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'The Tale of the Two Brothers': a story to unlock Ancient Egypt - five online talks by Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones
Ancient Egypt, a civilisation of deep antiquity with a profoundly complex history and culture, continues to hold huge appeal for academic and popular audiences alike. But unlocking the rich world of these ancient peoples – with their animal-headed gods, arcane funerary beliefs and complex ideas of rulership and state – can seem overwhelming – even baffling. This series examines the lives and mindset of the ancient Egyptians via a popular folktale created during the New Kingdom (c. 1570-1069 BCE). The Tale of the Two Brothers has all the traditional elements of a good story (talking animals, a heroic quest, a wicked stepmother, and a land far, far away), which allow us to investigate the realities of life at this time, as well as the belief systems and religious thinking that underpinned them. In these carefully illustrated talks, we will discuss Egyptian religion, the body, conceptions of justice and order, attitudes to foreigners, feasting and drinking, and love and sexuality.
They take place every Thursday from 31st July to 28th August 2025 at 4.30pm (London) and, including Q&A, will last just under an hour. They are available for viewing for eight weeks after the last episode is streamed (23rd October 2025).
Talks
After hearing the Two Brothers story itself, the basis for the series, we will focus on certain folkloric themes and motifs that emerge from the story. Particular attention will be given to the ‘Potiphar’s Wife’ motif.
This talk explores the types of places referenced in the story – from the homes of villagers and the ploughed fields of Egypt, to the mysterious Valley of the Pine. Inevitably, we will also look at the space of the living and of the dead.
Represented as a teenage girl, Ma’at was the personification of the most important theological and cultural ideals of the ancient Egyptian – ‘truth’ and ‘justice’ and ‘order.’ Here we examine the role of Ma’at in Egyptian society and how it is reflected in the Tale of the Two Brothers.
The body plays an important role in the story. Handsome bodies, deformed bodies and changeable bodies are all represented in The Tale of the Two Brothers. We will also look at the image of the royal body in ancient Egyptian thought and what it means in The Tale of the Two Brothers.
Our final talk explores Egyptian conceptions of sex and sexuality and the use of eroticism in The Tale of the Two Brothers. We will also look at the notion of feasting and celebrations for the dead in the ‘Beautiful Festival’.
Expert speaker
Frequently asked questions
An electronic invoice will be sent to your e-mail address 1–3 working days after you have completed our registration form. Payment can be made online using AMEX, Apple Pay, Google Pay, MasterCard or Visa.
Dates & prices
2025
Date
Speaker
Price
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