Hilary Wilson

Last updated
For the charity founder, see Hilary Wilson (musician).Not to be confused with the swimmer Hillary Wilson.

Hilary Wilson
BornHilary Cawton
OccupationTeacher, writer
NationalityBritish
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
Alma mater
Subject Ancient Egypt
Notable works
  1. Understanding Hieroglyphs
  2. People Of The Pharaohs
  3. Egyptian Food And Drink
  4. Egyptian Woman
SpousePhilip Wilson

Hilary Wilson is a British Egyptologist.

Career

Wilson was an enthusiast of Egyptology since childhood. [1] An alumna of Sutton High School, London, Wilson received her Bachelor's Degree in Combined Studies (mathematics, physics and history, including study of archaeology and medieval history) from the University of Leicester in 1971. [2] She then studied at the University of Exeter and received her Master's Degree from the Open University.

Contents

Wilson was an Associate Lecturer in maths and archaeology at the Open University and, from the 1990s, taught Egyptology courses for the University of Southampton Continuing Education Department. She also appeared as "Setkemet, the Egyptian Lady" to introduce primary students to Egyptian history. [3]

Wilson has written several books on Egyptian history, as well as novels set in ancient Egypt (some under the pen name Hilary Cawston, her maiden name). [2] She published many articles for Ancient Egypt magazine and frequently wrote the magazine's "Per Mesut" feature for young readers. [4] She has also published articles in History Today , [5] and the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology [6]

Personal life

Wilson is married to Philip Wilson, emeritus Professor of Ship Dynamics at the University of Southampton. In 1998,their eldest son Richard was graduated from Leicester University, as both his parents had been. [2]

Wilson's brother Timothy Cawston was among the founding faculty of Leicester Grammar School and later became deputy headmaster. [2]

Books

Egyptology

Surveys the constituents of the ancient Egyptian diet, with chapters on cereals and their uses, fruit and vegetables, meat, fish and fowl, and condiments. [7]
This study seeks to bring to life the craftsmen, labourers and administrators of Ancient Egypt, looking at their religion, education and concept of order based on the family unit. [8]
Dutch translation: Wilson, Hilary (1998). Het volk van de farao's[The People of the Pharaohs] (in Dutch). Translated by van Loon, Parma. VBK Media. ISBN   9789024604623. OCLC   67968886
Polish translation: Wilson, Hilary (1999). Lud faraonów : od wieśniaka do dworzanina[The People Of The Pharaohs: From Peasant To Courtier] (in Polish). Państ. Instytut Wydawniczy. ISBN   9788306027624. OCLC   830224359
The hieroglyph "Keftiu" (K-f-t-U), "foreigner-hilly-land") - possibly a reference to the Caphtors - is seen in the cartouche (oval enclosure below the figure), part of a Nine Bows (group of nine figures depicting foreign nations) discussed in Chapter 1 of Understanding Hieroglyphs Name-Keftiu-at-Abydos-Ramses-Temple.jpg
The hieroglyph "Keftiu" (K-f-t-U), "foreigner-hilly-land") – possibly a reference to the Caphtors – is seen in the cartouche (oval enclosure below the figure), part of a Nine Bows (group of nine figures depicting foreign nations) discussed in Chapter 1 of Understanding Hieroglyphs
Teaches how to decipher Egyptian hieroglyphs. Hundreds of the most commonly used hieroglyphs are arranged in tables with translations, plus examples from monuments, ancient documents and museum exhibits. Fully illustrated throughout with line drawings, tables and maps. [9]
The book is divided into ten chapters: "What's in a Name", "Personal Names", "Royalty", "Spirits of Place", "Be a Scribe", "Officialdom", "The Priesthood", "The Servants in the Place of Truth", "Keeping Count", and "Marking Time".[ citation needed ]
Chapter 1 covers the execration texts, as well as the Nine Bows of the Theban tomb of Surer, including Tutankhamun's Nine Bows' clay impression seal of Anubis that sealed his tomb. Chapter 5 ("Be a Scribe") has some introduction to cursive (or linear) hieroglyphs. Chapter 6, "Officialdom", begins by using the scenes from the Scorpion Macehead; the chapter also translates four minor scarab artifacts. The final chapter (10, "Marking Time), translates the famous label of Pharaoh Den and a Middle Egyptian stele of 14 horizontal lines; an offering table scene is translated to end the chapter and book.[ citation needed ]

