Recordings will be made available for those unable to attend the live sessions!
This course offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of the ancient Egyptian language and the rich conceptions of the afterlife from the Old Kingdom (c. 2680 BCE) to the end of the New Kingdom (c. 1070 BCE). After a concise review of the key grammatical features of Middle Egyptian, we will read, in hieroglyphs, selected passages from the major funerary text corpora – the Pyramid Texts, the Coffin Texts, the Book of the Dead, and the Amduat. Beyond translation, the course explores the meaning, functions, and purposes of these texts for the deceased. Through guided readings and discussions, participants will gain insights into the geography, inhabitants, challenges, and transformative journey of the deceased in the next world.
By the end of the course, participants will have strengthened their grasp of Middle Egyptian and developed practical experience in translating a variety of text genres within the funerary literature. Engaging materials and discussions will enrich the learning experience throughout.
Book of the Dead belonging to Ani (British Museum, EA10470, frame 27).
This event complements our 2025 Online Course: The Ancient Egyptian Afterlife, which provided historical context to these funereary texts. This course assumes prior knowledge of Middle Egyptian grammar – participants should have completed the EES' Online Course: Beyond Intermediate Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs, a similar course elsewhere or studied a self-instructional textbook. Supporting grammatical resources will be provided to assist with translation work. There are no exams or formal assessments; participants will prepare short excerpts at home for in-class translation, with optional longer texts available for those wishing to practice further.
Please note: If you are not confident with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, then our next Beginners Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs is planned for April/May 2026.
Tutor
Dr Christina Geisen
Course Outline
Please note that main content will be delivered between 18:00-19:30, though some optional participation (quizzes, Q&A, etc.) may continue beyond that time.
Tuesday 24 March 2026, 18:00-19:30 (UK) time
Week one – Revision of Grammar
In the first class, we will review the most important grammatical constructions and verb forms to refresh your knowledge of Middle Egyptian. In addition, a short presentation on material philology will introduce the broader work of philologists beyond translation, highlighting also digital methods now applied in the study of ancient texts.
Tuesday 31 March 2026, 18:00-19:30 (UK) time
Week two – Pyramid Texts
In this class, we will translate a selected passage of the so-called Cannibal Hymn and explore the text’s meaning.
Pyramid Texts in the Pyramid of Unas, (image from Virtual Mid East's digital reconstruction on Matterport).
Tuesday 7 April 2026, 18:00-19:30 (UK) time
Week three – Coffin Texts
In this class, we will translate excerpts from the Spell for the net and the fish-trap and of escaping from it, placing the spell in the context of the deceased’s journey through the afterlife.
Tuesday 14 April 2026, 18:00-19:30 (UK) time
Week Four – Book of the Dead
In this class, we will translate a transformation spell that allows the deceased to travel freely between the netherworld and world of the living.
Tuesday 21 April 2026, 18:00-19:30 (UK) time
Week Five – Amduat
In this class, we read the 12th hour of the Amduat and discuss the composition, focusing on the interplay between text and images.
Recordings of the live sessions will be made available to attendees following the weekly session for those unable to attend in person.
Depiction of the Afterlife Book Amduat on the walls of king Thutmose III’s burial chamber in the Valley of the Kings.
Booking and information
Register for your place in advance using the link below. Here, you can select to pay for optional add-ons. You can buy a personalised certificate for £5.99, featuring your name, the event name and start date, which will be signed by the EES Engagement Manager to confirm your attendance at this online course.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about your booking. If you do not receive your email, then please check your junk folders before contacting the Egypt Exploration Society. The course will be held on our Zoom platform and attendees will be able to interact by asking questions, using the chat and polls. It is not necessary to have a working webcam or microphone for this course. The online course will be complemented by Google Drive, where resources will be uploaded.
Recordings will be made available for those unable to attend the live sessions! These recordings will be available via a YouTube playlist for approximately three months after the final class.
Please ensure that you have read our guide to attending EES online events before the course begins.
Depiction of the Book of Two Ways, part of the Coffin Texts, on the coffin of Sen (EA30841; ©The Trustees of the British Museum).
