The Laboratory for the Ancient World of the Eastern Mediterranean (L.A.W.E.M., Government Gazette 1910/08.09.2015) collaborates with the Egyptological Research Group Aegean Egyptology (est. 2003). Its primary mission is the promotion of scientific research in Egyptology and the cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean, spanning from the Bronze Age to Late Antiquity. Specifically, the Laboratory focuses on the following research areas:
[1] Egyptian Religious System: Emphasis on the ontology of the divine and anti-maat entities, demonology, ritual practice and performativity, magico-religious literature.
[2] Egyptian Funerary Ideology and Practice: Emphasis on Third Intermediate Period coffins, funerary literature, apotropaic artifacts, and the role of magic in the Afterlife.
[3] Magical phenomenon from Antiquity to modern era: Emphasis on the magical traditions of Egypt and Minoan Crete, analysis of the magical conceptualization, cognitive approaches to the magical phenomenon, and on the reception of magic from Late Antiquity to modern era.
[4] Egyptian Language and Script: Emphasis on Middle and Late Egyptian, Ptolemaic inscriptions, and on hieroglyphic and hieratic scripts.
[5] Egyptosophia: Emphasis on the connection between Egypt and Hermeticism, Alchemy and Occultism, and on the reception of Egypt as a symbol of spiritual initiation in the secret societies of the 19th and 20th centuries.
[6] Cross-cultural Contacts in the Eastern Mediterranean: Focusing on the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age, with emphasis on the diplomatic relations between Egypt and the Near East and the Egyptian/Egyptizing votive offerings (Aegyptiaca) from the Archaic sanctuaries of the Aegean and mainland Greece.
[7] Prehistoric Archaeology: Specializing in the archaeology of the Aegean and Cyprus, with an emphasis on the material culture of Eastern Mediterranean palatial societies, Neolithic figurines, gender archaeology, and archaeological theory and methodology.
[8] Digital Archaeology: Emphasis on 3D digital scanning, digital epigraphy, and the application of Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) for the preservation and public presentation of Egyptian artifacts (via the Aegyptiaca and DeMaEL projects).
Research projects (funded)
[1] “Death, Magic, Eternal Life (DeMaEL): Mortuary artifacts and ideology from the Egyptian collection of the National Archaeological Museum (c. 1069-664 BC)”[Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (H.F.R.I.), under the “3rd Call and Management and Implementation Guide for Research Projects to Support Faculty Members and Researchers” (Ref. No. 70402/28.07.2023, as in force), in the Scientific Field “Humanities and Arts,” in Categories I & II (MΙS 26716)]
URL: https://demael-aegean.gr | https://demael.gr
[2] “AegySca 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” [European Social Fund through the Operational Programme “Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning 2014-2020” (MΙS 5049415)]
Cooperative research programs
[1] “Demon Things: Ancient Egyptian Demonology” (University of California, Berkeley, University of Chicago, University of the Aegean)
URL: https://voices.uchicago.edu/demonthings/about/
[2] “Aegyptiaca Project: Ecumene and Economy in the Horizon of Religion” (University of the Aegean, University of Bonn, Ephorate of Antiquities of the Dodecanese)
[3] “Magical Interactivity in the Ancient Mediterranean (MagIAM): Phenomenology, Semantics, Performativity” (University of the Aegean)
Conferences
[1] “Current Research in Egyptology”, Rhodes, 9-16 May 2021 (University of the Aegean, Current Research in Egyptology)
URL: http://cregyptology.org.uk/?page_ id=3976
[2] “Aegyptiaca Project: The Symposium”, Rhodes, 15-17 December 2016 (University of the Aegean, University of Bonn)
Publications Series
“Accounts of Magic from Antiquity to the Present Day”, Alloste & Locus 7 Publications (Christina Savvani), Athens.
URL: https://alloste.gr
Cooperations
University of California, Berkeley, Dept of Middle Eastern Languages & Cultures (Ass. Prof. Rita Lucarelli)
University of Chicago, Institute of the Study of Ancient Civilizations (Dr. Foy Scalf)
University of Bonn, Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Anthropology, Department of Egyptology (Prof. Dr. Ludwig Morenz)
Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Kolleg-Forschungsgruppe MagEIA, (Prof. Dr. Martin Stadler),
University of Liverpool, School of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology (Prof. Christopher Eyre)
Alexandria University, Faculty of Arts (Prof. Hassan El-Saady)
University of Lisbon, School of Arts and Humanities (Prof. Rogerio Susa)
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Philology (Prof. Panagiotia Sarischouli)
University of Western Attica, Department of Industrial Design & Production Engineering (Prof. Theodoros Ganetsos)
Supreme Council of Antiquities
International Association of Egyptologists
American Research Center in Egypt
Societas Magica
National Archaeological Museum, Department of Prehistoric, Eastern and Egyptian Antiquities
Archaeological Museum of Rhodes
Ephorate of Dodecanese
Teaching
At an educational level, the L.A.W.E.M. serves the teaching requirements of the Department, focusing primarily on the Archaeology Direction, the Postgraduate Program (MA) “Archaeology of the Eastern Mediterranean”, and the International Undergraduate Program (BA) “Eastern Mediterranean Studies: Archaeology, History, Culture”.