"In a narrative and easy style the book leads you through various aspects of Egyptian life. It gives tables of various phrases attached to the theme (titles, parts of names, etc.) – the best thing in the book. But there are no transliterations anywhere, and not everyone will like the handwritten style of the hieroglyphs. Translations from monuments can be followed only if you previously know some Egyptian. It looks like an inscriptions help guide for museum visitors. Culturologically informative (nice maps of Egypt, hand-redrawn monuments), but miles from Collier-Manley in seriously introducing the script." – A. K. Eyma [10]

French translation: Wilson, Hilary (2009). Lire et comprendre les Hieroglyphes - La méthode[Method for Reading and Understanding Hieroglyphs] (in French). TCHOU. ISBN   978-2710707653.
German translation: Wilson, Hilary (2001). Hieroglyphen lesen[Read Hieroglyphs] (in German). Bechtermünz. ISBN   978-3828907706.
Hungarian translation: Wilson, Hilary (2004). A Hieroglifák Rejtelye[The Mystery of Hieroglyphs] (in Hungarian). Translated by Erdő, Orsolya. Gold Book Kft. ISBN   9639248339.
Chinese translation: Wilson, Hilary (2021). 破解埃及文 從象形文字認識古埃及[Deciphering Egyptian Writing: Learn About Ancient Egypt from Hieroglyphs] (in Chinese). Translated by Jiahuang, Qiu. 楓樹林 (Maple Forest). ISBN   978-9865572112.

Fiction

Following the experiences of Nebetiunet - an Egyptian mother and wife living in the holy city of Waset (Thebes) during the fifth year of the reign of Ramesses II - Egyptian Woman offers a fascinating insight into a year in her busy and remarkable life. Described in vivid and accurate detail, Egyptian Woman provides an absorbing fictional account of a year in the life of an exceptional woman in ancient Egypt. – Goodreads [11]
German translation: Wilson, Hilary (2005). Im Dienst der Pharaonen. Ein Jahr im alten Aegypten[In the Service of the Pharaohs: A year in Ancient Egypt] (in German). DTV Deutscher Taschenbuch. ISBN   978-3423342643.
Czech translation: Wilson, Hilary (2002). Egypťanka[Egyptian] (in Czech). Jota. ISBN   8072171860.

As Hilary Cawston, Wilson has self-published the novels Seeking Osiris (2015, 978-1507598139) and The Prince's Spy: a Story of Egypt (2105, 978-1508822363, a detective story based on the ancient Egyptian tale "The Treasure Thief"

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egyptology</span> Scientific study of ancient Egypt

Egyptology is the scientific study of ancient Egypt. The topics studied include ancient Egyptian history, language, literature, religion, architecture and art from the 5th millennium BC until the end of its native religious practices in the 4th century AD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maat</span> Egyptian deity and concepts of truth, order and justice

Maat or Maʽat comprised the ancient Egyptian concepts of truth, balance, order, harmony, law, morality, and justice. Ma'at was also the goddess who personified these concepts, and regulated the stars, seasons, and the actions of mortals and the deities who had brought order from chaos at the moment of creation. Her ideological opposite was Isfet, meaning injustice, chaos, violence or to do evil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meretseger</span> Ancient Egyptian cobra-goddess

Meretseger was a Theban cobra-goddess in ancient Egyptian religion, in charge with guarding and protecting the vast Theban Necropolis — on the west bank of the Nile, in front of Thebes — and especially the heavily guarded Valley of the Kings. Her cult was typical of the New Kingdom of Egypt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramesses I</span> Founding pharaoh of 19th dynasty of Egypt

Menpehtyre Ramesses I was the founding pharaoh of ancient Egypt's 19th Dynasty. The dates for his short reign are not completely known but the timeline of late 1292–1290 BC is frequently cited as well as 1295–1294 BC. While Ramesses I was the founder of the 19th Dynasty, his brief reign mainly serves to mark the transition between the reign of Horemheb, who had stabilized Egypt in the late 18th Dynasty, and the rule of the powerful pharaohs of his own dynasty, in particular his son Seti I, and grandson Ramesses II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Kingdom of Egypt</span> Period in ancient Egyptian history (c. 1550 BCE–1069 BCE)

