Egyptian author-journalist Ahmed Naji to receive PEN award | Daily Mail Online

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-3517321/Egyptian-author-journalist-Ahmed-Naji-receive-PEN-award.html

Egyptian author-journalist Ahmed Naji to receive PEN award

By Associated Press

Published: 09:20 EST, 31 March 2016 | Updated: 09:20 EST, 31 March 2016

NEW YORK (AP) — An imprisoned Egyptian author and journalist is being given the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award, presented by PEN America.

Ahmed Naji received a two-year sentence in February for "destroying social values," an allegation tied to the content of his novel "The Use of Life." The 30-year-old Naji has written three books and is a contributor to the state-owned Akhbar al-Adab literary magazine, among other publications. His trial came after Akhbar al-Adab released an excerpt in 2014 from "The Use of Life" that contained explicit sex acts and references to habitual drug use. The complaint against Naji originated when a reader of Akhbar al-Adab alleged that the excerpt made him physically ill.

"Naji's case is emblematic of Egypt's escalating crackdown on artistic freedom in flagrant disregard for its own constitutional protections and at the expense of the country's rich cultural traditions," PEN America Executive Director Suzanne Nossel said in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday. "PEN hopes that this award will spur writers, readers, advocates, and world leaders to press Egypt to release Naji immediately and to stop treating creativity as a crime."

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FILE - In this undated image Egyptian author Ahmed Naji poses for a photo in Cairo, Egypt. Naji is being given the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award, presented by PEN America. PEN, the literary and human rights organization, said that it will honor Naji on May 16 at its annual gala. He was sentenced to two years in jail in February, by a Cairo appeals court for publishing a sexually explicit excerpt of his novel that prosecutors said violated "public modesty." Naji was initially acquitted by another court, but prosecutors appealed the verdict. (Yasmin Hosam El Din via AP)

Egyptian writers, artists and filmmakers have denounced the jailing of Naji, which followed a 1-year sentence handed to TV presenter and researcher Islam Behery for "defaming religious symbols," and three years to writer Fatima Naoot for defaming Islam.

PEN, the literary and human rights organization, has given its Freedom to Write Award to jailed writers everywhere from Saudi Arabia to Cuba. Established in 1987, the prize is for writers "who have fought courageously in the face of adversity for their right to freedom of expression."

PEN will honor Naji on May 16 at its annual gala in Manhattan. PEN spokeswoman Sarah Edkins told the AP it has not yet been determined who will accept the award on Naji's behalf.

Other award recipients include J.K. Rowling for inspiring children worldwide to read and Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha and LeeAnne Walters for their efforts in exposing the lead contamination in the water of Flint, Michigan. PEN also will cite Michael Pietsch, CEO of Hachette Book Group, for his leadership in fighting censorship.

Dream books (Pharaonic Egypt) | Kasia Szpakowska - Academia.edu

https://www.academia.edu/3761989/Dream_books_Pharaonic_Egypt_

Second radar survey of Tutankhamun's tomb to be conducted tomorrow - Ancient Egypt - Heritage - Ahram Online

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/198310/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Second-radar-survey-of-Tutankhamuns-tomb-to-be-con.aspx

Second radar survey of Tutankhamun's tomb conducted today

Nevine El-Aref, Wednesday 30 Mar 2016

The second survey is to test the results of the first that found evidence of empty spaces, and possible doorways, behind the north and west walls of Tutankhamun's tomb

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Antiquities' project to explore a new burial chamber of the boy king Tutankhamun, to test a theory put forward in August last year, a second radar survey is to be carried out Thursday evening.

British Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves had claimed that the burial place of Queen Nefertiti is hidden inside the tomb of her son-in-law, Tutankhamun.

Reeves proposed his theory after close examination of high-resolution 3D laser scan photographs taken by the Spanish Factum Arte Organisation in creating a replica of Tutankhamun’s tomb, now erected in the area adjacent to the resthouse of its discoverer on Luxor’s west bank.

