 | A Dance of Ancient Egypt This video clip is a fragment of a larger work. It was created after three years of research in the British Museum, London, and has been performed countless times including at the request of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts in their Egyptian Gallery. We were also the dancers for the tour of Tutankhamen's funerary treasures at the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco. The other dancer in this clip, Mimi, went on to perform at the Temple of Karnak by invitation of the Egyptian Government, Department of Antiquities. It is not in any way meant to be a re-creation or interpretation of the dance of ancient Egypt; it is strictly a tableau of poses found in the art & artifacts, the beliefs, ceremonies, and symbolism of their sacred texts. There is no longer any surviving dance or music from that age due to the many ruling regimes of the Nubians, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and Muslims. Unfortunately, one can only speculate how their dance and music might have looked or sounded. The dance depicts the soul or Ba -- the ethereal, eternal part of man revisiting the tomb, and symbolic of one of the aspects of an individual that continues after death. The Ba is depicted as a human headed bird called the Bennu, and the dance contains some of the following images: a Bennu bird coming through the false door to partake of the offerings; a figure with just wings and legs: Isis standing in the Boat of Millions of Years; Selket guarding a shrine; a winged figure from a Queen's necklace; the Goose of Amun; etc. etc. Our inspiration came from the Papyrus of Ani, Chapter LXXXIII, 'The Chapter of Changing into a Bennu'. Regarding the music, the Egyptians used a long-necked stringed instrument which was plucked, resembling the samisen of Japan. There were also long vertical flutes, square and round drums or tambors, and gilded wooden harps, sometimes accompanied by a type of castanet or just hand clapping. We chose this music (oboe and samisen) as it has the mystical feel of ancient Egypt, to us at least, and we did not want to use modern day Arab music. For inquiries, please visit: thewayofdance.com/prod.htm |
 | Georgian Monastery in Cyprus X-XII A Georgian monastery dating to the 10th century AD has been discovered in the Paphos forest, five kilometers east of the seaside village of Yiala, according to a Department of Antiquities release. As early as 1981, Georgian Professor Vakhtang Jobadze had tracked down ruins of the monastery, mentioned in Georgian sources, but it was not until very recently that a proper archaeological investigation followed. With the blessing of the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church Ilia II, the Georgian Ministry of Culture commissioned an expedition to Cyprus under the leadership of Professor Iulon Gagoshidzwe in October. According to the sources, Georgians served in the monastery from the 10th century and it continued to belong to them until the 14th century. Inscriptions carved on the buttress of the south portico are dated from this century, after which written information disappears. Queen Tamar of Georgia (1184-1210) took a particular interest in the monastery. An area of over 500 square meters has been cleared during the four-week excavation period, revealing the layout of the monastery and its various building phases. The oldest building of the monastery is a three-aisle domed church, which must have been built in the 10th century and was dedicated to the Virgin. Later, apparently at the end of the 11th century or at the beginning of the 12th century, a minor church was attached, to the north. |
 | Al Ain Palace Museum Al Ain Palace Museum is located on the edge of the Al Ain oasis from the west, on the road leading to Sunaya. It tells the past of a man who managed to change the dream to a reality and managed to establish a modern state in a short time. Originally, it was a palace belonging to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan when he was the Ruler's Representative in the Eastern Region. The earliest building in the palace goes back to 1937. Some more buildings were added to the original palace when the late Sheikh Zayed decided to live in it. The private Department that was in charge of this museum also added new architectural elements based on the local tradition. A decision was taken by H.H Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi making the department of Antiquities and Torisim responsible of this museum. |
