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British Lebanese actress Razane Jammal took to social media this weekend to share behind-the-scenes shots from her time filming Netflix’s “The Sandman.”
The second season of the show landed on the streaming platform in July in two parts, with the second half of the season premiering this weekend.
“Dream dangerously and beware of the kindly (not so kindly) ones,” Jammal captioned her post on Instagram.
The carousel of photos shows Jammal in a hair and makeup studio, as well as on location in a mist-covered field.
In the role that arguably shot her to stardom, Jammal played Lyta Hall in 2022’s “The Sandman,” based on the legendary graphic novels — and she reprised her role in the latest season.
In season one, her character dreams of her dead husband each night, slowly realizing that he is not a figment of her imagination but is hiding out in the dream world.
It is a part that Jammal managed to play truthfully with subtlety — a subtlety for which she credited her mother in a previous interview with Arab News.
“I’ve always been extra, and my mom was far more subtle than I am. I had to fine-tune myself to vibrate on her frequency, a frequency that was very sweet and very raw, and vulnerable and nurturing. I took that from her.
“I grew up having a simple, community-based life in a place where you have 500 mothers and everyone feeds you and you feel safe — even if it’s not safe at all. At the same time we went through so many traumas, from civil wars to assassinations to losing all our money in another financial crisis.”
“The Sandman” is based on novels written by British author Neil Gaiman.
This is the final season of the series, with Netflix announcing its cancellation after Gaiman faced a civil lawsuit accusing him of rape and sexual assault earlier this year, amid more accusations of sexual misconduct.
“‘The Sandman’ series has always been focused exclusively on Dream’s story, and back in 2022, when we looked at the remaining Dream material from the comics, we knew we only had enough story for one more season,” showrunner Allan Heinberg said in a statement to Variety in January, indicating that the reason behind the show’s cancellation was a lack of script material.
Gaiman has denied the allegations.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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British Lebanese actress Razane Jammal took to social media this weekend to share behind-the-scenes shots from her time filming Netflix’s “The Sandman.” (Instagram)
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, received the Honorary President’s Medal of the University of Exeter on Thursday, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and President of the University of Sharjah, and Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the American University of Sharjah. The award is presented by the university for the first time in its history.
This came during His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah’s visit to the University of Exeter, during which he received the medal from Sir Michael Barber, the University’s Honorary President. The unveiling of the Al Qasimi Building project, which will be constructed at the university at His Highness’s initiative, and the unveiling of His Highness’s publications corner in the Library of the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, also took place. A cooperation agreement was also signed between the Sharjah Council for Higher Education and Scientific Research and the University of Exeter.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah was awarded the Honorary President’s Medal of the University of Exeter in recognition of his distinguished contributions to education and scientific research, as well as his distinguished relationship with the University of Exeter. His Highness is also considered a pioneer in cultural, scientific, social, and economic development, and has played a significant role in promoting cultural interaction and dialogue between countries and civilizations at the local, regional, and international levels.
During his speech at the honoring ceremony held in Reed Hall at the University of Exeter, His Highness said: “I am very pleased to return today to the University of Exeter, this prestigious institution that embraced me as a student more than forty years ago, and which has remained deeply rooted in my academic journey and memory ever since.”
His Highness expressed his gratitude for the close and fruitful cooperation with the University of Exeter over the past decades, saying: “I stand before you with deep gratitude for the fruitful path we have traveled together, a path that has brought us together in knowledge, partnership, and shared goals. I feel particularly proud of the enduring cooperation that has continued between the University of Exeter and the Emirate of Sharjah over the past four decades. This cooperation has not only stood the test of time, but has also evolved into a model of academic excellence. At the forefront of this achievement stands the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, a distinguished center that houses the Arab World Archives Unit and the Emirati Collection, which together represent a vital contribution to the preservation and study of our cultural heritage.”
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah highlighted the academic partnerships with the University of Exeter, saying: “Over the years, this collaboration has led to the development of many successful academic partnerships across universities in the Emirate of Sharjah. At Khorfakkan University, the joint Marine Sciences programme with the University of Exeter contributes to the development of studies in coastal and marine ecosystems. At Al Dhaid University, there is cooperation in the field of geology and environmental sciences, which contributes to forming a strong academic foundation in earth science studies for university students. At the same time, the Sharjah Education Academy has introduced innovative programmes in the field of special educational needs, benefiting from the University of Exeter’s long academic experience and its long history in inclusive education.”
