Bloomsbury Summer School (text)

Fascinated by ancient civilisations?

We offer anyone with any level of knowledge, inspiring short courses on ancient Egypt and other areas of the ancient world.

2024 STUDY DAYS


Friday and Saturday 13 - 14 June 2024


440 YEARS OF THE HISTORY OF THE AZTEC PEOPLE: THE CODEX AUBIN AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM

Speaker: Dr Elizabeth Baquedano (University College London)

This event will be held in person at the UCL Institute of Archaeology, 31 - 34 Gordon Square WC1H 0PY, and the British Museum, and live-streamed and available on video recording afterwards (except museum visit).

We are pleased to announce a very special study day on Mesoamerican codices. Elizabeth is putting the final touches on the timetable but we are so excited by the topics she has planned we’ve asked her to hold this event across, not one but, two days! In addition to hearing fascinating lectures, you will have plenty of opportunity to ask questions and engage in thought-provoking discussion. Those attending in person will enjoy an exclusive visit to the British Museum and hands-on practical work, as well as the opportunity to socialise with the speaker over morning and afternoon refreshments. Further details will follow so do visit this page again soon!

Speaker info
EARLY BIRD In-person booking fee: £80
(£90 after 29 February)
EARLY BIRD Online booking fee: £60
(£70 after 29 February)

Further details will follow so do visit this page again soon!


Saturday 7 September 2024


FACING THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS: FACTS AND FANTASIES

Speaker: Dr Campbell Price (University of Manchester)

This study day will be held in person in Lecture Theatre G6, UCL Institute of Archaeology, 31 - 34 Gordon Square WC1H 0PY, live-streamed, and will also be available on video recording afterwards.

We are thrilled to bring back Dr Campbell Price to lead our autumn study on a fascinating facet of ancient Egyptian art. When we look at Egyptian paintings, reliefs, sculpture, and so on, we instinctively think we recognise the ancient Egyptians. We know their faces and read their images as if looking at old family photos. But the apparent naturalism of some of those images should not dupe us into thinking that they were conceived as Western-style mimetic ‘portraits’. This study day critically examines the functions of faces in artworks – from kings of the Old Kingdom to Roman officials in Egypt – before considering how modern facial reconstructions based on human remains have shaped our impressions. Join Campbell as he takes you on an examination of what the ancients might have wanted to portray, how, and why those images were created, and – crucially – what the surviving traces tell us about ourselves.

Course Director info
EARLY BIRD in-person booking fee: £40
(£45 after 29 February)
EARLY BIRD online booking fee: £30
(£35 after 29 February)
The four lectures include:

1. The Ancient Egyptian Image World

2. Changing Facial Forms in Pharaonic Sculpture

3. The Ancient Egyptian Face in Popular Culture

4. Facing the Dead: Recreations and wishful thinking

In addition to hearing four fascinating lectures, you will have plenty of opportunity to ask questions, and to socialise with the speaker over morning and afternoon refreshments.