etudes-pour-devenir-egyptologue

Several courses are possible to train in Egyptology, each approaching ancient Egyptian civilization from a specific angle and complementary to the others.

Although one generally only obtains a permanent position in Egyptology -- such as Lecturer, Research Fellow at the CNRS, Research Engineer or Study Engineer -- after having defended a doctoral thesis in History, History of Art or Archaeology, it is also possible to participate in excavation sites as a topographer, biologist, architect, photographer, etc.

In other words, for high school students who are considering a career as an Egyptologist, the course chosen for the baccalaureate is irrelevant. However, only the general or technological baccalaureates open the doors to the university, unless you subsequently pass the DAEU (Diploma of access to university studies).

If the choice of the baccalaureate sector is not of primary importance for undertaking Egyptological studies, it is nevertheless essential to master the reading of English and German which are very important languages in Egyptological literature.

A complete Egyptology course can be followed in several higher education establishments in France, whether within the UFR of History or History of Art and Archaeology:

- Sorbonne Université,

- Charles de Gaulle-Lille 3 ,

- Lumière-Lyon 2 (avec un cursus spécialise, le DUESE),

- Paul Valéry-Montpelli er III ,

- Strasbourg,

- École du Louvre à Paris,

- L’École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE) à Paris (à partir du Master uniquement).

Other universities offer initiations to Egyptology, which do not, however, allow you to continue the course to the end, so that it is then necessary to consider changing university before accessing the third year of the Bachelor's degree. way to approach the Master with the most complete training possible. Whatever the institution chosen, it is highly recommended to start learning the Egyptian language - preferably the Egyptian way to start - from the years of License. Private organizations, such as the l’Institut Khéops

in Paris, or local Egyptological associations also provide language courses, sometimes also by correspondence.

In order to forge a solid working method, students are strongly advised to take a preparatory class for the Grandes Ecoles (CPGE), at the end of which they will take the École Normale Supérieure (ENS) or Charter School. Alongside the CPGE, students can enroll cumulatively – that is to say that they do not follow the courses and do not pass the partials – in a university. Thus, on leaving the prepa, they can continue their course in their home university, without having to start all over again thanks to the system of equivalences and compensations.

The preferred courses in university to approach Egyptology are History, History of Art and Archeology and Classics. There are bridges from one discipline to another, which allow a student to change course during the course. However, it is important to choose the right course not only - a student wishing to learn about the Greco-Roman period, for example, should consider the question of classics, to learn about papyrology or improve in Latin and in Greek – but also the university that one wishes to integrate according to the specialties of the teachers who will govern the choice of the subject of Master and, possibly, of the thesis.

After the 2 ^nd university cycle (Master), various professional possibilities are offered, not only to increase one's experience, but also to ensure one's livelihood. Here again, the choice of the sector of origin is essential. Many history students decide to pass the CAPES and the Aggregation in order to become, for a time at least, a teacher in colleges and high schools. Obtaining these competitions is subsequently a significant asset when applying for university positions. ^{2 nd} cycle studies also allow Art History and Archeology students to take part in Heritage competitions (curator or conservation attaché, for example).

^{While various scholarships exist for 1 st} and 2 ^nd cycle students , it should be noted that few doctoral students (3 ^rd cycle) are lucky enough to obtain a three-year "doctoral contract" which provides them with an income while they are working on their thesis. For the others, it is often necessary to find other resources such as vacations in libraries, museums or universities. It is also possible for some to benefit from an ATER position (temporary teaching and research associate) at the end of their doctorate.

Once the thesis has been defended, various possibilities of post-doctoral contracts of one or more years are available to young doctors so that they can develop their research activities, enrich their CVs and embark on the preparation of competitions for positions in university or CNRS.

We have just given you a brief overview of the possibilities available to you to undertake studies in Egyptology. It is obviously far from covering all the questions you may ask yourself. Therefore, if you still have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us for further clarification.

Getting started with Egyptology: a basic bibliography

The proposed bibliography is deliberately broad... and the number of pages should not scare the beginner!

It is classified by theme, so that you can find a reference whatever the question you ask yourself to approach the Egyptian civilization. All recommended books are accessible to non-specialists.