His Highness explained that these initiatives reflect a shared vision of investing in people and knowledge, a vision that continues to expand. Evidence of this is the Al Qasimi Building project at the University’s Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, which was unveiled today to reflect the shared commitment to building inspiring academic environments for future generations.
His Highness expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the University of Exeter’s leadership, faculty members, and partners for his special recognition and for their continued dedication to education, research, and global collaboration. He called for continued building bridges of understanding, discovery, and progress together.
In her speech at the ceremony, Dr. Lisa Roberts, Chancellor of the University of Exeter, praised the vision, leadership, and support of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for education. She noted that His Highness’s influence extends to the educational facilities he has helped establish, the partnerships he has strengthened with the university, and his inspiration to many scholars and students.
In her speech, Roberts addressed the work model established by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah across all universities and higher education institutions in the Emirate of Sharjah, its significant positive impact on education, and its impact on advancing societies at various levels.
She reviewed the historical relations that have linked His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah with the University since the 1980s, which have yielded distinguished academic programmes and projects, the fruits of which have been evident in the extensive cooperation between the universities in the Emirate of Sharjah, which His Highness established and sponsored, and the University of Exeter, which is very proud of these fruitful and ambitious relations and looks forward to developing them in the future.
Martha Holden, a graduate of the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, delivered a speech on behalf of the Institute’s students and graduates. She expressed her sincere thanks and appreciation to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for his support, which had a significant impact on her educational journey and her exposure to different cultures and understanding of the differences between dialects. This opened up new horizons for her and helped her deepen her knowledge of the Arabic language.
She described her experience at university as inspiring, inspiring her to continue her interest in the Arabic language even after graduation, praising His Highness’s support for her and her colleagues.
The ceremony included an artistic performance by a group of Exeter University students, and a video presentation that highlighted the close relationship between His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and the University of Exeter since his studies and graduation in 1985. The continued scientific and academic interaction and partnerships with the university continue to this day, when His Highness was awarded the Honorary President’s Medal of the University of Exeter.
His Highness received a commemorative gift from Councillor Ann Jobson, Mayor of Exeter, in appreciation of His Highness’s visit and continued support for the University of Exeter.
During his visit, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah unveiled the Al Qasimi Building project, which will be established through a generous initiative by His Highness at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, which His Highness had previously established at the University of Exeter in 2001 to support researchers and students and provide scientific sources, historical documents, and references in a specialized institute for Arab and Islamic studies, enabling them to conduct and document studies.
His Highness and the attendees were introduced to the details of the Al Qasimi Building project through several visual presentations. These included the architectural vision of the building, which is based on the building being a distinguished scientific meeting place for students and scholars, reflecting Arab and Islamic civilization and scientific production. It is built on a beautiful geometric shape that constitutes a true addition to the university, with carefully distributed green spaces and places that provide forums for discussion and communication between the building’s visitors. The presentations also covered the building’s facilities, which consist of halls, classrooms, gardens, offices, study areas, and the services that will be provided to visitors, readers, and researchers.
The presentations included an introduction to the most prominent scientific findings of research conducted with the support of the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies and in partnership with entities in a number of countries, as part of scientific cooperation in various scientific studies, such as archaeology, human existence, and others.
During his visit to the Library of the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi unveiled the corner dedicated to His Highness’s writings, which includes a complete collection of his works, which he donated to the University of Exeter, in addition to a luxury copy of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah has published 118 books in various fields of knowledge. Each book reflects a penetrating vision and enlightened thought that demonstrates the depth of his culture and the strength of his faith. His Highness’s books have been translated into more than 20 living foreign languages, including English, French, Chinese, Italian, Hindi, Russian, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Malayalam, Marathi, Urdu, Bengali, Polish, Dutch, Romanian, Persian, Turkish, and Somali.
His Highness’s publications are distinguished by their research depth and academic rigor, and reflect his keen interest in the history of the Arabian Gulf, particularly Sharjah and the Gulf in the modern era. His scholarly research is based on original documents preserved in global archives.