 | Trace of the Georgian monks on Cyprus Medieval Georgian monastery discovered in Cyprus' Paphos forest A Georgian monastery dating to the 10th century AD has been discovered in the Paphos forest, five kilometers east of the seaside village of Yiala, according to a Department of Antiquities release. As early as 1981, Georgian Professor Vakhtang Jobadze had tracked down ruins of the monastery, mentioned in Georgian sources, but it was not until very recently that a proper archaeological investigation followed. With the blessing of the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church Ilia II, the Georgian Ministry of Culture commissioned an expedition to Cyprus under the leadership of Professor Iulon Gagoshidzwe in October. According to the sources, Georgians served in the monastery from the 10th century and it continued to belong to them until the 14th century. Inscriptions carved on the buttress of the south portico are dated from this century, after which written information disappears. Queen Tamar of Georgia (1184-1210) took a particular interest in the monastery. An area of over 500 square meters has been cleared during the four-week excavation period, revealing the layout of the monastery and its various building phases. The oldest building of the monastery is a three-aisle domed church, which must have been built in the 10th century and was dedicated to the Virgin. Later, apparently at the end of the 11th century or at the beginning of the 12th century, a minor church was attached, to the north. |
 | Jerash Hinterland Survey Recording the sites that lie outside the protected city of Gerasa (Jerash) A Scottish Team led by Prof David Kennedy are helping the local Department of Antiquities to map the sites and protect them from development. |
 | Mystery of the Missing Mummy - episode 4 A package arrives at the Department of Egyptian Antiquities |
 | The Matang Historical Complex The Matang Historical Complex is Located At Matang (Fromerly Known As Permatang), in vicinity of Gantang Hill,perak. It was built by Ngah Ibrahim, who carried the title Orang kaya Menteri Paduka Tuan. He was the son of Che long Jaafar, the first Malay who opened tin mines in the Larut, Matang and Selama areas in 1840, This complex also doubled as a home, fort and administrative center and covers an area of 0.8094 hectares. This building was constructed using only rock-based materials. After Ngah Ibrahim's death in Singapore on February 4,1895,the building was put under the english administration until it wasconverted into the Matang Malay Teaching College (1913-1922). After teaching collage, it was used as Malay School (1923-1941). During the Japanese occupation in the Malay States ( 1942-1945), it functioned as the Japaese Army's headquarters. After Japan surrendered and the Would War II ended in 1946,it was transformed into a malay School (1946-1983). The fort was converted into the Matang Historical Complex Beginning in 1986 and was hahded over to the Department of Museums and Antiquities Log on to: www.VirtualMalaysia.com/vmtv |
 | International Reporting Project Gatekeepers Visit Egypt Twice a year the International Reporting Project (IRP) awards up to 12 U.S. "gatekeeper" editors fellowships to travel as a group on an intensive fact-finding visit to a single important but somewhat under covered country in the news. Since 2000, visits for Gatekeepers have been organized to Indonesia, Brazil, South Africa, Lebanon/Syria, India, Egypt, Nigeria and Korea. The 2006 Gatekeepers traveled to Egypt for a visit characterized by news-making events such as street protests and the arrests of political opponents. Gatekeepers met with a wide variety of Egyptians including Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, the head of Egypt's antiquities department and with several leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood. For more information about the IRP Gatekeepers trip please visit: www.internationalreportingproject.org |
 | Perak Museum A town steep in history, Taiping is also home to the oldest museum in Peninsular Malaysia. Located a mere 3 kilomteres away from the town of Taiping and opposite the equally historic Taiping Prison, Perak Museum is perhaps the best destination for those who wish to learn more on the history of Perak and its relevance to the present and future. Built in 1883 and opened to the public in 1886, the museum was the brainchild of Leonard Wray Junior; botanist, geologist, chief officer for Larut Garden and the museum's first curator. Under the appointment of Sir Hugh Low, the third British Resident of Perak, Leonard started the museum with four galleries, a library and an administrative section, which had a curator, a taxidermist, a clerk and a caretaker. It was in these four galleries that Leonard displayed zoological, archaeological, ethnological