in Umm Howeitat al-Qibli.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Two fragments of a hieroglyphic stela were found in 2015 in the main temple at Berenike that may be dated to the reign of Amenemhet IV (c. 1786-1777 BC). In 1818, Belzoni had discovered another fragment of the same stela in the temple,... more
Two fragments of a hieroglyphic stela were found in 2015 in the main temple at Berenike that may be dated to the reign of Amenemhet IV (c. 1786-1777 BC). In 1818, Belzoni had discovered another fragment of the same stela in the temple, which is now lost.
The Belzoni fragment allows the stela to be reconstructed on paper, and it completes the titles of a court official and expedition leader Ptahhotep. Even though few other pre-Ptolemaic remains are known from the site, this Middle Kingdom stela suggests a relation of the natural harbour at Berenike with the maritime trade with Punt, which was based at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis.
The Belzoni fragment allows the stela to be reconstructed on paper, and it completes the titles of a court official and expedition leader Ptahhotep. Even though few other pre-Ptolemaic remains are known from the site, this Middle Kingdom stela suggests a relation of the natural harbour at Berenike with the maritime trade with Punt, which was based at Mersa/Wadi Gawasis.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
... gods into heaven, contains a unique epithet for Geb: Gb m snt, perhaps meaning 'Geb as ... The latter texts show that the geographical symbolism attached to Osiris' body could refer to a ... For these... more
... gods into heaven, contains a unique epithet for Geb: Gb m snt, perhaps meaning 'Geb as ... The latter texts show that the geographical symbolism attached to Osiris' body could refer to a ... For these demons, see V. Rondot, 'Une monographie Bubastite', BIFAO 89 (1989), 264-7 and ...
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... Tutu as part of a composite divine name 184 8.1.7. Tutu's name with a divine epithet 185 8.1 ... few 1 JF Borghouts kindly pointed out to me a possible early version of the divine name in ... Spoken Arabic of Egypt, of Greek... more
... Tutu as part of a composite divine name 184 8.1.7. Tutu's name with a divine epithet 185 8.1 ... few 1 JF Borghouts kindly pointed out to me a possible early version of the divine name in ... Spoken Arabic of Egypt, of Greek or Coptic Origin, reprint Cairo 1989, 18, the etymology of this ...
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The present publication is an introduction to the history of the Dakhleh Oasis and a catalogue to the temporary exhibition "Treasures of the Dakhleh Oasis" (Egyptian Museum, Cairo, 3 June 2006). The compilers have chosen objects to... more
The present publication is an introduction to the history of the Dakhleh Oasis and a catalogue to the temporary exhibition "Treasures of the Dakhleh Oasis" (Egyptian Museum, Cairo, 3 June 2006). The compilers have chosen objects to reflect significant periods from the Oasis’ history. For practical reasons, it has not been possible to include objects from prehistoric periods. This omission is partly compensated by an elaborate section on prehistory in the historical outline.
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"Bes" - Aegyptiaca Kestneriana (AegKestner) Band / Vol. 2 (2020) - Publication in conjunction with the exhibition "Guter Dämon Bes - Schutzgott der Ägypter" (Good Demon Bes - Protector God of the Egyptians) at Museum August Kestner,... more
"Bes" - Aegyptiaca Kestneriana (AegKestner) Band / Vol. 2 (2020) - Publication in conjunction with the exhibition "Guter Dämon Bes - Schutzgott der Ägypter" (Good Demon Bes - Protector God of the Egyptians) at Museum August Kestner, Hannover / Germany (planned for 5 November 2020 - 11 April 2021, but never opened due to lockdown in times of pandemic) - for always the latest version see: www.aegyptiaca-kestneriana.de/b2/ - (in German)