Histoire de l’égyptologie :

J. LACOUTURE, Champollion : une vie de lumières, Paris, 1991.

R. SOLÉ, La grande aventure de l’égyptologie, Paris, 2020.

Géographie :

J. BAINES, J. MALEK, Atlas culturel de l’Égypte ancienne, Paris, 1982.

Cl. SOMAGLINO, Atlas de l'Égypte ancienne, Paris, 2020.

Histoire :

Pour débuter

N. GRIMAL, Histoire de l’Égypte ancienne, Paris, 1989 (version Poche éditée en 1994).

D. AGUT, J. C. MORENO GARCIA, L'Égypte des pharaons : de Narmer à Dioclétien : 3150 av. J.-C. - 284 apr. J.-C., Paris, 2016.

P. TALLET, Fr. PAYRAUDEAU, Chl. RAGAZZOLI, Cl. SOMAGLINO, L’Égypte pharaonique : histoire, société, culture, Paris, 2019.

Pour approfondir :

Cl. VANDERSLEYEN, L’Égypte et la vallée du Nil. Tome 2. De la fin de l'Ancien Empire à la fin du Nouvel Empire, Coll. « Nouvelle Clio », Paris, 1995.

Fr. PAYRAUDEAU, L’Égypte et la vallée du Nil. Tome 3. Les époques tardives (1069-332 av. J.-C.)., Coll. « Nouvelle Clio », Paris, 2020.

Civilisation :

M.-A. BONHÊME, A. FORGEAU, Pharaon : Les secrets du pouvoir, Paris, 1988.

Pharaon (catalogue de l’exposition à l’Institut du monde arabe, 15 oct. 2004 - 10 avr. 2005), Paris, 2004.

A. B. LLOYD (éd.), A Companion to Ancient Egypt, 2 vol., Maden, 2010.

Les grandes époques :

Les époques pré- et proto-historiques :

B. MIDANT-REYNES, Aux origines de l’Égypte, du Néolithique à l’émergence de l’État, Paris, 2003.

Ancien Empire :

M. BAUD, Djéser et la III^e dynastie, Paris, 2002.

Y. GOURDON, Pépy I^er et la VI^e dynastie, Paris, 2016.

D. ARNOLD, K. GRZYMSKI, Chr. ZIEGLER (éd.), L’art égyptien au temps des pyramides (catalogue de l’exposition aux Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais), Paris, 1999.

Moyen Empire :

N. FAVRY, Sésostris I et le début de la XII^e dynastie, Paris, 2009.

Cl. OBSOMER, Sésostris I^er: Étude chronologique et historique du règne (Connaissance de l’Égypte ancienne 5), Bruxelles, 1995.

P. TALLET, Sésostris III et la fin de la XII^e dynastie, Paris, 2015 (2e éd.).

G. ANDREU-LANOË, Fl. MORFOISSE (éd.), Sésostris III : Pharaon de légende (catalogue de l’exposition du palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille), Paris, 2014.

W. GRAJETZKI, The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt: History, Archaeology and Society, Londres, 2006.

Nouvel Empire :

Fl. MARUEJOL, Thoutmosis III et la corégence avec Hatchepsout, Paris, 2007.

A. CABROL, Amenhotep III le magnifique, Paris, 2000.

É. DELANGE (éd.), Aménophis III, le pharaon-soleil (catalogue de l’exposition), Paris, 1993.

D. LABOURY, Akhénaton, Paris, 2010.

M. GABOLDE, Akhénaton : Du mystère à la lumière (Découvertes Gallimard 478), Paris, 2005.

S. BICKEL, B. M. BRYAN, J.-L. CHAPPAZ (éd.), Akhénaton et Nefertiti, Soleil et ombres des pharaons (Catalogue de l’exposition tenue au musée d’art et d’histoire de Genève, 17 octobre 2008- 1^er février 2009), Milan-Genève, 2008.

M. GABOLDE, Toutânkhamon, Paris, 2015.

Cl. OBSOMER, Ramsès II, Paris, 2012.

