The 99%: life and death of commoners in ancient Egypt – Richard Bussmann

Ancient Egypt is best known for its monumental architecture, refined artworks, and rich textual heritage. While these sources remain essential for understanding Egyptian society, a growing number of socially engaged Egyptologists are criticising the elitist bias of the surviving documentation and, consequently, the representations of ancient Egypt based on it. Recent developments in the discipline show an increasing interest in transforming these critiques into alternative approaches to the study of Egypt.

Richard Bussmann’s lecture (Institute of African Studies and Egyptology, University of Cologne) explores ways to investigate the 99% of the population who were excluded from access to prestigious knowledge and objects. In dialogue with subaltern studies, he argues that ideas and practices may vary across society but do not correspond to clearly defined social groups. The broader reflection begins with material from the excavations at Zawyet Sultan in Middle Egypt.

Museo Egizio, Conference Room – July 1st, 2025, 6:30 PM
Free admission, reservation required via Eventbrite

The lecture will be held in English with simultaneous translation available in the room. It will also be streamed live and available on demand on the Museo Egizio’s Facebook and YouTube channels.