Egyptology at Cologne
Egyptology at Cologne covers the archaeology, languages and art of ancient Egypt and the Sudan from late prehistory to the Roman period, with particular focus on themes in archaeology, social anthropology and Egyptian religion.
Context, resources and people
Research
Research at the Egyptology department centres on social archaeology, Egyptian society and culture from late prehistory to the New Kingdom, the religion of ancient Egypt, theories and models in Egyptology, and cultural heritage.
Current long-term projects at the department include an archaeological fieldwork project in Zawyet Sultan that explores life of a provincial community in Middle Egypt over the past five thousand years, the epigraphic documentation and interpretation of the Ptolemaic temple inscriptions at Kom Ombo, the investigation of early administrative practices in Egypt through the seals from Hierakonpolis, a synthesis of Egyptian society and culture during the Old and Middle Kingdoms, and a heritage summer school held annually in Cologne and Aswan.
Teaching
Egyptology teaching offers training in philology, archaeology and art history. It spans the period from late prehistory to the Roman period and covers the area from the modern Sudan and Egypt to the Eastern Mediterranean.
Egyptology is offered as a major subject in the BA and MA Archaeology, the BA and MA Ancient World Studies, the BA Languages and Cultures of Africa and the MA Egyptology and African Studies. The department also contributes to the MA Culture and Environment in Africa. Students can choose from courses in Cologne and Bonn universities to develop their individual study profile.
Public activities
The department is supported by Uschebti e.V., the friends of Egyptology at the University of Cologne. Both Uschebti and the department regularly invite speakers from Germany and abroad. Lectures, workshops, student excursions and a dense program of academic events at the university contribute to the vibrant life at the department.