Belgian expansionism and the making of Egyptology, 1830-1952

In Belgium, Egyptology emerged later than elsewhere in Europe, but once under steam, it went through a rapid growth in the course of the first half of the 20th century. In the 1930s Brussels was occasionally even referred to as ‘the capital of Egyptology’.

International Symposium Pyramids and Progress
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News and activities

On Thursday 24 February 2022, P&P members Jean-Michel Bruffaerts, Marleen De Meyer & Jan Vandersmissen will give a lecture at the conference "Oriental Societies & societal self-assertion. Associations, Funds and Societies for the Archaeological Exploration of the "Ancient Near East"", hosted by the ...

lecture | conference
22 Feb 2022
In an official statement closing down our 2021 symposium “Pyramids and Progress: Perspectives on the Entanglement of Imperialisms and Early Egyptology (1800–1950)” director of the Art&History Museums Brussels , Bruno Verbergt, has announced the rediscovery of the long-lost main section of ...
10 Nov 2021
Tomorrow is our international three-day conference “Pyramids and Progress: Perspectives on the Entanglement of Imperialisms and Early Egyptology (1800–1950)”, November 8–10, 2021 — Leuven & Brussels, Belgium. The full programme and abstracts of the symposium, as well as Belgian Covid-19 regulations ...

lecture | conference
30 Sep 2021
Our P&P colleagues Luc Delvaux and Wouter Claes have given a lecture together with SURA-researcher Aude Gräzer-Ohara on the mastaba of Neferirtenef during the international conference "Mariette, deux siècles après" at Boulogne-sur-Mer. More information: Colloque Mariette

lecture | conference
16 Sep 2021
Our colleague Marie-Cécile Bruwier has given a lecture on the writings of Mariette in Belgium during the international conference "Mariette, deux siècles après" at Boulogne-sur-Mer. More information: Colloque Mariette

lecture | conference
16 Sep 2021
Our colleague Dorian Vanhulle has given a lecture on the visit of Leopold II at the Serapeum during the international conference "Mariette, deux siècles après" at Boulogne-sur-Mer. More information: Colloque Mariette

lecture | conference
16 Sep 2021
The Archives & Musée de la Littérature asbl (AML), a documentation and research centre on the literary, theatrical and editorial heritage of French-speaking Belgium and the research project Pyramids & Progress: Belgian expansionism and the making of Egyptology, 1830-1952 have agreed to set up a ...

blog
6 Jul 2021
Did you know Belgian pioneer of aviation baron Pierre de Caters was the first ever pilot to fly over Egypt? In this short snapshot of shared Belgo-Egyptian history, you will learn about the first steps of aviation in Egypt. As most of you might know by now, Egypt was a key market for Belgium ...
29 May 2021
Our colleagues at the University of Glasgow are offering a fully-funded PhD-position titled : " Imagining ancient Egypt in the age of empire: Identity and power in Scottish museum displays of Egyptian objects, 1860 to 1930. " The deadline for applications is 5.00pm (GMT) on Monday 7 June 2021. More ...

vacancy
14 May 2021
On Thursday May 13, 2021, P&P-member Vincent Oeters MA will give a lecture at the Current Research in Egyptology 2020/2021 Conference which will be hosted by the University of the Aegean, Rhodes, Greece from 9-16 May 2021. The title of his lecture will be “Not a curse “of” but rather “on” the mummy ...

lecture | conference
9 May 2021
This week, the Louvre Museum has launched its new online database. To showcase its potential, I would like to tell you about the history of the Belgo-French collection of short-time Belgian diplomat (Aimé) Auguste Parent. A failed diplomatic career As a son of Basile Parent, Belgian revolutionary ...

blog
25 Mar 2021
Team Pyramids & Progress proudly presents its symposium “Pyramids and Progress.” Perspectives on the Entanglement of Imperialisms and Early Egyptology (1800–1950) , which will take place in Brussels, Belgium from 8-10 November 2021. We invite you to consider contributing to this symposium, and to ...

lecture | conference
18 Jan 2021
At the turn of the 20th century, Cairo’s nightlife district, Ezbekiyya, was served by a vast array of bars, cafés chantants , and music halls; and many of the most popular and successful venues at the time were run by women. Some were Egyptian, like the legendary Shafiqa al-Qibtiyya (for more on her ...

blog
29 Dec 2020
In response to the Pyramids & Progress exposition “Made in Belgium. Industriels belges en Égypte (1830 - 1952)" by the Musée royal de Mariemont at the Bois-du-Luc site, a remarkable message has reached our team. Stéphan Coppée contacted us with some images featuring his grandfather Jean Joseph ...

blog
26 Nov 2020
SURA - Unlocking the Photographic Archives of the Pioneering Years of Egyptology at the Royal Museums of Art and History, Brussels SURA is a two-year joint project between the Royal Museums of Art and History (RMAH) in Brussels and the Department of Archaeology of KU Leuven. It aims to valorise a ...

blog
21 Nov 2020