The works of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi are the product of a long intellectual and historical journey that began in the 1980s, when His Highness felt the need to correct the false narratives disseminated by colonial powers, which distorted the history of the Arabian Gulf. His first book, “The Legend of Piracy in the Gulf,” published in 1985, marked the beginning of a comprehensive documentation project based on original documents from British, Ottoman, and French archives. Over the years, his works expanded to include various aspects of Gulf history.
His Highness also wrote his autobiography in a narrative work entitled “Self-Narration,” in a style that combined personal documentation with a national vision. He also brought history to the stage through more than twenty plays that reflected Arab issues and their cultural identity. His writings evolved over time from historical responses to academic and theatrical works, forming, in their entirety, a comprehensive cultural project that brought together the ruler, the historian, and the creative thinker.
During his visit to the library, His Highness viewed a collection of important and valuable historical documents, books, and sources, including the thesis he submitted in 1985 to obtain a PhD in History from the University of Exeter with distinction. The thesis was titled “The Myth of Arab Piracy in the Arabian Gulf between 1797 and 1820.”
At the university’s Northcote building, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Chairman of the Sharjah Council for Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Dr. Lisa Roberts, President of the University of Exeter, signed a cooperation agreement between the Council and the University to implement a leadership training program for higher education institutions. The program, titled “Leadership Compass: Shaping the Future of Responsible Governance in Universities,” is an advanced and ambitious training program for transformational executive education, specifically designed for the Sharjah Council for Higher Education and Scientific Research.
The program’s content is aligned with five main objectives that are consistent with the goals of the Sharjah Council for Higher Education and Scientific Research, namely:
Develop strategic leadership capabilities by equipping university leaders with the skills and vision to lead with courage and clarity in the rapidly changing higher education landscape. Enhance institutional governance by encouraging responsible resource management, transparent decision-making, and aligning operations with the institution’s mission and values. Foster a culture of inclusivity and excellence by supporting the development of inclusive, values-based academic environments that prioritize staff well-being, student success, and the integrity of research. Enhance stakeholder engagement and influence, build the capacity to engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders, and promote the university’s civic, social, and global responsibilities. Encourage reflective and collaborative practice by creating space for peer learning, critical reflection, and inter-institutional dialogue, with the goal of inspiring innovation and shared leadership.
On the sidelines of the signing of the agreement, several areas of cooperation and shared interests in educational and academic affairs were discussed, as well as the results achieved from the cooperation between higher education institutions in the Emirate of Sharjah and the University of Exeter.
The honoring ceremony was attended by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, His Excellency Mansour Belhoul Al Falasi, UAE Ambassador to the United Kingdom; Sheikh Khalid bin Saud Al Qasimi, Deputy Ambassador of the UAE to the United Kingdom; Abdullah Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture; Dr. Khalifa Musabah Al Tunaiji, Chairman of the Department of Agriculture and Animal Resources; Dr. Mansour Mohammed bin Nassar, Chairman of the Sharjah Government Legal Department; Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority; Dr. Muhadditha Al Hashimi, President of the Sharjah Education Academy; and a number of officials from government agencies and higher education institutions in the Emirate of Sharjah.
From the British side, the ceremony was attended by Lord David Fursden, Her Majesty’s Representative in Devon; Councillor Ann Jobson, Lord Mayor of Exeter; Sir Michael Barber, Honorary President of the University of Exeter; Dr. Lisa Roberts, President of the University of Exeter; and a number of University of Exeter officials. A / M
The renowned Egyptian architect speaks to Ahram Online about her design philosophy, projects of excellence and giving back to society.
n 2014, Alexandra-born architect Dalia Sadany made headlines when she became the president of the International Association of Designers (IAD) after ranking 12th at the World Designer competition the same year.
Sadany sat down with Ahram Online to discuss a passion for architecture that paved the way to award-winning projects, her hands-on design philosophy and her intention to shed light on Egypt’s talents in the field.
Ahram Online: How do you describe the onset of your passion for this career?
It was extremely circumstantial, not intended or planned. I just fell in love with it as I was studying it.
