Step back in time as we explore the history, archaeology, and daily life of one of the world's greatest civilizations.
The evening begins in Gillman Hall with a welcome from Jacob Lauinger, Chair of the Department of Near Eastern Studies. Founded in 1883, the department was the first in the United States to offer a PhD in Near Eastern Studies, establishing Johns Hopkins as a pioneer in the study of the ancient Near East and launching a tradition of scholarly excellence that continues today.
Our featured speaker is Marie-Lys Arnette, Alexander Badawy Chair in Egyptian Art and Archaeology, Assistant Professor, and Director of Undergraduate Studies. Following her recent Hopkins Journeys expedition to Egypt, Professor Arnette will present an illustrated lecture, On the Threshold of Motherhood: Ritual Practices after Childbirth at Deir el-Medina, Egypt, offering a fascinating glimpse into the lives of ancient Egyptian women and families.
Following the lecture, enjoy a reception in the Gilman Hall Atrium featuring Egyptian-inspired cuisine, music and conversation. The evening concludes with an exclusive visit to the Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum, which has one of the first American collections of Egyptian antiquities. You'll view extraordinary artifacts from the museum's collections, and hear from alumna and Assistant Curator for Exhibition and Teaching Meg Swaney, A&S '22 (PhD) about the museum's treasures and its role in teaching and research.
We hope you'll join us for this memorable evening celebrating the enduring legacy of Ancient Egypt through the scholarship, discoveries, and collections of Johns Hopkins University.
Marie-Lys Arnette studied at the École du Louvre (History of Art and Museology) and La Sorbonne University (Egyptology). After completing her PhD thesis, she became Director of Publications, then Scientific Member, of the Institut français d’archéologie orientale (Ifao, Cairo). She has taught on the history of Egyptian art, archaeology, and Middle Egyptian language at the École du Louvre (France), the University Lumière – Lyon 2 (France), and the University of Fribourg (Switzerland).
Marie-Lys is a member of the Archaeological Mission at the Precinct of Mut, South Karnak (JHU/Liverpool University) and the Mission for the Study and Restoration of Deir el-Medina (Ifao). She collaborates with the European Research Council funded project Locus Ludi (ERC 741520) and is a scientific collaborator at the University of Fribourg. She also serves as a member of the editorial board of the Locus Ludi collection (Darmstadt, Germany) and the Jeu/Play/Spiel collection (Liège, Belgium).
Meg Swaney is the Assistant Curator of Exhibitions & Teaching at the Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum. She is responsible for overseeing the cataloging and display of the museum collection, organizing and guest lecturing for classes, and developing public events. Meg specializes in the art and archaeology of 1st millennium BCE Egypt, with a particular emphasis on temple art. Her book, Designing a Temple for Repit, explores artistic production at the Ptolemaic Repit temple at Athribis and its visual modes of meaning-making. Her research interests also include the ethics of displaying ancient Egyptian human remains, Egyptomania and the history of Egyptology, the history of museums, and object-based experiential learning pedagogies. Meg received her PhD in Egyptian Art & Archaeology from Johns Hopkins University, where she was also a member of the Archaeological Mission at the Precinct of Mut, South Karnak (JHU/Liverpool University). She also holds an MA in Museum Studies from New York University and a BA in Anthropology from the University of Chicago.
Event DateThursday, September 24, 2026Start Time: 4:30pm EDTEnd Time: 7:00pm EDT
3400 N Charles StBaltimore, MD 21218
ContactOffice of Alumni RelationsMarguerite JonesLifelong Learning(800) JHU-JHU1ingalls@jhu.edu
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