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.
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
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
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.
Here to represent the @Heritage_NGOs at today’s #GreatExpectations conference at the @V_and_A with @Ecclesiastical @TheCCT @NatChurchTrust @KingsFdn - I’ll be tweeting along here.
We are welcomed by @OliverJWCox talking about the @V_and_A history with being part of conversations about conservation & preservation. Inspiration from discussion at @Historic_Houses AGM around the role of the V&A 1970s exhibition on the Destruction of the English Country House.
Richard Taylor talks about the 50th anniversary of ‘Change and Decay’ here at @V_and_A & the urgency of discussions about the future of churches. Hugh Dennis talks about his own church journey. Churches of all ages & types are an important part of regional identity and community.
A treat to join our @Heritage_NGOs member @PSSAtweets for @MarshAwards for public sculpture. David Aaronovitch talks to begin about past art, past politics. There are some important perhaps unobserved mosaics in public buildings. 1928-33 mosaics added to floor of NG. V&A too.
We need to remember to look down at floors! Boris Anrep included many muses in mosaic art. Some private art of past is now public art. Public art piques interest - allows us to pull threads & see where they go. Defiance for eg is shape of a swastika & wears a papal crown. Why?
Shortlist for @MarshAwards for excellence in public sculpture
A pleasure to join @kidsinmuseums for their (always uplifting) annual family friendly museum awards.
First up the best museum youth project for social justice - shortlisted are @WiltshireMuseum, @bcaheritage & @GlasgowMuseums with the winners this year the @bcaheritage 👏
The next category is the best accessible museum category with shortlisted museums - The Beaney House of Arts & Knowledge Canterbury @The_Beaney, @eurekamuseum & @BarnsleyMuseums Worsbrough Mill Museum & Country Park with the winners @eurekamuseum
Good morning from Saltaire & @WorldHeritageUK Day 2 - first up this morning is Ashleigh Taylor of Blaenavon WHS talking about the Benefits of World Heritage to local communities. WHUK there to support in a centralised way to help & empower sites on this.
What is local community in this context - v local… neighbourhoods, those living and working in and around the site. 6-7 weeks into a project on this. Started by looking at periodic review data. 79% reported positive impact through tourism but also 47% negative - a balance.
41% say illegal activity an issue… 41% negative financial factors. Huge economic contribution but community data shows some way to go. Support needed to build confidence in some areas.
Good morning from the @WorldHeritageUK conference at Victoria Hall in WHS Saltaire. I’ll be tweeting some highlights here. We are welcomed by Chair Paul Simons, Councillor Alex Ross & Lazare Assomo of UNESCO.
Lord Wallace of Saltaire outlines some of the history of why Saltaire is so special. Sir Titus Salt’s vision for workers when the child mortality in Bradford was one of the worst in the country & life expectancy of millworkers was 18. bradford.gov.uk/environment/sa…
Unlike most WHS Saltaire is in mixed ownership. Salts Mill preserves this important site & contributes to economy. Salts Foundation cares for public buildings. Shipley College looks after others. Also owners & tenants of homes & shops. Here - from a previous visit
Today I’ll be heading North to the fringes of the @Conservatives Party Conference. Also on party conference watch the @TheGreenParty adopted a heritage & tourism policy over the weekend: linkedin.com/pulse/greener-…
Back up north - this time for a media reception at @Conservatives party conference with @HuddlestonNigel & culture colleagues. Loving all the industrial heritage adding quality to place at the heart of Manchester.
Joined ITV & public broadcasters alongside other creative industries & arts colleagues at a reception this evening with @HuddlestonNigel Shadow Culture Secretary, Lord Parkinson & others at @BridgewaterHall. Good to hear commitment to the importance of the creative industries.