AO: Tell us about the balance between visual appeal and practicality?
It is actually the job of the architect, to be able to do that equation. The whole point of being successful in design and architecture is that you can balance the need to have a successfully functional space with something that appeals visually. First comes functionality and then my designs work to mirror it.
If the work is residential, we are talking about mirroring human beings. If it is corporate, we mirror the occupation of that space. If it has to do with retail, we mirror a certain product. In regard to the visual aspect that makes the work appealing, it has to do with taste.
AO: Do you try to maintain an Egyptian cultural element in your creations?
You cannot actually define an Egyptian cultural element because Egypt has so many styles combined. So if we are talking about an Egyptian Identity, then I would say it is my lifetime goal.
I definitely try to maintain that [identity] but with a certain twist; I don’t imitate in regard to anything that we call “Egyptian” or ethnic, but rather give that Egyptian feature a sort of a futuristic aspect.
We do have history that we must be proud of but we cannot keep copying what we have historically; we have to add to it. Abroad they don’t have as much history as we do, so they will always be hungry for designs that have a story, and we have lots of stories to tell.
AO: You are an advocate of the “The master builder” approach; could you explain that?
“The master builder” is responsible for all phases from concept design to handover, like back in the pharaonic age; there was the architect who would design and construct, and he was also a craftsman.
I am not belittling designers who don’t do that; it’s just a different approach. I’m a hands-on person, and I like to work on site, and this approach had been gaining traction worldwide.
Back in the 1800s there came a sort of revolutionary idea to segregate designers from contractors, and since then, people started to look down on contractors. But, all of a sudden the mischief of that approach surfaced, and we saw mega products having problems that went back to the missing link between these two entities. That’s why there was a third entity created to solve these problems: the project manager.
AO: As a multi-award winning designer, which projects from your portfolio are the closest to your heart?
The ones that were done in Egypt, like renovating Tahrir Square, the new educational hub that I did, even El-Hegaz Square, because they come from an emotional experience and are related to certain problems that I see around me.
AO: Tell us more about your ground-breaking recent project on the American University in Cairo Greek campus?
I was somebody who didn’t believe in corporate design. I didn’t think that companies were interested in investing in design, especially in Egypt.
This was proven wrong. I met with the CEO of the company in charge of [building] the intended training facility, and I was taken with the interest in design that was expressed. They told me to design what I feel, and this was music to my ears.
We talked about the idea of creating this educational hub, and investing for IT students, especially for public university graduates, which really touched me.
This hub was like an incubator; through it the graduates and I saw how their lives changed and how they found better opportunities, so I took that project deeply to heart.
When people from abroad complimented the work saying that they couldn’t believe it was made by an Egyptian designer, it made me happy and it made me sad. It saddens me that there is not enough focus on the calibre of designs and creative minds in Egypt.
AO: As president of IAD, you pioneered an initiative to honour and encourage Egyptian designers. Tell us more about that.
As soon as I became president, I wanted to begin drawing international attention to pioneers and landmarks in the field of design. We discussed candidates from 12 fields of design.
I wanted to give back to these names in their country, so we talked the board of IAD into flying down from Milan to honour theses names. We honoured two companies in Egypt.
Everyone really appreciated that they were honoured in their own country. I have won awards all over the world, but it makes all the difference when it is done in ones’ own country.
AO: You have written educational articles about architecture and spoken about inspiring homeowners to build their own houses. Are you still passionate about writing in that regard?
I am still very passionate, but I wish I had more time. Juggling so much becomes tedious and you have to focus, but I will return soon to writing about the field to teach people how to design and build in simple ways.
AO: What are you looking forward to contributing to the society?
A lot. Sometimes when we try to help we get setbacks, but you stand back again and you try. I want to make this country worth its reputation and history. It is a beautiful country and although I studied, lived and worked abroad, something irreplaceable makes me very attached to my homeland.
AO: Amid the economic crisis prevailing now, how is an interior designer affected?
Difficulty purchasing anything! We cannot provide bills of quantity, as prices fluctuate crazily, especially lacking an entity that would filter prices or help maintain a ceiling. This has done huge damage to designers and architects; many have stopped working.
AO: What obstacles must be removed to pave the road for more creation and art in that regard?