The New Kingdom, also referred to as the Egyptian Empire, was the ancient Egyptian nation between the 16th century BC and the 11th century BC. This period of ancient Egyptian history covers the Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Dynasties. Through radiocarbon dating, the establishment of the New Kingdom has been placed between 1570 BC and 1544 BC. The New Kingdom followed the Second Intermediate Period and was succeeded by the Third Intermediate Period. It was the most prosperous time for the Egyptian people and marked the peak of Egypt's power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turin King List</span> Ancient Egyptian manuscript

The Turin King List, also known as the Turin Royal Canon, is an ancient Egyptian hieratic papyrus thought to date from the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II, now in the Museo Egizio in Turin. The papyrus is the most extensive list available of kings compiled by the ancient Egyptians, and is the basis for most chronology before the reign of Ramesses II.

Kenneth Anderson Kitchen is a British biblical scholar, Ancient Near Eastern historian, and Personal and Brunner Professor Emeritus of Egyptology and honorary research fellow at the School of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, University of Liverpool, England. He specialises in the ancient Egyptian Ramesside Period, and the Third Intermediate Period of Egypt, as well as ancient Egyptian chronology, having written over 250 books and journal articles on these and other subjects since the mid-1950s. He has been described by The Times as "the very architect of Egyptian chronology".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramesses VI</span> Fifth ruler of the Twentieth dynasty of Egypt

Ramesses VI Nebmaatre-Meryamun was the fifth ruler of the Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt. He reigned for about eight years in the mid-to-late 12th century BC and was a son of Ramesses III and queen Iset Ta-Hemdjert. As a prince, he was known as Ramesses Amunherkhepeshef and held the titles of royal scribe and cavalry general. He was succeeded by his son, Ramesses VII Itamun, whom he had fathered with queen Nubkhesbed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KV19</span> Ancient Egyptian tomb in the Valley of the Kings

Tomb KV19, located in a side branch of Egypt's Valley of the Kings, was intended as the burial place of Prince Ramesses Sethherkhepshef, better known as Pharaoh Ramesses VIII, but was later used for the burial of Prince Mentuherkhepshef instead, the son of Ramesses IX, who predeceased his father. Though incomplete and used "as is," the decoration is considered to be of the highest quality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graffito of Esmet-Akhom</span> Last known inscription written in Egyptian hieroglyphs (AD 394)

The Graffito of Esmet-Akhom, also known by its designation Philae 436 or GPH 436, is the last known inscription written in Egyptian hieroglyphs, carved on 24 August AD 394. The inscription, carved in the temple of Philae in southern Egypt, was created by a priest named Nesmeterakhem and consists of a carved figure of the god Mandulis as well an accompanying text wherein Nesmeterakhem hopes his inscription will last "for all time and eternity". The inscription also contains a text in the demotic script, with similar content.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ancient Egyptian literature</span> Literature of Egypt from pharaonic period to the end of Roman domination

Ancient Egyptian literature was written in the Egyptian language from ancient Egypt's pharaonic period until the end of Roman domination. It represents the oldest corpus of Egyptian literature. Along with Sumerian literature, it is considered the world's earliest literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramesses II</span> Third Egyptian pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty (1303–1213 BC)

Ramesses II, commonly known as Ramesses the Great, was an Egyptian pharaoh. He was the third ruler of the Nineteenth Dynasty. Along with Thutmose III of the Eighteenth Dynasty, he is often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful pharaoh of the New Kingdom, which itself was the most powerful period of ancient Egypt. He is also widely considered one of ancient Egypt's most successful warrior pharaohs, conducting no fewer than 15 military campaigns, all resulting in victories, excluding the Battle of Kadesh, generally considered a stalemate.