Mahmoud Afifi, head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Department of the ministry, told Ahram Online that the second survey would be carried out by a foreign expert in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering of Cairo University to check the results of the first radar survey carried out by Japanese expert Hirokatsu Watanabe in November 2015.

If the results are compatable with the first set, Afifi pointed out, an archaeological and a scientific committee will be organised to review the whole project and all results, in order to discern a way to explore what is behind the west and north walls of Tutankahmun's burial chamber.

Until now several ideas were suggested, but further discussion is necessary in hone in on the most efficient and non-invasive method to explore the possible hidden chamber. "Tutankhamun's tomb is one of Egypt's national heritage gems that has to be protected and safeguarded," he asserted.

The result of the first survey was announced at a press conference held mid-March by former Minister of Antiquities Mamdouh Eldamaty who announced that with more than 90 percent certainty, there are two hidden chambers behind the north and west walls of Tutankhamun's burial chamber.

The first survey revealed solid and empty spaces as well as lintels, indicating the existence of doorways.

Organic and metal materials were also detected inside the empty spaces.

According to a source in the antiquities ministry, the foreign expert in radar is American from the National Geographic Society.

Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany is to supervise the whole effort, along with the Egyptian team. Eldamaty is to attend the radar survey along with Abbas Mohamed, professor at the National Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics in Cairo, Reeves and Afifi.

On Friday, an international press conference is scheduled to be held at the footsteps of Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings on Luxor’s west bank.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/198310.aspx

http://www.knoe.com/home/headlines/ULM-historian-publishes-book-on-ancient-biblical-manuscripts-374007351.html

ULM historian publishes book on ancient biblical manuscripts

Posted: Wed 11:54 AM, Mar 30, 2016

By: News Staff - Email

Dr. Brice C. Jones (courtesy: ULM)

MONROE, La (ULM Release) - Not many people get to say they work hands-on with ancient biblical manuscripts. But one historian at the University of Louisiana Monroe is an exception.

Dr. Brice C. Jones, a biblical scholar, specializes in a field of research known as papyrology—the study of ancient written artifacts. The discipline involves deciphering ancient handwriting in a multitude of languages, translating unpublished texts, and making these texts known to other scholars and the world.

Think “Indiana Jones,” except this isn’t the movies; it’s the real thing.

Jones has discovered and translated numerous ancient texts, some of which have generated national media attention. In November 2015, the New York Times interviewed Jones about a third-fourth century papyrus of the Gospel of John that he identified on eBay. This fragment had been put up for sale on eBay by a seller who did not know what he had. Jones spotted it, identified it as an authentic text from the Gospel of John, and made it public through a blog post that went viral.

In March 2015, Live Science wrote a piece that featured a 2,100 year-old Greek tax receipt written on pottery that Jones discovered in the McGill University Library the year before.

In December 2014, an article in The Telegraph dubbed him “an internet scrolls sleuth,” a reference to his work in tracking down the sales of ancient manuscripts via online auction sites such as eBay, Sotheby's, Christie’s, and Bonhams.

“The study of ancient papyri is a fascinating field of historical inquiry, because these artifacts are the fingerprints of real people from a bygone era,” Jones told The Telegraph. “Each time I study a new papyrus, it is as if I am peeking over the shoulders of the scribe who wrote it,” Jones continued.

This type of detective work in antiquities isn’t a skill that is learned overnight. It requires years of advance study of ancient languages, highly technical editorial skills, knowledge of the social and historical contexts, and a very sharp eye. Many times, the manuscripts Jones studies are ridden with dirt, worm holes, and extremely faded ink.

“The study of ancient manuscripts is like putting together a puzzle,” said Jones. “The difference is that some pieces of the puzzle are often missing and so it requires a lot of effort to make sense of what is preserved.”

Most of these manuscripts are written on papyrus—a tall, fibrous reed plant that grew along the shallow banks of the Nile River in Egypt. According to Jones, this material is almost exclusively preserved in Egypt, whose arid climate prevents moisture from damaging or destroying the papyrus.

