Thesaurus Linguae Aegyptiae

I use this resource all of the time, but wanted to share, since many reading this do not  study Egyptology. The Thesaurus Linguae Aegyptiae is a fantastic source for looking up hieroglyphic terms. It consists of a database with well over a million dictionary terms translating Egyptian words in German and often English (and of course vice versa). It also has an extensive collection of transliterations and translations, which is especially helpful when translating a text.

If you don't read Egyptian, but want to get a few words together to impress people at that next party (because who wouldn't be won over by hieroglyphic party tricks?), go to http://aaew.bbaw.de/tla/servlet/BwlSearch?u=aeaustin&f=0&l=0, enter an English word in the translation section and make sure you check the box for English translation.

For example! drunkard=
tx.w




To be used at a party in the phrase, "You are a drunkard!":

ntk m tx.w

Next time you pay for baggage fees, keep this in mind!

The digital humanities program at Stanford has put together an impressive resource called ORBIS, where you can map out how long it takes to get between different destinations in the Roman empire. It tells you how long it takes, how much it would cost, and how far you would have to travel.

To put a little perspective on things... let's compare flights on kayak for Cairo to London with a carriage and ship ride during Roman times. EgyptAir can get me a roundtrip flight for $400 each way, with about a 5 hour travel time...Orbis says that it would take a minimum of 64 days to go the 5,175 kilometers between London and Cairo in the time of the Roman Empire, and cost 2300 denarii, or approximately $46,000! That is over 300 times longer and 115 times more expensive.

I will keep this in mind next time I have to pay baggage fees.

Giza Pyramid Plateau in 3D

During my undergraduate time at Harvard, I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Peter der Manuelian on the Giza Archives Project, an incredible online resource towards digitizing the lifework of Reisner's excavations at the famous pyramid plateau. This project is an exemplary model of digital humanities. Well, Dr. Manuelian has taken the next step by creating an even more impressive 3D model of the complex which shows tomb structures below AND above ground, and demonstrates the extensive network of mastabas around the pyramids.  As my master's dissertation research focused on individuals buried in these mastabas and I spent some time doing 3d laser scanning of archaeological sites, I was even more excited to see them in their own 3D environment.

But enough about my reaction, try them out yourself or just watch the video at http://giza3d.3ds.com/#discover. Just be warned... the model is very heavy, so it may crash if your computer doesn't have the power to withhold its awesomeness.

Purpose

This blog is intended to inform on archaeology, gender studies, ancient Egypt, bioarchaeology, digital humanities, and other subjects which fall under the jurisdiction of my research! Please share with me if you are interested in adding an entry!