Events
Amheida is a vast archaeological site on the western edge of Dakhla Oasis in Egypt. A team of researchers led by Dr. Roger Bagnall, Director of the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at NYU, began the Amheida Project in 2001 with an intensive investigation and survey of the site.
One of the most spectacular discoveries, near the centre of the town in Area 2, is the house of Serenus, who was part of the city council in the middle of the 4th century. The structure contains fifteen rooms, one of which was painted with classical wall scenes. On the northern wall, to the left of the doorway, a mythological scene depicts the legend of Perseus rescuing the beautiful Andromeda who is about to be devoured by a sea-monster, while to the right of the door is the Homeric scene of the Return of Odysseus to Ithaca, from his long voyage which brought him to Egyptian shores.
The site at Amheida will be part of a long-term scheme for the Dakhla Oasis Project. Please join us for a presentation and discussion on Amheida and its archaeological significance.
Exhibitions
Wine, Worship, and Sacrifice: The Golden Graves of Ancient Vani, the inaugural exhibition at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at New York University, features spectacular finds from four graves excavated at Vani, a major administrative and religious center of ancient Colchis (present-day Republic of Georgia) and the setting for the myth of Jason and the Golden Fleece. More than 100 objects from these graves, which date from the fifth and fourth centuries B.C., are on display and include an impressive array of locally produced jewelry as well as imported goods from its Greek and Persian neighbors. Together, these objects create a clear picture of Vani as a crossroads city, providing compelling testimony to the complex interrelations that occurred in this region throughout its rich history.
Click here for exhibition highlights, conference information, and directions.
Please see recent reviews of the exhibition's accompanying catalogue: Bryn Mawr Classical Review
The exhibition is currently on an international tour organized by ISAW.
The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, England October 2, 2008 - January 4, 2009.
The Benaki Museum, Athens, Greece January 19, 2009 - April 6, 2009
The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles California, USA July 16 - October 5, 2009
Please note, the dates are subject to change without notice. For more information on the venues please click on the link and you will be navigated to the exhibiting museum's website.