Jones’ new book, New Testament Texts on Greek Amulets from Late Antiquity, analyzes 24 papyri of Egyptian origin. They are all written in ancient Greek and contain a citation of the New Testament. These range in date from the third to seventh centuries AD.

Known as “amulets,” these scriptural fragments were used by early Christians as part of a protective ritual. It may seem foreign to people today, but this practice was quite common in antiquity.

“In modern times, when people become ill or afraid, they seek the help of a medical health professional,” explained Jones. “In antiquity, people would often appeal to ritual artifacts that they considered sacred. In other words, these artifacts were used as a means to solve their personal problems, which often included (among other things): demons, fevers, scorpions, headaches, disease, the evil eye, protection, and the like.”

While this ritual practice was commonplace in the ancient Mediterranean world, there is one thing that set the Christian practice apart: Christian amulets cited passages from the Bible.

“We find various citations of the Old Testament, the Gospels (especially the Lord’s Prayer), the apostle Paul, as well as various prayers to God, doxologies, and liturgical phrases,” said Jones. “This clearly demonstrates that early Christians viewed scripture as a powerful tool for invoking divine power. In other words, scripture was for them a living text, imbued with a power to heal, thwart evil, and so on.”

In his book, Jones provides the Greek text of each manuscript, a colored image of the artifact itself, and a thorough analysis of the text and the artifact.

This is the first book ever published that is devoted to citations of scripture on ancient Christian amulets.

And according to several respected scholars in Jones’ field, it is a welcomed addition.

“Amulets provide a completely different perspective on the transmission of the biblical text in antiquity,” said Dr. Sofía Torallas Tovar, Associate Professor of Classics and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at the University of Chicago. “Jones has produced a significant monograph that gives attention to this category of early Christian manuscripts that has previously been neglected, especially within New Testament studies. He succeeded in understanding and explaining magisterially the intricacies of a complex phenomenon in all its aspects."

According to Dr. Theodore de Bruyn, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Ottawa, “Jones’ study demonstrates how a careful study of amulets can contribute to our understanding of the transmission and reception of the text of the New Testament. Jones’ study is valuable for its methods, findings, and descriptions of the materials.”

Jones received his Ph.D. in Early Christianity from Concordia University (Montreal) and his M.A. in New Testament from Yale University.

Aswan necropolis and shrine may have belonged to a unknown wealthy Egyptians | Daily Mail Online

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3517169/The-mystery-elaborate-Aswan-tombs-3-400-year-old-necropolis-shrine-belonged-unknown-group-wealthy-Egyptians.html

The mystery of the elaborate Aswan tombs: 3,400-year-old necropolis and shrine may have belonged to a unknown group of wealthy Egyptians

• Dozens of tombs were found in Gebel el- Silsila area in Aswan, Egypt
• No inscriptions have been found, but tombs are elaborate, having stairs
• Archaeologists found human remains and artefacts such as a seal ring 
• Ring bears cartouche of Thuthmosis III who ruled from1479 BC to 1425 BC

By Sarah Griffiths for MailOnline

While all eyes may be focused on whether secret chambers in King Tut's tomb may hold incredible riches, another less flashy necropolis has been discovered in Aswan, Egypt.

Dozens of rock-cut tombs and a small shrine have been found that contain the remains of mummies, decorated coffins and artefacts such as amulets, beads and an intricate seal ring.

While experts believe the tombs must have been the final resting place of high status individuals, their identity is currently a mystery, with no inscriptions found.

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Dozens of rock-cut tombs (pictured) and a small shrine have been found in Aswan, Egypt containing remains of mummies, decorated coffins and artefacts such as amulets, beads and an intricate seal ring

The 3,400-year-old necropolis was discovered at an ancient quarry at the East Bank, Gebel el- Silsila area in Aswan, according to Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities.

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The group of New Kingdom 18th Dynasty tombs may not be impressive from the outside, but are still revealing secrets.