The main obstacle would be removed if the [project creators] in this country really believed in the minds of [Egyptian] designers. It saddens me that whenever there is a mega project, they would prefer to get a foreign designer.
Also we have to expand horizontally: no point in getting more designers to work if we don’t have land and projects for them.
The five aerospace excellence centers will specialize in engineering, tubing systems, complex mechanical components, composite structures, and raw materials processing – strengthening Morocco’s aviation manufacturing capabilities.
Moroccan asset management firm Alphavest Capital and aircraft manufacturer Boeing have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on creating five aerospace excellence centers in Morocco.
The agreement, announced on Friday, aims to strengthen the North African country’s position in the global aerospace industry. According to the MoU terms, the two companies will work together to develop logistics capabilities and establish specialized centers in five key areas.
The five aerospace excellence centers will focus on engineering; tubes, ducts, hoses and fittings; complex mechanical parts and sheet metal activities; secondary structures, particularly composite parts; and metal and raw materials processing and distribution.
Majid Benmlih, President and CEO of Alphavest Capital, stressed the significance of the partnership. “This historic agreement with Boeing marks Morocco’s arrival on the global aerospace scene, confirming the Kingdom’s position as an aerospace destination offering the best value for money, particularly in terms of risk, quality, cost and time,” he remarked.
He noted that the agreement builds on years of collaboration between Alphavest Capital and Boeing, notably through the creation and development of TDM Aerospace.
Ihssane Mounir, Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain and Fabrication at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, expressed pride in the partnership. “We are proud to partner with Alphavest Capital to continue developing Moroccan aerospace supply chain capabilities and fostering a highly skilled and high-performing workforce,” he declared.
“This agreement reinforces our commitment to the Kingdom’s vision of positioning Morocco as a key player in the global aerospace industry,” Mounir concluded.
Alphavest Capital is among the thematic and sectoral fund management companies selected by the Mohammed VI Investment Fund to support the aerospace sector.
The company mobilizes Moroccan and international capital in two key transformation areas: Industrial Innovation through the Aerospace Fund (MAIC OPCC), and Technological Disruption via the Tech I Fund “Startup Nation Morocco.”
This Boeing-Alphavest alliance emerges as Morocco’s aerospace sector gains substantial momentum. In a separate development last month, French group Figeac Aéro entered a strategic partnership with Boeing on June 16 during the Paris Air Show, to manufacture machined parts for the 737 Max in Morocco.
Speaking at the same event, Minister of Industry and Commerce Ryad Mezzour revealed that Morocco’s aerospace sector now encompasses 150 companies generating €2.5 billion (approximately $2.5 billion) in annual revenue while employing 26,000 people full-time.
He outlined ambitious growth plans including expansion into cabin fittings and landing gear manufacturing. “Within ten years, we think we can offer a final assembly line for commercial aircraft,” Mezzour projected, expressing confidence in doubling the sector’s turnover by 2030.
He stressed Morocco’s competitive advantage with production costs at €25 per hour compared to €100-120 in Europe or the US, supported by 23,000 engineering graduates annually, of whom 400 enter the aerospace field.
According to recent data from the Exchange Office, Morocco’s aerospace sector exports exceeded MAD 9.5 billion (approximately $950 million) by the end of April, marking a 14% increase compared to the same period last year.
Additionally, Royal Air Maroc (RAM) is reportedly preparing a major aircraft order from Boeing, potentially including about two dozen 787 long-haul aircraft and up to 50 737 medium-haul planes, deepening the strategic aerospace relationship between Rabat and the American manufacturer.
A research team from the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has been granted a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the design of an advanced system of transformable smart robots specifically designed to inspect and maintain subsurface pipes using swarm technology.
The team included Dr. Fadi Al-Najjar, a specialist in human-centered artificial intelligence and neurorobotics; Dr. Walid Ahmed, an expert in additive manufacturing and mechanical engineering; Amjad Al-Hassan, a master’s student and research assistant in mechanical engineering; and technical engineer Muthanna Ahmed Aziz.
The system relies on a group of small robots capable of coordinating with each other using a mechanism inspired by the behavior of ants and bees. Tasks are distributed automatically, and the robots react in real time to environmental challenges.
enhancing inspection and maintenance efficiency and reducing the need for human intervention or external excavation.
