Queens of Ancient Egypt: Women on the Throne of the Pharaohs
Presented by Dr. Mamdouh Eldamaty
Professor of Egyptology, Archaeology Department
Ain Shams University
Friday, October 2 at 5:00 p.m. VIA ZOOM

AAFSW, in collaboration with the Egyptian Embassy and Welcome to Washington, cordially invites you to our first program of the season: a fascinating presentation, “Queens of Ancient Egypt: Women on the Throne of the Pharaohs,” presented by the Former Minister of Antiquities, Dr. Mamdouh Eldamaty, on Friday, October 2 at 5:00 p.m.

The ancient Egyptian civilization was distinguished from the rest of the world’s civilizations by its diverse scientific, artistic, literary, social and political manifestations. Egyptian women enjoyed a distinguished position that was not enjoyed by women in other societies and human civilizations in the ancient world.

The rulers of ancient Egypt were almost all men. However 22 women through the history of Egypt held sway over Egypt, including Hatshepsut, Nefertiti, Cleopatra VII and Shajr al-Dur, who are still remembered today. Other females ruled as well, although the historical record for some of them is scant at best. Some went to great lengths to strengthen their claim to the throne, and they all played significant parts in ancient Egyptian history.

Regarding this issue, Dr. Eldamaty wrote an Arabic book which deals with some of the biographies of Egyptian women and their status in ancient Egypt from the Pharaonic period through the Ptolemaic time until the reign of the great Sultana Shajr al-Dur at the end of the Ayyubid era and the beginning of the Mamluk era.

If you would like to participate in this presentation, please send your name and email address to office@aafsw.org.

Sheila Switzer
AAFSW Program Chair

Curriculum Vitae of Dr. Mamdouh Mohamed ELDAMATY

Current Position:
Professor of Egyptology in the dep. of Archaeology, faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University

Awards and Honors:
Legion of Honor “Cavalier” from the Italian Government (Oct. 10. 2004).
State Award for Excellence in Social Sciences (Jun. 21. 2010)
Gold Medal of Charles University in Prague (Jun. 22. 2015)

Study and Degrees:
Bachelor of Art (Egyptology), from the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University, in May 1983.

M. A. in Egyptology, from the Faculty of Archaeology, Cairo University, in April 1989.

Doctor of philosophy (Egyptology), from Trier University (Germany), in June 1995.

Academic Positions held:
Jan. 09. 1996 – Aug. 05. 1998
Lecturer of Egyptology in the Guiding dep., faculty of Tourism and Hotels, Cairo University, Fayiom branch.

Aug. 06. 1998- Feb. 03. 2001
Lecturer of Egyptology in the dep. of Archaeology, faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University.

Feb. 04. 2001 to Aug. 21. 2006
Associate-Professor of Egyptology in the dep. of Archaeology, faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University

Aug. 21. 2006 to date
Professor of Egyptology in the dep. of Archaeology, faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University

Sep. 12. 2006 – Sep. 12. 2009 Chairman of the department of Archaeology in the faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University

Oct. 15. 2008 – Oct. 13. 2009 Director of Centre for Research, Counseling and Training, Faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University

Mar. 22. 2009 – Nov. 15. 2009 Director of Open Learning Center, Ain Shams University.

Sep. 13.2009 – May 14. 2011 Dean of the faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University.

Non-academic Positions held:

1985-1987 Assistant Curator in the Cairo museum.

1988-1989 and from October to December 1995
Curator in the museum of the faculty of archaeology, Cairo University.

Feb. 01. 2001 – Jan. 31. 2004
Director General of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and Supervisor of the abroad exhibitions in SCA.

May. 15.2011 – Jun. 16. 2014 Cultural Counsellor and Director of the Office of Educational Mission in the Embassy of Egypt in Germany, and supervisor of the Educational mission in the Netherlands, Poland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway.

Jun. 17. 2014 – Mar. 23. 2016 Minister of Antiquities

International organizations:

International Committee of Arabic Museums (ICOM-Arab). Vice President of ICOM-Arab (Sep. 2001 – Oct. 2003).
President of ICOM-Arab (Oct. 2003 – 2004).

Membership and other professional activities:

International Association of Egyptologists.
Arab Archaeologists Association.
Egyptian Society for historical studies.
The German Archaeological Institute (DAI).
The team in charge of the establishment of the Egypt Archaeological Map.
Board of Directors of the antiquities Museum of the library of Alexandria (Bibliotheca Alexandrina).
Egyptological team in charge of the organization of the exhibits of the New Museum of Egyptian antiquities to be built in Giza (from Sep.1999 to 31.01.2004).
Board of Directors of Cairo Museum (from 01.02.2001 to 31.01.2004).
Board of Directors of permanent committee in SCA. (From 01.02.2001 to 31.01.2004).
Board of Directors of Museums sector in SCA. (From 01.02.2001 to 31.01.2004).
Board of Directors of the General Authority of the National Library and National Archives (since February 2017).

Published 36 Books and scientific articles