As said before, when delving into a colorful history of any culture, you never know what will be unearthed. This fabulous necklace was found in the tomb of King Tut who reigned in the 18th Dynasty, 1334-1325 BC. The recurring theme in this design is the rising sun-god. The lapis lazuli scarab represents the sun-god, khepri. Scarab … [Read more...] about Dung Balls and Sun Gods
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE PHARAOH’S BLING CAPTIVATES FOR NEW PROJECT Well, it has happened again. I have been captivated by bling. This time however, it is not Rembrandt’s bling, or the Dutch Masters’ bling. It’s the bling of the Pharaoh. For the past many months, I have been dreaming, imagining, planning, and laboring side-by-side with the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt. … [Read more...] about FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Eye of Horus
A special thank you to Maria Wilson, a fellow traveler, who contributed the story of this beautiful painting done on papyrus. On the left is the god Horus. This falcon headed god is the son of Osiris, the lord of the underworld and god of the dead. Horus is the most important god for Pharaoh because pharaoh is the living incarnation of Horus on … [Read more...] about The Eye of Horus
Ready for the Novel!
After three days or so, remove the papyrus sheet from the press, and it is ready for that artwork, letter, or even doing your taxes! You can see how beautiful and transparent the papyrus sheet is when held up to the light. In ancient times, several sheets were joined end to end to form a roll. These … [Read more...] about Ready for the Novel!
Pressing Papyrus
The wet sheet is then placed between two sheets of absorbent material (the blue fabric) and placed in the press. The young man demonstrating cranked hard on the handles to really get a good pressing. It must remain here for at least 72 hours for all the liquid to release. Photo: Courtesy Phil Kolman … [Read more...] about Pressing Papyrus
Papyrus Weavings
Before you begin to lay the strips out, they must be rolled flat with the rolling pin. This will remove most of the excess water. In this partially woven sheet you can easily see how the strips are placed one after the other to form a durable sheet. Any size is possible if you have long reeds and sufficient tools. The piece is surprisingly … [Read more...] about Papyrus Weavings