Lifelong distance learning seminars
[1] Unlocking the Magic of Hieroglyphs: An Introduction to Ancient Egyptian Language and Writing.
[2] Τhe Architecture of Hieroglyphic Discourse: Advanced Studies in the Ancient Egyptian Language.
Institution: University of the Aegean Lifelong Learning Center
URL: https://kedivim.aegean.gr
Post-doctoral research
Within the framework of the Laboratory’s activities, the following departmental postdoctoral research have been completed or are currently in progress, under the supervision of Professor P. Kousoulis:
[1] Papadaki, Ch. (2022), Elements of Magic in Minoan Civilization.
[2] Antonatos, P. (2020), Coptic Weaves: Rare Pieces of Coptic Textile Art, From the Obscurity of Private Collections to the Light of Research.
[3] Barcat, D. (2018), Egyptianising Offerings from the Heraion of Samos [Onassis Fellowship Program for International Scholars].
[4] Gurgel-Pereira, R. (2018), A Study on Scarabs from the Rhodian Aegyptiaca [Onassis Fellowship Program for International Scholars].
[5] Akridas, A. (in progress), People with Disabilities in Ancient Egypt: a Sociological and Theological Approach in the Light of the Textual Sources and Iconography of the Middle and New Kingdom.
[6] Apostola, E. (in progress), Death and Magic in the Third Intermediate Period: Funerary Figurines and Amulets from the Egyptian Collection of the National Archaeological Museum.
[7] Kampouris, P. (in progress), Religious Osmosis during Late Antiquity: Elements and Influences of Egyptian Demonology in the Testament of Solomon.
[8] Maipas, S. (in progress), Environmental Impact on Health in Ancient Egypt: Evidence from Historical Sources and Archaeological Finds.
Doctoral research
Within the framework of the Laboratory’s activities, the following departmental doctoral dissertations have been completed or are currently in progress, under the supervision of Professor P. Kousoulis:
[1] Deratsa, Ε.-Μ. (2026), The Anthropoid Coffins of the Third Intermediate Period from Thebes and their Contribution to the Study of Religious and Funerary Symbolism of the Early 1st Millennium BC.
[2] Kalaitzaki, A. (2022), The Introduction of Foreign Deities in Egypt during the Late Bronze Age [Hellenic Foundation of Research and Innovation, ΜIS 65].
[3] Kekes, Ch. (2022), Talking Bodies: Investigating Egyptian and Aegean Ritual Gestures during the Bronze Age [Hellenic Foundation of Research and Innovation, MIS 867].
[4] Kontopoulos, G. (2020), The Egyptian Diplomatic System in the Late Bronze Age Mediterranean beyond the Terms of “Brotherhood” and “Equality”: the Egyptian “Abandonment” of Power and Aspects of Pharaonic Identity and Kingship [Fellowships Programme for Doctorate Research ΗΥPΑΤΙΑ, University of the Aegean].
[5] Antoniadou, Ch. (in progress), Re-imagining the Archaeological Past: The representation of the ancient Egyptian civilization in the film industry. Α comparative study of archaeological evidence and modern perception.
[6] Bitsakaki, M. (in progress), Elements of Theatricality in Violent Performances: Sons of Revenge Across Time and Genres.
[7] Gennadiou, A. (in progress), Egyptianizing Sacred Figures and Symbols of the Cypro-Archaic and Cypro-Classical Period: an Archaeological and Historical Analysis.
[8] Papadaki, S. (in progress), Phoenician letters”: Towards a hypothesis on the birth and dispersal of the Phoenician writing system in the south-eastern Mediterranean.
Contact information
Professor Panagiotis Kousoulis
Director
Adress: Building Κallipateira, Department of Mediterranean Studies: Archaeology, Linguistics, International Relations, University of the Aegean, Demokratias 1,
Rhodes Gr: 85132
Tel.: +30 22410 99341, 99373