Dr. Fadi Al-Najjar explained that smart robots were developed to operate within an interconnected group structure that communicates with each other and adapts to complex environments, representing a qualitative leap in pipeline network management and maintenance technologies, especially in challenging environments.
He pointed out that this system will contribute to reducing operational costs, limiting breakdowns, and reducing pollution rates resulting from leaks, in addition to extending the life of vital infrastructure.
He emphasized that this innovation reflects UAEU’s support for applied scientific research and represents a qualitative scientific advance that strengthens its role as a leading center in the fields of artificial intelligence, robotics, and sustainable engineering. He noted that the team aspires to continue developing new innovations that support sustainability and serve the knowledge economy.
The meeting highlighted the Kingdom’s $10 million commitment over five years to strengthen early warning systems.
Saudi Arabia’s international efforts to combat sand and dust storms were commended this week during a high-level meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
The meeting highlighted the Kingdom’s $10 million commitment over five years to strengthen early warning systems and support countries vulnerable to dust storm impacts.
The initiative, led by Saudi Arabia in cooperation with regional centers affiliated with the World Meteorological Organization, was praised for enhancing forecasting and response capabilities.
Jumaan bin Saad Al-Qahtani, deputy CEO of the National Center of Meteorology, emphasized the Kingdom’s work through Vision 2030 programs such as the Saudi and Middle East Green Initiatives.
He also noted the establishment of the Regional Center for Dust and Sand Storms in Jeddah as a strategic hub for regional coordination, data exchange, and capacity building.
Saudi Arabia has hosted major research events, including the First International Conference on Dust and Sand Storms in Riyadh, and plans to hold a second edition in 2026.
Its environmental efforts have resulted in planting over 142 million trees and reclaiming more than 436,000 hectares of degraded land.
Al-Qahtani reaffirmed the Kingdom’s readiness to expand international partnerships to reduce dust sources, protect the environment, and improve resilience against climate change, SPA added.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
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Saudi Arabia’s international efforts to combat sand and dust storms were commended this week during a high-level meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York. (SPA)
Since 1924, UChicago’s Epigraphic Survey has recorded history carved into walls of Luxor’s tombs and temples.
Each October, an expedition from the University of Chicago’s Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC) returns to Chicago House, their headquarters in Luxor, Egypt. Known as the Epigraphic Survey, the team spends six months a year painstakingly recording the ancient hieroglyphs and reliefs inscribed on the walls of Egypt’s monuments—a project that has operated continuously for 100 years.
In 1924, the Epigraphic Survey was founded by James Henry Breasted, a famed Egyptologist and founder of ISAC (then the Oriental Institute). Breasted pioneered a technique, now known as the Chicago House Method, to record the historic texts carved into temples and tombs without damaging them. Refined over a century, the process blends photography, illustration and careful eyes to create a facsimile—an exact copy.
“The walls of those monuments are covered with incredibly important economic, religious and historical documents. These are real records of what was going on in Egypt 3,000 years ago,” said Egyptologist Emily Teeter, co-curator of ISAC’s current special exhibition “Chicago on the Nile: 100 years of the Epigraphic Survey in Egypt.” “But the problem is that these records are rapidly perishing through 3,000-years-plus of erosion, groundwater, vandalism and the pressures of tourism.”
Increasingly, the Epigraphic Survey’s mission has expanded to include not just documentation, but also conservation, training and site management to preserve Egypt’s ancient history before it disappears forever.
The Chicago House Method
The modern city of Luxor, known in the ancient world as Thebes, has one of the largest concentrations of ancient monuments in Egypt. This includes the site of Medinet Habu, a massive walled temple complex mainly built by pharaoh Ramesses III over 3,000 years ago.
When Breasted first visited Egypt in the early 20th century, he saw the potential of a new, developing technology to record the vast number of hieroglyphs and decorative reliefs: photography. However, Breasted quickly realized the camera’s limitations.
“When you take a photograph of the wall surface, it sees everything,” said J. Brett McClain, field director of the Epigraphic Survey, who first joined the Survey as a graduate student in 1998. “It sees the details that you want to see, but it also sees a lot of information that you may not want to see.”
