Keeping the Wonders of Egypt Alive in Bristol

In October, the Egypt Society of Bristol (ESB) hosted a fascinating lecture by Dr Aidan Dodson, which detailed the story of Alexander Hamilton, the 10th Duke of Hamilton. In an extraordinary tale, a packed house at Emerson Hall heard a story of Egyptology and 19th-century intrigue as Dr Dodson took those in attendance on a fascinating journey from the tombs of ancient Memphis and Thebes to the drawing rooms of Scottish high society.
Audience members learned how the 10th Duke of Hamilton’s two Egyptian sarcophagi — one belonging to Pabasa, a Theban official, and the other to the lady Irtyiru — became entangled in a bizarre chain of misunderstandings between the duke and the British Museum.
Combining historical detail with wry humour, Dr Dodson revealed how one of these ancient artefacts ultimately became the duke’s own coffin, buried beneath his hometown. The talk left listeners both amused and astonished, deepening their appreciation of how Egypt’s long past continues to intersect with modern history in the most unexpected ways.
If you missed the event, don’t worry. The Society’s forthcoming programme promises an exciting array of talks. Highlights include Dr Larry Berman’s “Portraiture in Ancient Egypt” in December, before January 2026’s lecture with Dr Reg Clark titled, “Tomb Security in Ancient Egypt”. Next autumn’s lecture will feature Dr Daniela Rosenow (from Oxford University), exploring Ancient Egypt through drawings, watercolours, and squeezes (a three-dimensional recording technique used during the second half of the 19th century).

Dedicated to Bringing Ancient Egypt to Life

Photo by Amador Loureiro on Unsplash

Founded in 1998 by a group of local enthusiasts taking Egyptology classes at the University of Bristol, the ESB continues to nurture the city’s deep and historic ties with Ancient Egypt. The Society offers an engaging annual programme of lectures, study days, and events, covering topics from pharaonic art to modern archaeological practice, and welcomes both members and the wider public.
Bristol’s connection to Egyptology runs far deeper than recent decades, however. The city was once home to Amelia B. Edwards, the celebrated writer, traveller, and pioneering Egyptologist affectionately known as the “Godmother of Egyptology.” Her influential travelogue, A Thousand Miles up the Nile, and her co-founding of the Egypt Exploration Fund helped establish Egyptology as an academic discipline in Britain. Edwards’ legacy — alongside Bristol’s strong museum collections and teaching heritage — continues to inspire the ESB’s mission to bring the wonders of Ancient Egypt to new audiences.
More broadly, the enduring allure of Ancient Egypt continues to captivate, echoing the same sense of wonder that fascinated the Victorians. Its mystique lives on across film, television, and digital media, from recent series such as Bradley Walsh: Egypt’s Cosmic Code to Hollywood’s lavish retellings of gods and goddesses. Egyptian iconography also flourishes in contemporary fashion, where gold accents, kohl-lined eyes, and flowing linen designs evoke the period’s timeless elegance.
Even in entertainment and gaming, the fascination endures. iGaming favourite, the Eye of Horus slot, recreates the splendour of the past through its 5×3 reels, 20 pay-lines, and instantly recognisable symbols such as Ankhs and scarabs. Whether on the screen, the catwalk, or the reel, the imagery of Ancient Egypt continues to enchant, reminding us of its powerful cultural legacy.

Egypt’s Legacy Remains Vividly Alive
As the Egypt Society of Bristol continues to share stories that bridge ancient and modern worlds, its work reflects the timeless fascination that Egypt inspires. From scholarly lectures to popular culture, the city’s connection to this extraordinary civilisation endures. It’s a living testament to Bristol’s place in keeping Egypt’s legacy vividly alive.

Main image by Tang wei-chen on Unsplash