Introduction to Egyptian Hieroglyphs

EG907-2A
June 29-July 10, 2009
M-F, 12:45-3:35 PM
302 Wilbour Hall

Instructor: Erin Fairburn
Dept. of Egyptology and Ancient Western Asian Studies
303 Wilbour Hall
erin_fairburn@brown.edu

Course website: http://proteus.brown.edu/fairburn/6024


Course Requirements:

Daily attendance is a must, as we will be moving quickly through the course material. Class
participation is also a must. We will do in-class examples and have discussions of the
material I want to know what you think, so speak up! Daily homework assignments must
be completed and turned in at the beginning of the next class. We will have several quizzes.
You will work in a group to lead discussion on an aspect of Egyptian literature. Finally, you
will be required to write a 5-8 page paper on a topic of your choosing and have the option
to give a short (app. 10 min.) presentation on your paper topic on the final day of class.

Grading breakdown:

Attendance: 5%
Participation: 5%
Homework: 20%
Quizzes: 20%
Group project: 20%
Paper/presentation: 30%

Course Materials:

The Brown Bookstore has ordered Middle Egyptian Grammar by James Hoch. All other
assigned readings I will provide as pdfs on the course website, and some I will additionally
hand out as photocopies in class.

Schedule:

Week 1:

June 29
History of the Egyptian Language; Sign Types and Transliteration

HOMEWORK: start memorizing alphabet; start memorizing vocab for lessons 1-3;
read Hoch lessons 1 through 3 to pg. 29 (section 19 only).

June 30
Review transliteration; nouns

HOMEWORK: start memorizing biliterals; read Hoch lesson 3 through pg. 34 (section
24); do pg. 26 Ex. IIb 1-5, and pg. 43 Ex. IIIb 1 and 7.

July 1
Quiz on alphabet; adjectives; non-verbal sentences

HOMEWORK: start memorizing triliterals; read rest of Hoch lesson 3 and lesson 4 to
pg. 48 (section 38); lesson 4 vocab; do pg. 43 Ex. IIb 2-5; read stories: The
Shipwrecked Sailor, Papyrus Westcar (Three Tales of Wonder), Tale of Sinhue.

July 2
Introduction to verbs; Discussion: Stories
Meet with me to discuss paper topics

HOMEWORK: read rest of Hoch lesson 4 and all of lesson 5; lesson 5 vocab;
dictionary exercise; sign list exercise; read The Instructions of Ptahhotep and the
Instructions of Amenemhat I.

July 3:
Quiz on biliterals and vocab; independent and dependent pronouns; infinitives;
dating formulae; Discussion: Wisdom Literature
HOMEWORK: read Hoch lesson 6; lesson 6 vocab; do pg. 56-7 Ex. IVb 1-3 and pg. 72
Ex. Vb 1-3; start on the Canal Inscription (at least lines 1-4); read Autobiographies of
Weni and Harkhuf, Annals of Thutmose III and the Israel Stela.




Week 2:

July 6
Progressive action; future tense; Canal Inscription; Discussion: Historical Texts

HOMEWORK: Read Hoch lesson 7; lesson 7 vocab; do pg. 85 Ex. VIb 1-5; finish Canal
Inscription; read Cannibal Hymn, Memphite Theology, BD Chapter 125.
July 7
Stative; Canal Inscription; Discussion: Religious Texts

HOMEWORK: Read Hoch lesson 8; lesson 8 vocab; do pg. 113 Ex. VIIIa lines 1-3; read
Hymn to Sesostris III, Harpers Songs, Great Hymn to the Aten, Love Poems.

July 8
Past tense; existential sentences; Discussion: Poetry and Hymns

HOMEWORK: Read Hoch lesson 9; lesson 9 vocab; do pg. 113-4 Ex. VIIIa, lines 4-6;
read Heqanakht Papyri, Semna Dispatches, Letters to the Dead.

July 9
End of term quiz; Negatives; non-literary texts; Discussion: Letters

HOMEWORK: Finish your papers

July 10
Presentations; papers due
End of class party!