Divine Mortals: Royal Ancestor Worship in Deir el-Medina

Speaker: Yasmin El Shazly, Deputy Director for Research and Programs, American Research Center in Egypt

The Egyptian craftsmen and artists who created and decorated royal tombs during the New Kingdom period (ca. 1550–1070 BCE) lived in Deir el-Medina. Today, this well-preserved village is a key source of information about the daily lives, artistic practices, and religious traditions of ancient Egyptians.

Yasmin El Shazly discusses the importance of ancestor worship in Deir el-Medina—particularly of Amenhotep I and his mother Ahmose-Nefertari. Prominently featured in homes, artwork, and tombs, these two royal figures held important positions in the Egyptian “hierarchy of being” and exerted great influence over the daily lives of Deir el-Medina residents.

About the Speaker

Dr. Yasmin El Shazly is Deputy Director for Research and Programs at the American Research Center in Egypt. She previously held the position of General Supervisor of the Department of International Organizations of Cultural Heritage and International Cooperation (2016–2018) and Assistant to the Minister for Museum Affairs (2015–2016) at the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities (now the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities). She was also head of the Registration, Collections Management, and Documentation Department at the Egyptian Museum, Cairo (2009–2016) and a member of the Museum’s Board of Directors (2010–2013). Dr. El Shazly is currently a member of several boards, including ICOM Egypt (Vice Chair), Interdisciplinary Egyptology and Kitab (Editorial Board Member). She has taught courses at the American University in Cairo, Cairo University, and AMIDEAST. Dr. El Shazly earned her BA from the American University in Cairo and her MA and PhD from Johns Hopkins University. Her PhD dissertation, entitled Royal Ancestor Worship in Deir el-Medina during the New Kingdom, was published by Abercromby Press in 2015. She has published several academic papers and has appeared in numerous documentaries, the last of which was PBS’s Tutankhamun: Allies and Enemies.