Thread by @heritage_lizzie

Newspapers incorrectly reported that she had arrived but this was incorrect. Wichelo lost two sons and the sarcophagus was lost. The sarcophagus was insured by the British museum but the ship was not. Richard Wichelo lost everything. An irony that it was moved to ‘protect it’.

Its location is unknown. Weiss’s work was altogether destructive to the Giza plateau - but he didn’t operate a lone. A lot of agents operating with various political and economic motivations. @N_Nielsen4 #onwardsupwards2022

Burial chamber had clearly been visited repeatedly. Coffin & finds there were post-pharaonic.

Next is @janetteleaf1 on Scarabmania from a literature perspective. #onwardsupwards2022

There were many scarabs in collections prior but also several in the tomb of #Tutankhamun100 - why were scarabs so interesting? Due to the way they lay their eggs they were a symbol of rebirth. Also associated with Khepri “coming into being” - metamorphosis death to life.

Scarabs - the defiance of death. Iconography was long lasting and built momentum. Various Victorian & Edwardian Egyptian gothicists referred to them. This is the version I read a few years ago (cool cover). #onwardsupwards2022

Heart Scarabs - securing a positive outcome at the judgement. Asking the heart not to speak against the deceased. Features in @janetteleaf1 1st cautionary tale ‘The Mummy’s Soul’ 1862 NY Magazine. The terrifying insect becomes an obsession with the archaeologist & kills his wife.

Various sets of scarab based Egyptian Revival jewellery. Sometimes real beetles! Jane Austin (American writer) wrote ‘After Three Thousand Years’ featuring a scarab necklace taken from Egypt that kills a bride. Her friend Louise May Alcott went on to write a similar story.

As the story goes - it is the human flesh that in contact with the scarab activates their avenging power. The plots of some of these gothic writers might be an oblique way of criticising some of the tomb raiding of the time.

But they take on more positive associations. Craze continues through 20th C following Tutankhamun’s discovery. People still wear them today. #onwardsupwards2022

A little gap here now from my paper - thanks to @issegyptomania for capturing a summary #OnwardsUpwards2022

Finally this session is @TonyKeen46 on Egyptomania in tv drama. Especially looking at the 1970s tomorrow people. Linked into the the pseudo archaeology idea that Egyptians couldn’t have created their own civilisation - that it must have been ancient aliens. #OnwardsUpwards2022

Central importance of 1972 Tutankhamun exhibition in the use of Egypt in this period in tv and set design says @TonyKeen46

Finally for the @issegyptomania conference #OnwardsUpwards2022 is @JohnJJohnston on Dr Who: Pyramids of Mars. Various Dr Who precursors related to Egypt.

Films such as the Mummy also feed in to influence Pyramids of Mars. There is also some of the pseudoarchaeology (Von Daniken etc…) emerging on the idea of ancient aliens. @JohnJJohnston has also found an early science fiction connecting Mars to images of Egypt. All precursors.

It’s also just after (1975) the 1972 Treasures of Tutankhamun exhibition at the @britishmuseum

Set in 1911 (before #Tutankhamun) supposedly set in 1st dynasty, but with images from new kingdom, a version of a Tutankhamun throne reused from previous films, and other new kingdom tomb paintings from previous productions.

Sutek appears in the Tardis (changes by the end of the story…)

Writer brings the gothic into a family show, fusing a range of ideas. But not big on research. Uses a dictionary of mythology references. Sutekh’s mask - has eye of Horus, version of Uraeus, the White Crown (Atef crown). Aliens called Osirians.

Connection to Set - powerful & dangerous deity.

Aggression, dominance, strangeness

Ancient Egyptians needed harmony - forces in balance. Set is a deity and treated as such. There were personal pieties - he was considerably more than just a monster.

Rameses II & Seti henna hair - connection to Set? (Depicted with red hair). Later he’s softened to become Amon in the statue shown. Set in the papyrus sits on the solar bark & deals with the serpent through the night. Ultimate warrior. Connection to the idea in Dr Who?

Last appearance of Set - depicted with the angels stabbing a devil character. Adopted same idea as part of Christian theme? Ultimate but dangerous warrior? Some strange costume decisions but may be connected to the image found below.

Bulbous look of coffins also perhaps connected.

Canopic jar generator connected to Set?

Some interesting style connections

Ring echoing Jewel of Seven Stars.

Scarab ring activates service robots

Karloff wears a scarab ring in the Mummy. Connection to the performance in pyramids of Mars. Wearing of Fez is also a throwback to previous productions.

Sold at Bonhams. Similar image regurgitated later - connection back to the prop.

Idea of pyramid power.

And a legacy in later productions