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Ancient Egypt Magazine Issue Eight - August/September 2001 Editor's Column The
most irresistible quote of the summer turned up on a flyer for a sponsored
bicycle ride in aid of the Petrie Museum's conservation projects: 'Riding her
legs off to save the face of 1st Century Egyptian mummies, herself a worn-out
mummy with archaeology induced knee-damage, is Roz Park, committee member of
the Friends of the Petrie Museum'. The
ride will total 250 miles in all and is to be covered in five days, including
'nerve-wrecking off-road cycling in the Wadi Sirhan Depression to Roman Azraq'.
The journey takes in an ascent of Mount Nebo and concludes at the Nabataean city
of Petra. Roz is totally responsible for raising expenses and doing the
pre-training, and has devoted an immense amount of time and energy for this
project, from which the sponsorship money raised will be going to support the
Petrie's ongoing restoration of Graeco-Roman cartonnage items. This is a
highly specialised activity since it involves knowledge of linen, papyrus,
plaster, paint and gilding (mixed media conservation). Roz
is undertaking this ride from 11 – 18 November this year and further details
can be obtained from the Friends of the Petrie on (020) 7679 2369. Don't let her
wear her knees out in vain. Roz's ride is only one of a number of sponsorship
raising events this autumn, however. On
the 29 September, Egyptophiles can look forward to a full study day at the
Bloomsbury Theatre based on the recent work of the The Amarna Royal Tombs
Project in the Valley of the Kings, led by Project Director Nicholas Reeves and
Joint Field Director Professor Geoffrey Martin. In October, at the same venue.
Dr Zahi Hawass, Dr Kent Weeks and other world class lecturers will be presenting
the fruits of recent research and excavation. Both these events are intended
to raise further funding so that our knowledge of ancient Egypt can be
extended and made available to a public ever-eager for information. No
doubt at other museums. great and small, throughout the world, fund-raising is
going on by enthusiastic supporters of the subject of Egyptology. Why
get involved? As was pointed out recently by one of the promoters of the
events. this is really a winning situation; money is raised for the subject,
further work is thereby created and the audience has a wonderful time listening
to the latest information from those in the know (working at the cutting edge
if you prefer). Let's hope that we can look forward to more events of this type
in years to come and it looks very much as though that will be the case. Be
warned, however. Involvement in the subject too deeply may eventually result
in wearing your own knees out through riding your legs off on a sponsored
bicycle ride. Lots of luck Roz, and we look forward to hearing about your
travels on your safe return. Miriam
A Bibby Back to Ancient Egypt Magazine - Issue Eight contents
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