Scholars

Ancient Egyptian history has been studied by numerous prominent scholars throughout the centuries. These individuals have made significant contributions to our understanding of ancient Egypt, its culture, and its people.

II. Early Scholars (19th-20th Centuries)

A. Flinders Petrie (1853-1942)

• British Egyptologist who excavated numerous sites in Egypt, including the tombs at Gurob
• Made significant contributions to the study of ancient Egyptian chronology and typology
• Published over 50 books and papers on Egyptian archaeology

B. Gaston Maspero (1846-1916)

• French Egyptologist who served as director-general of the Antiquities Service in Egypt
• Conducted excavations at Saqqara, Thebes, and other sites
• Authored numerous books and articles on ancient Egyptian history and archaeology

C. James Henry Breasted (1865-1935)

• American Egyptologist who founded the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago
• Led expeditions to Egypt and Nubia, discovering several important archaeological sites
• Published influential works on ancient Egyptian history, including “A History of Egypt” (1908)

III. Mid-Century Scholars (1940s-1970s)

A. Alan Gardiner (1872-1963)

• British Egyptologist who made significant contributions to the study of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics
• Published several volumes on the “Tomb of Khnumhotep at Dahshur”
• Authored a comprehensive dictionary of ancient Egyptian terms, “The Theory of Ancient Egyptian Grammar” (1947)

B. T.E. Peet (1886-1939)

• British Egyptologist who conducted excavations at Thebes and other sites
• Made significant contributions to the study of ancient Egyptian chronology and typology
• Published several volumes on ancient Egyptian archaeology, including “The Tombs of Upper Egypt” (1912)

IV. Contemporary Scholars (1980s-Present)

A. Barry Kemp (1946-2024)

• British Egyptologist who has worked extensively in Egypt and Sudan
• Conducted excavations at Amarna, Thebes, and other sites
• Authored several influential works on ancient Egyptian history and archaeology, including “Ancient Egypt: An Introduction” (2012)

B. Janet Richards (1947-present)

• American Egyptologist who has worked extensively in Egypt and Sudan
• Conducted excavations at Amarna, Thebes, and other sites
• Authored several influential works on ancient Egyptian history and archaeology, including “Amarna: Ancient Egypt’s Greatest Queen” (2019)