Photos show damage, discoloration, and encrustation, making images harder for scholars to interpret. In response, Breasted came up with a new technique—one that combines photography with illustration.
This technique, known as the Chicago House Method, begins with an enlarged photo of a wall section. An artist, trained in scientific illustration, then traces the photographic print with pencil while looking at the original wall. Back in the studio, the lines are redrawn with ink. Then the photograph is bleached away to leave behind a perfect illustrated replica. To maintain the highest level of accuracy, two Egyptologists independently review the drawing in a process known as collation.
“By combining the three skill sets of a variety of different people throughout the process, we create a record of the wall that is more accurate than any one person or any one technique by itself could create,” McClain said.
Today, digital tools augment Breasted’s large-format camera and the artist’s ink pen, but the underlying approach has remained virtually the same for a century. New technologies have also made it easier to make the Survey’s work accessible to all.
“Everything that we publish is simultaneously published in hardcopy, but also available as a free PDF. And this is really our way of making sure that our very important work is disseminated throughout the world,” Teeter said.
Preserving for the future
For the past several decades, environmental change has accelerated the threats to the ancient monuments at Luxor. As agricultural areas have expanded, salt from the rising groundwater level has eaten away at the stones.
“The soft stone that enabled them to carve these spectacular reliefs and monuments also is what makes them vulnerable to erosion and destruction over time,” said ISAC’s director, Prof. Timothy P. Harrison. “So, an increasingly active part of the Epigraphic Survey’s mission has been not just documentation, but also the actual conservation and preservation of these monuments.”
Since the 1990s, with the help of grant funding and in partnership with the Egyptian government, the Survey has cleaned, conserved and even rebuilt monuments.
For example, the team completely dismantled and rebuilt three ceremonial gates at Medinet Habu that were on the verge of collapse. Each large stone block was carefully removed by stoneworkers so it could receive conservation treatment. A new foundation was poured, and the stones were carefully put back in place.
Salt and erosion also continue to eat away at the inscriptions on these monuments—records of the past that will eventually be illegible. The mission of the Survey is to create documentation so precise that it can stand in place of the original texts.
“We may not be able to—this is sad to say—save the actual monument,” Teeter said. “But at least we’ll be able to know what the Egyptians were telling us.”
For the past century, the Epigraphic Survey has documented thousands of inscriptions, but the work is far from complete; at least half of all known ancient Egyptian texts remain insufficiently documented and published. With the assistance of new technology like powerful databases and analytic tools, the survey’s vast data can be compiled together in new ways Harrison calls “a game changer.”
“We know that our records are going to preserve this information for the future,” McClain said. “And that is something incredibly motivating to be a part of.”
Chicago House in Luxor, Egypt ca. 1932, shortly after its construction on the east bank of the Nile River. The facility still serves as the headquarters of the Epigraphic Survey.Photo courtesy of the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures
The Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) announced the top three winners of the 4th Katara Prize for Arabic Poetry – Mothers of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with them), focused on Umm Salama Hind bint Abi Umayya Al Makhzumiyya (may Allah be pleased with her).
Ibrahim Mohammed Abdullah Al Sayyid from Egypt won first place, Radwan Sultan Hamoud Ali from Yemen claimed second place, and Bakr Mousa Haroun Othman from Nigeria took third place.
The fourth edition received approximately 304 entries from 20 Arab and international countries.
The Katara Prize for Arabic Poetry aims to honor the legacy of the house of the Prophet, especially the Mothers of the Believers (may Allah be pleased with them), and instill it in the memory of current and future generations.
It also helps create a contemporary poetic anthology highlighting their virtues and historical contributions, as well as their impact on the course of Islamic dawah and on shaping the role of women in society.
The total prize value of the Katara Prize for Arabic Poetry – Mothers of the Believers is QR120,000. First place receives QR60,000, second place receives QR40,00, and third place receives QR20,000.
Katara Publishing House has begun releasing critical studies of the winning poems from each edition of the Prize.
The previous editions focused on Khadija bint Khuwaylid, Aisha bint Abi Bakr Al Siddiq, and Hafsa bint Umar (may Allah be pleased with them).
