Talk: The Great God Min: His Aspects and Activities with Dylan Bickerstaffe
Date: Sunday 1 November 15.00
Location: In person at Spring Lodge Community Centre, Powers Hall End, Witham, CM8 2HE
Tickets
Members: Free for full and in-person members. No booking necessary.
Guests: £7 on the door (cash preferred)
Event information
Min is an ithyphallic deity (with erect penis) and is certainly very primitive in origin. The Egyptians were far from alone in honouring such a deity, and parallel examples may be found in a range of cultures – especially Ancient Rome. We first examine his cult centre at Akhmim/Ipu and the influential family whose centre this was; and then turn to his other great centre at Kuft/Coptos/Gebtu. It is here that Petrie discovered the huge, primitive statues that now dominate the entrance to the Ashmolean galleries in Oxford. The dominant presence of Min in the mountains of the Eastern Desert is then explored. Important rituals connected with Min such as Driving the Four Calves and depictions of his ‘family’ demonstrate his connections to fertility and resurrection. We conclude with some fascinating scenes from the festivals of Min, many of which may be viewed at easily accessible sites.
Speaker information
Dylan Bickerstaffe, a geography graduate, first gained archaeological experience digging on Romano-British sites in the 1970s–80s.
Since then, he has travelled widely in the Middle East and Europe: designing and leading tours – especially to Egypt, but also to Crete and Italy. Over the last thirty years, he has lectured extensively to Egyptology and Ancient History Societies, chiefly in the UK.
A large number of his articles have been published in the journal, Kmt: A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt; Ancient Egypt magazine; and Academia.edu etc. His books concern the identification and burials of Royal Mummies; with also TV programmes on related topics.