FELLOWSHIPS: 2, PhD in Egyptology at Swansea

From Kasia Szpakowska <[log in to unmask]>:
================================================

Ancient Egyptian Demonology Project: Second Millennium BC Academic
Supervisor: Dr Kasia Szpakowska

Two fully-funded PhD studentships form part of a three-year research project
funded by the Leverhulme Trust entitled Ancient Egyptian Demonology Project:
Second Millennium BC.

Demons abound in the media today-from tales of possession to the labeling of
political policies as demonic, to the channelling of spirits for healing.
Some of the most prevalent rituals in the ancient and modern world are those
designed to target demons and those that call upon their superhuman power
for benefit. But thus far, there has been no comprehensive systematic study
of benevolent and malevolent demonic entities in Ancient Egypt. This
project, Demonology 2K, applies Second Millennium AD technology to create a
classification and ontology of those supernatural entities we will call
demons, and the means used to harness their powers in Ancient Egypt during
the Second Millennium BC. The approach combines archaeological,
iconographic, and philological analysis of specific material,
representational, and textual evidence. The research is data-driven, and
includes the development of an interactive collaborative database and
website. This project illuminates the darker and more private side of
Ancient Egyptian religion that impacted daily lives, driving individuals to
perform rituals and to access divine beings, with or without priestly
assistance.

The PhD studentships are available from 2 January 2013. Applicants must
have:

demonstrated Egyptological expertise
ability to work with both texts and artefacts familiarity with and desire to
study Middle to New Kingdom religion reading knowledge of German and French

Digital expertise will be integral to one of the studentships detailed
below. Please provide details in your statement of interest of experience of
working with:

relational databases
quantification
Web 2.0 (interactive websites, blogs, virtual spaces) multimedia

The PhD studentships differ in expertise as follows:

PhD 1 should have a particular interest in working with artefacts and have a
solid archaeological background both in terms of theory and post-excavation
analysis. The successful student/candidate will focus on the material
evidence, in particular types identified as primary targets for the project:
apotropaia, inscribed headrests, and figurines. The student should have
demonstrated aptitude for working with excavation reports (recent and dated)
as well as museum and collections searching; be familiar with materials and
technology; have a background in the archaeology of religion; and a
dedicated attention to detail.

PhD 2 must be fluent in reading Middle Egyptian and have a background in
reading religious compositions (ideally Coffin Texts and magical papyri).
The successful student/candidate will be responsible for a relational
examination of hostile and demonic entities encountered in the texts. The
investigation must be contextual, and take into account associated imagery,
findspots, the location of imagery and text in relation to each other and on
each individual coffin, time period, and status, gender and identity of the
owner. Because most of the Coffin Texts have different versions, the
candidate must be skilled in reading the texts to spot differences and
similarities. The student must also have a thorough grounding in Egyptian
religion in general in order to be able to achieve a nuanced understanding
of the texts, as well as being able to undertake literal translation.

Both Ph.D.'s are based in the Department of History and Classics, College of
Arts and Humanities. The successful candidate will join a vigorous and
friendly postgraduate community supported by theGraduate Centre for Arts and
Humanities at Swansea University. The Academic Supervisor will be Dr. Kasia
Szpakowska, a specialist in Ancient Egyptian private religious practice and
co-founder of the international Ancient Egyptian Demonology Project.

Applicants must have an MA or equivalent qualification, obtained or due to
be obtained by October 2012, in any relevant discipline.

Preliminary application materials consist of

academic CV
1-2 page expression of interest (include why you are interested, a bit about
your background and how you fulfil the brief) research proposal (no more
than 1200 words or 5 pages) focussing on one of the areas (or both if you
have no preference) referee information (names, contact details, and emails
of 2 referees)

To submit materials or for more information please contact Kasia Szpakowska,
([log in to unmask]). Please note that I will be on annual leave
6-15 and 27-31 August and will not be able to respond to emails.

Eligibility: Home/EU students

Closing date: 17 September 2012

Kasia Szpakowska, PhD, FSA
Senior Lecturer in Egyptology, Dept. of History & Classics Centre for
Egyptology & Mediterranean Archaeology (CEMA) Swansea University, Wales, SA2
8PP, UK [log in to unmask]
http://www.swan.ac.uk/staff/academic/artshumanities/hc/szpakowskakasia/
Dr. Kasia Szpakowska, Uwch-ddarlithydd mewn Eifftoleg Yr Adran Hanes a
Chlasuron Y Ganolfan Eifftaidd ac Archeoleg Mediteranaidd (CEMA) Prifysgol
Abertawe, Cymru, SA2 8PP [log in to unmask]