In ancient Egypt, there were many spells, materials, and rituals used to magically protect the deceased on his or her journey to the afterlife. Hieroglyphic spells were painted on tomb walls, magical amulets were placed among mummy bandages, and priests performed lengthy ceremonies to allow the deceased to breathe, to walk, and to be reborn after death. In this paper, we will explore the possibility of a new ritual, hidden in the invisible joints of wooden coffins. Here secret spells and potent, magical red paint, may suggest the existence of a group of carpenter priests, trained in the rituals necessary to produce these vessels for the dead.

Speaker: Dr. Caroline Arbuckle from the Department of Classical, Near Eastern & Religious Studies, UBC