Fridays – Ancient Faces: Mummy Portraits from Roman Egypt

10/10 @ 11:00 AM/CH

Instructor: Stephen “Dr. Steve” Phillips, Ph.D.

The Romans arrived in Egypt at the time of Cleopatra VII, in the first century, BCE. Not only did the Romans incorporate aspects of ancient Egyptian religion into their own pantheon of gods and goddesses, but they also adapted the practice of mummification into their own funerary rituals… with one significant difference: during life, people would have their portraits painted onto wood panels, panels they could then display in their homes. Upon death, these panels would be positioned over the face of the deceased and then incorporated into the mummy wrappings. The images are astonishing for their realistic portrayal of their subjects, people who, if we did not know they lived some 2,000 years ago, we would recognize as colleagues, friends, family, and neighbors. This lecture illuminates the world of ancient Roman mummy portraits.