Ancient Egyptian culture has fascinated many people for millennia with its magnificent pyramids and splendid temples. Its rulers and gods are all mentioned in the Bible. Nearby cultures from the Ancient Near East and Mediterranean spoke of its god-like rulers and seemingly inexhaustible supply of gold. It is described by the Romans and Greeks as Egypt's history and culture. The Napoleonic expedition in Egypt drew attention to the marvels of the ancient land. Champollion, who deciphered Egypt's hieroglyphs not long afterwards, opened the door for others scholars. He revealed that Egyptian texts covered medicine, dentistry and veterinary practices as well as literature and accounting. Howard Carter found the amazing contents of the tomb at Tutankhamun in early 20th-century. A few decades later, exhibitions of the treasure resulted in the first major blockbuster in history. The 21st-century has seen renewed interest in this story.
Take a guided tour through the wonders and mysteries of Egypt with Dr. David Silverman. He is Professor of Egyptology, Penn University, Curator of Egypt Section, Penn Museum and also curator of the Tutankhamun exhibits. This online course was created by him and placed in the galleries at the Penn Museum. As he leads students in their exploration of Egypt's fascinating culture, he uses original Egyptian artifacts as illustrations.
