Afterlife Bar

Dean will lead us through the discovery of prominent temples of Ancient Egypt and their significance. Followed by a look at tombs and in particular the tomb of Paheri which has detailed reliefs of the everyday life of Ancient Egyptians.

Dean is a retired businessman with a strong interest in Ancient Egypt. Dean has been a member of the Ancient Egypt Society of WA for 25 years and has gained experience and insights during his multiple visits to Egypt.

Thonis-Heracleion was Egypt’s greatest Mediterranean port for 400 years. Once, the gatekeeper to Egypt’s interior, the legendary city was visited by Paris and Helen of Troy and by Herakles. After being lost for 1600 years the city and myths were rediscovered buried under the Nile’s mud, exposing treasures from before and after Queen Cleopatra’s Ptolemaic Dynasty came to an end.

Committee Member of the Ancient Egypt Society of WA (AESWA), John Mirosevich has been a Science and Mathematic High School Teacher for 37 years, now teaching at Armadale Senior High School, and is a self-confessed “History Nerd”. John is fascinated by the Math and Science of the Ancient Egyptians, leading to his appreciation of this part of the world's history.

Ancient Egyptian Astronomy Unraveled - Discover how the Ancient Egyptians used their knowledge of the sky to design and position their temples, statues, and roads.

Arthur has held an interest in Astronomy since he was just seven years old, after he watched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, pass overhead in 1957. During his career in Metallurgy, Arthur has kept in touch with all aspects of science related to Astronomy, closely following research on the nuclear reactions in the heart of stars, optics, refractory metals, shadow transits, and deep space objects. Since 2008, Arthur has been an integral part of the Perth Observatory Volunteer Group, contributing to volunteer training and educational outreach at tours and public events. Arthur has a special interest in timekeeping and has visited sundials and astronomical clocks all around the world -- including Egypt.

How, when and why was mummification invented? The answers may surprise you. Uncover the lost history of this legendary but much-misunderstood practice. (Warning: contains images of human remains)

Dr Jasmine Day, anthropologist and Egyptologist, is an expert on Egyptian mummies and the author of The Mummy’s Curse: Mummymania in the English-speaking World. She appeared in TV’s Egypt’s Unexplained Files.

The Dynasty 6 Vizier named Weni the Elder, who lived about four and a half thousand years ago, had a detailed biography written on the outside of his tomb. This talk will look at the life outlined in the biography and the information found during the excavation of family tombs.

Heather is senior Epigrapher on the Abydos Middle Cemetery Project and Honorary Associate of the WA Museum. With the kind permission of the Egyptian Department of Tourism and Antiquities, Heather Tunmore has worked as part of an international team on the Abydos Middle Cemetery Project in Egypt for the past 16 years. She loves working with Old Kingdom art and really enjoys reassembling lost and broken fragments of art and hieroglyphs.

Discover Egypt’s ancient legends of creation, death and resurrection. Tales of Ra, Osiris, Isis and Horus will unlock the meanings of the art, religion and funerary practices of ancient Egypt.

Dr Jasmine Day, anthropologist and Egyptologist, is an expert on Egyptian mummies and the author of The Mummy’s Curse: Mummymania in the English-speaking World. She appeared in TV’s Egypt’s Unexplained Files.

Learn about the history of hieroglyphs and their use in ancient Egypt. Discover their meaning and importance within pharaohs’ names through examples of the cartouches of well-known pharaohs and go on to explore the Hieroglyphic inscriptions on papyrus and stone throughout Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition.

After visiting Egypt in 2006, Tina and her husband began to learn hieroglyphs at the Ancient Egypt Society of WA in 2007. Tina extended her learning through online hieroglyph courses with Manchester University and with Egyptologist Bill Manley via the UK’s "Learning for Pleasure".

The life of the average Egyptian could sometimes be precarious and short. Broken bones, infections, and arthritis were all common among the general population. This was a world where even a toothache could result in death.

Dr Alanah Buck is the State Forensic Anthropologist with the Dept Forensic Pathology, PathWest.

Since 2004, Alanah has been a member of the Australian Centre for Egyptology Fieldwork Team (Macquarie University NSW) and has travelled many times to Egypt to assist in excavations and the examination of human remains.

Join host Michael Mills in a captivating live recording of the Palaeo Jam podcast during National Science Week!

Explore the intriguing world of palaeontology and archaeology, two sciences that never fail to ignite the public's imagination. Delve into the mysteries of how ancient artefacts and fossils are preserved, unearthed, and brought back to the lab, even after thousands or millions of years. Discover the secrets revealed by these remarkable discoveries. Watch Palaeo Jam for an exciting conversation with palaeontologist Professor Kate Trinajstic and archaeologist Dr Sven Ouzman. Don't miss out on this engaging event!

