Start Date
3 June, 2025
There will be 4 weekly meetings on Monday 11am-1pm, starting from 3 June.
Overview
The people of Ancient Egypt and of the Prehistoric Aegean displayed a strong connection to their natural environments. As well as in daily life (as building materials, for aromatic oils, and for food), you will learn how ancient trees and flowers played a pivotal role in spiritual practices, particularly associated with female deities and solar symbolism.
Through the lens of archaeology, image, and object, you will discover the fascinating religious beliefs and practices that shaped these cultures. Our investigations will highlight some striking similarities as well as differences between them.
No prior knowledge is needed—just an eagerness to explore the age-old bond between people and nature that is so familiar to us still today.
Syllabus
1. Flower goddesses of the Prehistoric Aegean
- Introduction to the geography and chronology of the Prehistoric Aegean
- Flowers in the belief systems of the Prehistoric Aegean
2. The Heraldic Flowers of Ancient Egypt
- The water lily (often referred to as lotus) and the papyrus – associated with Upper and Lower Egypt and unification
- The solar association of these flowers and the links with the divine
3. Tree goddesses of the Prehistoric Aegean
- Trees in the belief systems of the Prehistoric Aegean
- Minoan ‘Tree Cult’
- The role of the palm tree in Minoan cult
4. Tree goddesses in Ancient Egypt
- The Sycamore associated with Mother Goddesses - Nut, Isis, and Hathor
- The Acacia and the Ished/Persea - linked to the passage of time and the reginal years of the king
Please note that the ‘last date available to book’ date is only a guide. We reserve the right to close bookings earlier if courses are over- or under-subscribed. In order to avoid disappointment, please be sure enrol as soon as possible. Registrations will not be processed until the following day if received after 3pm.
Course Lecturer: Dr Joanne Backhouse & Dr Gina Muskett
Joanne completed her PhD at the University of Liverpool in 2016. Her research focuses on the representation of women in ancient Egypt. However, she has a wider interest in the art of ancient Egypt and the evolution of style. She has lectured on the material culture of ancient Egypt for over ten years, in a variety of institutions and more recently online. She is also Chair of Wirral Ancient Egypt Society.
Gina Muskett has a long association with the University of Liverpool as a former lecturer in the department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology and at present is an Honorary Research Fellow in the department of History. She was also formerly Curator of Classical Antiquities at National Museums Liverpool, where, as an Honorary Research Associate, she continues to research the collections.
Gina is the author of several academic publications as well as writing for a more general market in both the UK and US. She is one of the contributors to ‘The History of Archaeology: an Introduction’, edited by Paul Bahn, which was Current Archaeology’s Book of the Year in 2015.
Courses fees: Full fee £60/Concession £30.
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