The Daily Lives of Ancient Egyptian Artists

Jaroslav Černý (1898–1970) was a distinguished Egyptologist known for his groundbreaking work on the social and cultural history of ancient Egypt, particularly the community of artisans at Deir el-Medina, a village near the Valley of the Kings. His research on ostraca (pottery sherds and limestone flakes bearing written inscriptions) and Theban “graffiti” texts is fundamental for understanding the daily lives, literacy, administration, and religious practices of ancient Egyptian artisans. In this lecture, Hana Navratilova explores Černý’s lifelong research at Deir el-Medina, his groundbreaking studies of texts, artifacts, and the Western Theban landscape, and his indelible mark on twentieth-century Egyptology.