Bloomsbury Summer School
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.
2026 course timetable
Saturdays 21, 28 March, 11 April, & Saturday 18 to Sunday 19 April 2026
READING HIEROGLYPHS: THINKING ABOUT MORTALITY (online)
Course Director: Mr Kit Devine (MPhil Oxford)
Saturday 21 March
10:45* – 11:00
Students login to Zoom
11:00 – 11:30
BSS Director’s Welcome Address; Introductions
11:30 – 13:00
1. Introduction and Book of the Dead
14:15 – 15:30
2. A Letter from the Dead: Ghostly activity?
16:00 – 17:15
3. Book of the Dead: Fear of a ‘second death’
Saturday 28 March
10:00 – 11:15
4. Harpists’ Songs: Reassurance through praising the afterlife
11:45 – 13:00
5. Harpists’ Songs: Scepticism and enjoying life while it lasts (1)
14:15 – 15:30
6. Harpists’ Songs: Scepticism and enjoying life while it lasts (2)
16:00 – 17:15
7. Guided Reading and Wrap Up
Saturday 11 April
10:00 – 11:15
8. The Dialogue of a Man and his Ba (1)
11:45 – 13:00
9. The Dialogue of a Man and his Ba (2)
14:15 – 15:30
10. The Dialogue of a Man and his Ba (3)
16:00 – 17:15
11. The Dialogue of a Man and his Ba (4)
Saturday 18 April
10:00 – 11:15
12. The Dialogue of a Man and his Ba (5)
11:45 – 13:00
13. The Dialogue of a Man and his Ba (6)
14:15 – 15:30
14. The Dialogue of a Man and his Ba (7)
16:00 – 17:15
15. The Dialogue of a Man and his Ba (8)
Sunday 19 April
10:00 – 11:15
16. The Dialogue of a Man and his Ba (9)
11:45 – 13:00
17. The Dialogue of a Man and his Ba (10)
14:15 – 15:30
18. The Dialogue of a Man and his Ba (11)
16:00 – 17:15
19. Conclusions and Considerations
17:15 – 18:30
End-of-Course online social (you are welcome to invite guests)
* All times are London UK time; Zoom waiting room opens 15 minutes prior to the start.
NB: Timetables, once published, are unlikely to change, but remain provisional until the first day of the course.
