Given online by The Egypt Exploration Society on June 7, 2022
Abstract: Ancient Egypt as the land of science and Mirabilia fascinated medieval Arab scholars. Many wrote serious studies on Egyptian culture and environment. Believing hieroglyphs to hold the key to unlock the ancient Egyptian scientific knowledge, several scholars dedicated themselves to the exploration of Egyptian hieroglyphs, attempting to decipher it before Champollion. Arab pioneers of study of hieroglyphs included Sufis and alchemists such as Dhu Al Nun Al Misri, Ibn Wahshyia, and Abu Al Qasim Al Iraqi. The quest to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphs as evident from the Arabic manuscripts, paved the way to the success of Champollion as will be shown in this lecture.
The Medieval Arab Predecessors of Champollion
Lecture by Okasha El Daly
Given online by The Egypt Exploration Society on June 7, 2022
Abstract: Ancient Egypt as the land of science and Mirabilia fascinated medieval Arab scholars. Many wrote serious studies on Egyptian culture and environment. Believing hieroglyphs to hold the key to unlock the ancient Egyptian scientific knowledge, several scholars dedicated themselves to the exploration of Egyptian hieroglyphs, attempting to decipher it before Champollion. Arab pioneers of study of hieroglyphs included Sufis and alchemists such as Dhu Al Nun Al Misri, Ibn Wahshyia, and Abu Al Qasim Al Iraqi. The quest to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphs as evident from the Arabic manuscripts, paved the way to the success of Champollion as will be shown in this lecture.
Okasha El Daly is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at University College London. Click here to view his university webpage. He is the author of Egyptology: The Missing Millennium. Ancient Egypt in Medieval Arabic Writings
Top Image: Photo by Arild Finne Nybø / Flickr
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