P. GRANDET, Ramsès III, histoire d’un règne, Paris, 1993.

P. VERNUS, Affaires et scandales sous les Ramsès, Paris, 1993 (réédité depuis en poche).

P. GRANDET, Les Pharaons du Nouvel Empire : Une pensée stratégique (1550-1069 avant J.-C.), Paris, 2008.

Époques tardives :

O. PERDU (éd.), Le Crépuscule des pharaons : chefs-d’œuvre des dernières dynasties égyptiennes (catalogue de l’exposition du Musée Jacquemart-André, 23 mars-23 juillet 2012), Bruxelles, 2012.

Fl. GOMBERT-MEURICE, Fr. PAYRAUDEAU (éd.), Servir les dieux d’Égypte. Divines adoratrices, chanteuses et prêtres d’Amon à Thèbes (catalogue de l’exposition du Musée de Grenoble,) Paris, 2018.

M. CHAUVEAU, L’Égypte au temps de Cléopâtre, 180-30 av. J.-C., Paris, 1997.

M. CHAUVEAU, Cléopâtre, au-delà du mythe, Paris, 1998.

Histoire de l’Art et archéologie

J. LECLANT (dir.), Le Monde égyptien, collection « L’Univers des formes », vol. I, Le Temps des pyramides, Paris, 1978 ; vol. II, L’empire des Conquérants, Paris, 1979 ; vol. III, L’Égypte du crépuscule, Paris, 1980.

Chr. ZIEGLER, J.-L. BOVOT, Art et archéologie : l’Égypte ancienne (Manuels de l’École du Louvre), Paris, 2001.

M. HARTWIG (éd.), A Companion to Ancient Egyptian Art, I-II, Chichester, 2015.

Monuments:

M. LEHNER, The Complete Pyramids, Londres, 2008.

C. N. REEVES, R. H. WILKINSON, The Complete Valley of the Kings: Tombs and Treasures of Egypt’s Greatest Pharaohs, Londres, 2008.

R. H. WILKINSON, The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt, Londres, 2000.

Recueils de traductions de textes :

P. BARGUET, Le Livre des Morts des anciens Égyptiens, Paris, 1967.

M. CHAUVEAU, D. AGUT-LABORDÈRE, Héros, magiciens et sages oubliés de l’Égypte ancienne : une anthologie de la littérature en égyptien démotique, Paris, 2012.

P. GRANDET, Contes de l’Égypte ancienne, Paris, 1998.

E. HORNUNG, Les Textes de l’au-delà dans l’Égypte ancienne, Paris, 2007.

P. VERNUS, Sagesses de l’Égypte pharaonique, Paris, 2010.

P. VERNUS, Chants d’amour de l’Égypte antique, Paris, 1992.

Religion, croyances, magie :

J.-P. CORTEGGIANI, L’Égypte ancienne et ses dieux : dictionnaire illustré, Paris, 2007.

Fr. DUNAND, Chr. ZIVIE-COCHE, Hommes et dieux en Égypte, 3000 av. J.-C. –395 ap. J.-C., Paris, 2006 (2^e éd.).

E. HORNUNG, Les dieux de l’Égypte : L’un et le multiple, Paris, 1992.

Y. KOENIG, Magie et magiciens dans l’Égypte ancienne, Paris, 1994.

D. MEEKS, Chr. FAVARD-MEEKS, La vie quotidienne des dieux égyptiens, Paris, 1993.

S. SAUNERON, Les prêtres de l’Égypte ancienne, Paris, 1988.

Croyances funéraires :

J. ASSMANN, Mort et au-delà dans l’Égypte ancienne, Monaco, 2003.

E. HORNUNG, Les textes de l’au-delà dans l’Égypte ancienne, Paris, 2007.

J. H. TAYLOR (éd.), Journey Through the Afterlife, Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead (catalogue de l’exposition au British Museum), Londres, 2010.

Introduction au moyen égyptien hiéroglyphique :

P. GRANDET, B. MATHIEU, Cours d’égyptien hiéroglyphique, Paris, 2003.

J. P. ALLEN, Middle Egyptian, An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs, Cambridge, 2014 (3^e éd.).

Cl. OBSOMER, Égyptien hiéroglyphique, série pédagogique, Bruxelles, 2009.

R. de SPENS, Leçons pour apprendre les hiéroglyphes égyptiens, Paris, 2020 (2^e éd.).

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Société Francaise d' Egyptologie