ARCE Georgia: Hatshepsut and the Temple of Mut

Lecture Information

The reign of Hatshepsut (1479-1459 BCE) was pivotal in the development of the site honoring Mut, called the Isheru, and referring specifically to the crescent-shaped lake at the location. This talk will explain why Hatshepsut and Thutmose III were so important to the temple of Mut and describe what we know of their work in the precinct. The rituals celebrated in the temple during Hatshepsut ‘s reign will also be discussed. Finally, some of the proposed digital reconstruction of the temple will be described as well.

Professor Betsy M. Bryan will be the speaker for this program. Professor Bryan is the Alexander Badawy Emerita Professor of Egyptian Art and Archaeology at Johns Hopkins University. She is leading the excavation of the Precinct of Mut complex in Karnak. Her work includes research and writing about Thutmose IV and Amenhotep III, as well as researching the Egyptian drinking ritual known as the “festival of drunkenness” which was held at the Temple of Mut.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Betsy M. Bryan is the Alexander Badawy Professor Emerita of Egyptian Art and Archaeology at Johns Hopkins University, where she taught from 1986 to 2022. Dr. Bryan specializes in the history, art, and archaeology of the New Kingdom in Egypt, ca. 1600-1000 B.C., with a particular emphasis on the 18th Dynasty, ca. 1550-1300 B.C. Her research interests include the organization and techniques of art production as well as the religious and cultural significance of tomb and temple decoration.