Electra Apostola completed her doctoral dissertation in Egyptology at the Department of Mediterranean Studies at the University of the Aegean in 2016 (Research Fellow of Program “HERAKLITOS II: Enhancing Human Research Potential through the Implementation of Doctoral Research”). Since then she has been teaching the following undergraduate courses: Egypt and the Eastern Mediterranean in the Early Iron Age, Egyptian Art, Near Eastern Archaeology, Relations between peoples of the Mediterranean in the Bronze Age.
Since 2019 she has been participating as a research fellow in the Project: Aegyptiaca as indicators of religious and cultural interaction in the Southeastern Mediterranean: The multiple implications of Egyptian and Egyptianizing scarabs in the Aegean (8th-6th century BC) (AEgySca Project), which is co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund- ESF) through the Operational Programme «Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning 2014-2020». Since 2014 she has been participating as a coordinator in the International Program The Aegyptiaca Project (AeP): Ecumene and Economy on the Horizon of Religion (University of the Aegean-University of Bonn).
Her research interests and her publications focus on cultural interconnections in the Near East and the Eastern Mediterranean during the LBA and the Iron Age, Egyptian and Egyptianizing artifacts in Archaic Greece, modes of adaptation and transformation of Egyptian religious motifs and ideas in the Mediterranean.
Selected publications
Αpostola, E. 2019. “Τhe multiple connotations of Pataikos amulets in the Aegean/ Eine gute Präsentation des Materials und Einordnung und Tradition der in der Ägäis gefundenen Patäken-Figürchen.” Studien zur Altägyptischen Kultur 48: 53-66.
Apostola, E. and Kousoulis, P. 2019. “Aegyptiaca in archaic Greece: Preliminary remarks on scarabs and scaraboids from the Sanctuary of Ialysus (Rhodes).” Göttinger Miszellen 258: 9-20.
Apostola, E and Kousoulis, P. 2019. “Εxotic offerings in the archaic Rhodian sanctuaries: A critical synthesis of the Egyptian and Egyptianized votives.” ΑURA 2: 103–16.
Apostola, E. 2018. “Representations of the demon god Bes in East Greece (Samos, Rhodes) during the 7th and 6th centuries BC and their influence on popular religious beliefs: Bes and Greek fat-bellied demons.” Στο G. Vavouranakis, K. Kopanias και C. Kanellopoulos (επιμ.), Popular religion and ritual in the east Mediterranean from the 3rd millennium BC to the 5th century AD: Proceedings of the international conference of the Faculty of History and Archaeology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (10 -11 December 2013). Oxford: Archaeopress: 113-124.
Apostola, E. 2016. “Aegyptiaka in Archaic Greece: Τhe multiple connotations of faience amulets and figurines representing Eygptian deities.” Στο A. Kalaitzaki και A. G. Mavroudis, G. (επιμ.), Meditteranean: Relationships from Prehistoric to the Byzantine period. Proceeding of the 3rd National Student Archaeology Congress of the Department of Mediterranean Studies. Rhodes: University of the Aegean: 101-114.
Apostola, E. 2015. “Cross-cultural relations between Egypt and Greece during the Early Iron Age: Representations of Egyptian lion-headed goddesses in the Aegean.” Στο S. Pinarello, J. Yoo, J. Lundock και C. Walsh (επιμ.), Current Research in Egyptology XV: Proceedings of the Fifteenth Annual Symposium. Oxford: Oxbow Books: 100-112.
Μαθήματα Διδασκαλίας το τρέχον ακαδημαϊκό έτος –Courses taught during the academic year 2020-2021
ΑΥ-30 Near Eastern Archaeology
The course examines the cultures developed by different people (e.g. Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Kassites, Assyrians, Mitanni, Hittites, etc) in the Middle East, from Mesopotamia to Syro-Palestine and Anatolia from prehistoric times to the Late Bronze Age. We will explore the development of agricultural settlements and early urban societies, the oldest written evidence, the evolution and decline of powerful kingdoms and empires created in this diverse cultural zone. The study of written sources and various categories of material culture aims at a thorough investigation of the complex cultural mosaic in the Near East and its significant legacy in classical antiquity and the modern world.
ΑΥΕ-25 Egyptian Art
The course provides an overview of the main artworks of ancient Egypt from the Predynastic Period to New Kingdom (c. 4000-1200 BC). Raw material, techniques, iconography and iconology are examined in different forms of art (monumental architecture, sculpture, painting, pottery, jewelry, glassware, etc.), whereas the relation of art to its historical and cultural milieu is thoroughly investigated. Monuments and artifacts are studied within the context of daily life, aesthetic and religious beliefs and the worldview of ancient Egyptians. The course also aims at investigating the influence of Egyptian art on classical antiquity and modern times, since its creations still constitute a significant source of inspiration.
ΑΥ- 29 Relations between peoples of the Mediterranean in the Bronze Age
This course examines the multiple relations between peoples, political and cultural formations in the Mediterranean of the Bronze Age. It explores the motives and main ways of commercial communication, the mechanisms of movement of goods and population groups, the dissemination of ideas, technical knowledge, iconographical motifs, religious ideas and diverse influences from one region to another. It focuses on relations between Aegean civilizations with Egypt, the Hittites and Mesopotamia, the states of Syria and Cyprus and the Western Mediterranean. The study of commercial communication and manifold ideological interaction through archaeological and written sources attempts to decipher this complex network of intercultural contacts.