and herbarium materials, much of it recorded and collected by himself. Less known but equally significant, the museum's library is also the first library in Malaysia. From its inception, the museum library had provided invaluable reference books, periodicals, government gazettes and other materials on history, anthropology, archaeology, culture, science and nature to researchers. Much of these books were in English and the British officials in Perak donated most of it. Today, the library's collection is over 6,000 and a few of them are considered quite rare and priceless. At present, the Department of Museums and Antiquities has taken over the Perak Museum into its fold and it is also under the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism. Much of the museum's earlier collection still remains on display. To date, the total accumulated collections is 8,474 , consisting of 5,074 cultural collections, 523 nature collections and 2,877 miscellaneous collections that includes archaeological items. At the museum, visitors will find interesting and rare collections such as stuffed animals and skeletons that are well over a hundred years old. The dominating sight as one enters the museum is the throne of the late Sultan of Perak. Well maintained and informative, the museum is an impressive collection of zoology, pre-history, economy and ethnology that reflect Perak's rich historical heritage. Visiting hours are between 9am and 5pm, including holidays, except on the eve of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidilada. Admission is free. Log on to: www.VirtualMalaysia.com/vmtv |
 | Museum Pergamon, Zeus Altar 1 (2008, Berlin) The star of the Classical Antiquities department is the Zeus Altar (180-160 BC), which is so large that it has a huge room all to itself. The frieze took over 20 years to reassemble from thousands of fragments uncovered in modern-day Bergama, Turkey. Steps lead from the museum floor up to the colonnade. Most fascinating is the frieze around the base, which depicts the struggle of the Olympian gods against the Titans. It is strikingly life-like, with figures that project as much as a foot from the background. |
 | Museum Pergamon, Zeus Altar 2 (2008, Berlin) The star of the Classical Antiquities department is the Zeus Altar (180-160 BC), which is so large that it has a huge room all to itself. The frieze took over 20 years to reassemble from thousands of fragments uncovered in modern-day Bergama, Turkey. Steps lead from the museum floor up to the colonnade. Most fascinating is the frieze around the base, which depicts the struggle of the Olympian gods against the Titans. It is strikingly life-like, with figures that project as much as a foot from the background. |
 | Dr. Charles Finch-Ancient Africa Pt 1 PLAYLIST ADDED.CHECK PROFILE PAGE. From Laura Lee Radio http://www.lauralee.com/ First aired 10/3/98. Evidence that early map-making, astronomy, calendars, navigation and architecture originated in Africa. Charles S. Finch, III, MD - recently retired as Director of International Health at the Morehouse School of Medicine. He is a 1971 graduate of Yale University and a 1976 graduate of Jefferson Medical College. He completed a family medicine residency at the University of California Irvine Medical Center in 1979. Dr. Finch joined the Department of Family Medicine at the Morehouse School of Medicine in 1982 and then the Office of International Health in 1989,eventually becoming the principal investigator of a traditional healer survey among the Serer people of Senegal,1991-1992. Dr. Finch has conducted independent studies in African antiquities, comparative religion,anthropology, and ancient science since 1971. Since 1982, he has published more than a dozen articles and a collection of Dr. Finch's essays, The African Background to Medical Science, was published by Karnak House ( London) in November, 1990. His Echoes of the Old Dark Land (August, 1991) was published by Khenti Inc. (Decatur) and his most recent book, The Star of Deep Beginnings: Genesis of African Science & Technology, was published in February, 1998. Dr. Finch has lectured more than 800 times in the U.S., Senegal, England, Switzerland,Guatemala,Jamaica,Trinidad, the Bahamas, and Egypt on diverse topics and has led seven study tours to Egypt since 1989 and traveled to Africa 60 times. Additionally, He was a co-organizer of Coumba Lamba USA, an 8-day African healing ceremony on St. Helena Island, South Carolina in 1996. For more of his books and lectures go to http://www.afrikandjeli.net/Finch.html http://www.houseofnubian.com http://www.blackconsciousness.com |
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