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Talk Online | An Egyptian Luxury in Roman Scotland
Synopsis
Discover how research and collecting at National Museums Scotland is reshaping understandings of Scotland in the past as we take a closer look at a very special Roman object with surprising Egyptian origins.
In 1849, a stone burial urn was uncovered in railway works near the Roman fort of Camelon, north of Falkirk. It was displayed for some years after its discovery, but in 1900 the curators of the museum decided it wasn’t Roman, and the urn was put into storage.
A recent review and move of collections brought it to the attention of today’s curators. Research not only confirmed its Roman origins but also revealed that it was made from an exotic Egyptian stone, and is one of only two such urns found in Britain.
Join a panel of experts
Join Dr Fraser Hunter, Principal Curator of Iron Age and Roman collections, and Dr Dan Potter, Assistant Curator of Ancient Mediterranean collections, as they discuss this special stone's route to Scotland and the Roman fascination for Egyptian beliefs about death and the afterlife.
Panel discussion and audience Q&A will be chaired by award-winning historian, author and broadcaster Professor Bettany Hughes. You can see the urn at the National Museum of Scotland until 31 May 2021 in our New Thinking, New Collecting display.
How to take part
Please register a space for this event via Eventbrite in the website link. You will then receive a confirmation e-mail with instructions on how to join the event.
Event details
Wed 20 Jan 2021, 7:30pmLive subtitles (remote) by STAGETEXT
Venue details
National Museums Scotland
Auditorium, Level 1
Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1JF
Auditorium, Level 1
Chambers Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1JF
Phone: 0300 123 6789
Website: National Museums Scotland