'So far we have documented over 40 tombs, including a small shrine on the banks of the Nile,' Maria Nilsson, director of the Gebel el Silsila Survey Project and an archaeologist at Lund University, Sweden, told Discovery News. 

A seal ring (pictured) bearing the cartouche of Pharaoh Thuthmosis III 'Men-kheper-re' and a scarab with his name on, has been found among the tombs, along with New Kingdom storage vessels and jugs

'So far we have documented over 40 tombs, including a small shrine on the banks of the Nile,' said Maria Nilsson, director of the Gebel el Silsila Survey Project and an archaeologist at Lund University, Sweden. A map showing the location of the site is shown above

GEBEL EL-SILSILA 

Gebel el-Silsila, meaning 'the place of rowing' in Egyptian lies 40 miles (65km) north of Aswan.

It was used as a major quarry site on both sides of the Nile from at least the 18th Dynasty to Greco-Roman times.

Many New Kingdom temples and cenotaphs were built using sandstone from the quarry.

The use of sandstone allowed for larger and more impressive monuments. 

She said many of the tombs are in bad condition, having been damaged by erosion and water. 

Most consist of one or two undecorated rooms and bare of inscriptions, meaning the people laid to rest there cannot be identified.

But the tombs also have one or more crypts cut into the stone floor.

More intriguingly, they also had stairs leading to a square room with a main entrance with slots either side of the doorway, perhaps meaning it was sealed by a huge stone.

Nasr Salama, General Director of Aswan and Nubia Areas, said this is the first time that tombs with stairs have been discovered in the area - a feature that emphasises the importance of this discovery.

Head of Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Sector, Dr Mahmoud Afify, said the tombs contain the bones of men, women and children of different ages. But images have not yet been released.

While experts believe the tombs (one shown) must have been the final resting place of high status individuals, their identity is currently a mystery, with no inscriptions found

The seal bears the cartouche of Pharaoh Thuthmosis III who was the sixth Pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty. He created  the largest empire Egypt had ever seen, waging 17 war campaigns, conquering from Niya in North Syria to the Fourth Cataract of the Nile in Nubia

PHARAOH THUTHMOSIS III 

A seal ring bearing the cartouche of Pharaoh Thuthmosis III 'Men-kheper-re' and a scarab with his name on has been found at the site.

Thuthmosis III was the sixth Pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty and reigned alongside his stepmother and aunt, Hatshepsut for 22 years.

After her death, he created the largest empire Egypt had ever seen, waging 17 war campaigns, conquering from Niya in North Syria to the Fourth Cataract of the Nile in Nubia.

Officially, Thutmose III ruled Egypt for almost 54 years, and his reign is usually dated from April 24, 1479 BC to March 11, 1425 BC.

He was buried in the Valley of the Kings as were the rest of the kings from this period in Egypt. 

Because the tombs are quite elaborate in style, the experts believe they are the final resting place for relatively high rank individuals, rather than quarry workers at the site, who would have quarried stone blocks used to build ancient Egypt's temples.

'However, the higher officials, viziers and such that were active at Silsila were buried in Thebes, so it is likely that the people entombed in the rock-cut graves belong to the level just below the officials,' Dr Nillson said.

The team has found fragments of painted plaster, which may come from decorated coffins, as well as pieces of mummy bandages, beads and amulets, reinforcing the idea that the tombs belonged to important people.

A seal ring bearing the cartouche of Pharaoh Thuthmosis III 'Men-kheper-re' and a scarab with his name on, has also been found, along with New Kingdom storage vessels and jugs, which would have been needed in the afterlife, according to beliefs at the time. 

The team also discovered a small chapel at the side, which is a small rock-cut structure containing two rooms with an entrance that's decorated with a winged sun disk.

Most of the tombs consist of one or two undecorated rooms, bare of inscriptions, meaning the people laid to rest there cannot be identified. They also have one or more crypts (pictured) cut into the stone floor.