2026 FALL LECTURES
Marie-Lys Arnette
Johns Hopkins University
Alexander Badawy Chair in Egyptian Art and Archaeology
Studying & Publishing Theban Tomb n°7:
(A) Tomb of the Scribe Ramose at Deir el-
Medina
Marie-Lys Arnette studied at the École du Louvre (History of Art and Museology) and at
the University of Paris-Sorbonne (Egyptology). After completing her PhD, she served as
Director of Publications and then as Scientific Member at the Institut français
d’archéologie orientale (Ifao, Cairo). Before joining Johns Hopkins University, she
taught Egyptian art history, archaeology, and Middle Egyptian language at the École du
Louvre (France), the University Lumière Lyon 2 (France), and the University of Fribourg
(Switzerland).
She is a member of the Archaeological Mission at the Precinct of the Goddess Mut in
South Karnak (JHU/Liverpool University) and of the Mission for the Study and
Restoration of Deir el-Medina (Ifao).
Her research falls within the field of historical anthropology, approached through cultural
history, with particular interests in perceptions of the body and emotions, food practices,
funerary imagery, and, more recently, ludic practices. Across diverse topics, her work
consistently combines Egyptian textual sources, iconography, and material culture within
a long-term perspective. Her research is characterized by a sustained engagement with
interdisciplinary approaches drawn from the humanities and social sciences, a perspective
that is also central to her teaching.
Ramose served first as “Scribe of the Place of Truth” and later as “Royal Scribe” at Deir
el-Medina during the reign of Ramesses II. A prominent member of the community,
closely connected to the royal administration, he was probably the wealthiest inhabitant
the village ever knew. More than one hundred monuments associated with him have
survived, including statues, stelae, ostraca, and other inscribed objects.
Despite the importance of this individual, his tombs (TT 7 and TT 212) have never been
fully published, probably because of their poor state of preservation. My current research
aims to produce the first comprehensive study and publication of both
monuments. The project is accompanied by a conservation and restoration program for
TT 7, undertaken in preparation for its future opening to the public.
This paper focuses on TT 7. It will present the project';s main research questions and
methodology, before examining the tomb's architecture and its remarkable decorative
program. TT 7 stands out in several respects. Its paintings are of exceptional quality,
executed by one or more highly accomplished artists working within the refined artistic
tradition that still characterized the early years of Ramesses II's reign. The decoration also
preserves otherwise unattested iconographic details and artistic techniques that are only
rarely encountered elsewhere. The tomb';s decorative programme further testifies to the
importance of the Sokar festival in the Theban region during the Ramesside period.
Finally, it contains religious texts of major significance, including the earliest known
version of the ritual text for the protection of the Neshemet bark.
The paper will also present the conservation and restoration strategy adopted for the
monument, discussing the methodological choices that have guided the intervention in
view of its future accessibility to visitors. By combining archaeological research, art
historical analysis, and the history of religions, the project seeks to provide a new
foundation for the study and long-term preservation of one of the most remarkable
monuments of Ramesside Deir el-Medina.
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Classroom L2, 3:30 PM
Penn Museum
Marie-Lys Arnette
Johns Hopkins University
Alexander Badawy Chair in Egyptian Art and Archaeology
Studying & Publishing Theban Tomb n°7: (A) Tomb of the Scribe Ramose at Deir el-
Medina
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Saturday, October 10, 2026
Anthro 345. 3:30 PM
Penn Museum
Hazem Farrag
Assistant Professor of Egyptology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
When Hieroglyphs Came Alive: Sacred Writing in the Temples of Roman Egypt
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International Archaeology Day 2026!
Saturday, October 17, 2026 (Please note 2nd October date! This is not a mistake)
Penn Museum
Classroom L2, 3:30 PM
Sameh Iskander
Research Associate & Co-Director of the New York University-
Institute for the Study of the Ancient World Expedition to the Temple of Ramses II in
Abydos.
New Insights into the Ancient Landscape of Abydos and the Early Town of
Abydos
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November 2026
No Lecture
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Saturday, December 12, 2026
Annual Winter Party & Movie!
Classroom L2, 4:00 PM
Entrance fees for ARCE-PA In-Person Lectures are:
$10 for the general public
$7 for Penn Museum members/Penn Staff/Penn Faculty
$5 for Students with ID
FREE for ARCE-PA Members, ARCE Members, & children under 12, unless otherwise stated.
All ARCE-PA entry fees will be taken at the door only of the lecture venue at the ARCE-PA table.
Light refreshments will be served starting at 3 pm.
Per the Penn Museum COVID-19 protocols, masks are optional.
If you are interested in joining ARCE or need to renew your membership*, please visit:
https://www.arce.org/membership
*Please do not forget to associate with the "Pennsylvania Chapter" in order to stay up to date with ARCE-PA events.