<i>Book of the Heavenly Cow</i> Ancient Egyptian text

The Book of the Heavenly Cow, or the Book of the Cow of Heaven, is an Ancient Egyptian text thought to have originated during the Amarna Period and, in part, describes the reasons for the imperfect state of the world in terms of humankind's rebellion against the supreme sun god, Ra. Divine punishment was inflicted through the goddess Hathor, with the survivors suffering through separation from Ra, who now resided in the sky on the back of Nut, the heavenly cow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bakenkhonsu</span>

Bakenkhonsu was a High Priest of Amun in ancient Egypt during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II. Information about his life was found on the back of his block statue. The information on the statue provides details about the education of young Egyptian noblemen at that time and the career of priests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of ancient Egypt</span> Overview of and topical guide to ancient Egypt

The following outline is provided as an overview of a topical guide to ancient Egypt:

in Ancient Egypt, Paser II was the son of the High Priest of Min and Isis named Minmose. Paser came from a very well-connected family. One uncle was the High Priest of Amun Wennenefer and another uncle was the troop commander of Kush named Pennesuttawy. Through Wennenefer, Paser was related to Amenemone, Amenemope and Hori, the High Priest of Anhur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merneptah Stele</span> Inscription by the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Merneptah

The Merneptah Stele, also known as the Israel Stele or the Victory Stele of Merneptah, is an inscription by Merneptah, a pharaoh in ancient Egypt who reigned from 1213 to 1203 BCE. Discovered by Flinders Petrie at Thebes in 1896, it is now housed at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Stephen Quirke is an Egyptologist. He is the current Edwards Professor of Egyptian Archaeology and Philology at University College London. He has worked at the British Museum (1989–1998) and since 1999 at the Petrie Museum in London. He has published several books, some of them translated into other languages.

Ann Rosalie David is a British Egyptologist and emeritus professor at the University of Manchester. David served as director of the International Mummy Database.

<i>The Search for Ancient Egypt</i> 1986 book by Jean Vercoutter

The Search for Ancient Egypt is a 1986 illustrated monograph on the history of the rediscovery of ancient Egypt and of Egyptology. Written by the French Egyptologist Jean Vercoutter, and published by Éditions Gallimard as the first volume in their pocket collection "Découvertes". The book was awarded a literary prize by the Fondation de France in 1987.

References

  1. ↑ "Hilary Wilson". Michael O'Mara Books. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "A Family Affair: Four members of Family are Graduates of the University of Leicester". University of Leicester - News and Events - Archives 2004-2013. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  3. ↑ "Committee: Hilary Wilson, Chairman". Southampton Ancient Egypt Society. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  4. ↑ Wilson, Hilary (December 2004). "Papyrus: Myth and Symbolism". Ancient Egypt. 5 (27). Retrieved 13 May 2021.Wilson, Hilary. "Who Built the Pyramids?". Ancient Egypt. 13 (74): 26–33. Retrieved 13 May 2021.Wilson, Hilary (April 2008). "A Kushite Statue in Southampton". Ancient Egypt. 17 (101). Retrieved 13 May 2021.Wilson, Hilary (April 2017). "Ancient And Modern Naming Conventions Compared". Ancient Egypt. 8 (47). Retrieved 14 May 2021. "Ancient Egypt - Issues Contents List". Ancient Egypt. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  5. ↑ Hilary Wilson (8 August 2019). "Scribe Like an Egyptian". History Today. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  6. ↑ Wilson, Hilary (1 August 1988). "A Recipe for Offering Loaves". The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology. 74: 214–217. doi:10.1177/030751338807400121. S2CID   192423080 . Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  7. ↑ Egyptian food and drink. OCLC   48127322 . Retrieved 18 May 2021– via WorldCat.
  8. ↑ Egyptian food and drink. OCLC   605221034 . Retrieved 18 May 2021– via WorldCat.
  9. ↑ Understanding hieroglyphs : a quick and simple guide. OCLC   1121616549 . Retrieved 18 May 2021– via WorldCat.
  10. ↑ A. K. Eyma (21 July 2020). "Glyphs and Grammars - Part I: Resources for beginners". Egyptologists' Electronic Forum (EEF). Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  11. ↑ "Egyptian Woman: A year in the life of a woman during the reign of Ramesses I". Goodreads. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.