Check out Palaeo Jam at https://palaeojam.podbean.com/.

Kindly take note that the 6 pm session has been cancelled. There will only be one session taking place at 7 pm.

About the speakers: 

Michael Mills is an award-winning science communicator, writer, producer, and musician known for his captivating storytelling and innovative projects. With over 60 shows under his belt, he has shared the wonders of science and challenged traditional historical narratives. Catch his renowned character, singing palaeontologist Professor Flint, at WA Museum Boola Bardip during the Biggest Science Lab Eve.

Professor Kate Trinajstic, a vertebrate palaeontologist, has been contributing to the field since joining Curtin University in 2009. Her research focuses on the development of early vertebrates' skeletons and musculature, earning her prestigious fellowships and awards. With a strong academic background and extensive research experience, she brings valuable insights to her work.

Dr Sven Ouzman, an archaeologist and heritage specialist, has a diverse range of expertise, from studying ancient human occupation sites to contemporary archaeology. He explores rock art, Indigenous knowledge, and intellectual property, shedding light on human interactions with fossils and ancient artifacts. As a Senior Fellow at the University of Western Australia, he shares his knowledge through teaching and research.

Kindly take note that the 6 pm session has been cancelled. There will only be one session taking place from 7pm - 8pm.

Who owns the “truth” about the past? Today’s power struggle between scientific and sensational interpretations of ancient Egypt began with the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb a century ago. In recently rediscovered private letters, psychics and tabloid journalists challenged Howard Carter’s authority with dire warnings about the supernatural vengeance that awaited him. The invention of “King Tut’s Curse” reveals the eccentric personalities and toxic rivalries that gave birth to a legend.

Dr Jasmine Day, anthropologist and Egyptologist, is an expert on mummymania and Egyptian mummies, and the author of The Mummy’s Curse: Mummymania in the English-speaking World. She appeared in TV’s Egypt’s Unexplained Files. Dr Day is President of The Ancient Egypt Society of Western Australia Inc. 

This talk will include a small art deco display of objects and jewelry dating to the 1920s!

Celestial Timekeeping in Ancient Egypt - Discover how Ancient Egyptians used the heliacal rising and setting of stars to construct their star clocks and civil calendar.

Dr Amelia Fraser-McKelvie is an astrophysicist working at the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research and a night sky tour volunteer at the Perth Observatory. Her research focuses on the formation and evolution of galaxies, with a particular interest in galaxies that look like our own Milky Way.

We are pleased to announce the return of Dean Kubank, who will be revisiting the Temples of Nubia and the enchanting Temple of Isis at Philae. These remarkable structures were rescued from the threat of flooding caused by the construction of the Aswan Dam. With the collaboration of UNESCO and various member nations, a collection of exquisite temples was carefully disassembled and relocated to elevated areas.

These secluded temples are now accessible for viewing exclusively through the Lake Nasser cruise, a captivating journey that takes you from Aswan to Abu Simbel. This unique experience offers the opportunity to witness these remote wonders that were preserved due to the collaborative efforts of many.

Join Teori Shannon, the Museum's resident taxidermy expert, for an illuminating talk on the intriguing parallels between contemporary taxidermy and ancient Egyptian mummification. Discover the shared art and science of preservation, bridging the gap between these timeless practices in a captivating exploration of life, death, and immortality."

What would you most like to know about ancient Egypt? Has Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition left you wondering about something? Here is your chance to ask a panel of enthusiasts any question you like. Their specialisms range from temples, tombs and hieroglyphs to religion, mummification and magic.

Join committee members of The Ancient Egypt Society of WA Inc for a unique opportunity to dig deeper into Egyptology. Featuring Dean Kubank, temple explorer; Tina Johnson, hieroglyph decoder; and Dr Jasmine Day, mummy expert and AESWA President.

We are excited for Hon Dr Anne Aly MP to join us at Afterlife Bar on the 29th of September for a presentation on the Discoveries of Ancient Egypt exhibition.

Born in Alexandria, Anne Aly moved from Egypt to Australia with her family at the age of two. In her late twenties, she was a single mother of two young boys, relying on minimum-wage work and social services benefits to put food on the table. She went on to study her Masters and PhD and worked as an academic, professor and practitioner in counter terrorism and countering violent extremism. Anne was the only Australian representative to speak at President Obama’s 2015 White House summit on countering violent extremism. Anne has been the Federal Member for Cowan since 2016. In 2021, she was awarded the McKinnon Prize for Emerging Political Leader of the Year in recognition of her Parliamentary work against both right-wing extremism and family & domestic violence. Following the election of the Albanese Government, Anne was appointed Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth – becoming the first Muslim woman to serve as a Commonwealth Minister."

Thonis-Heracleion: A prominent Mediterranean port, gate to Egypt's interior. Legend claims visits by Helen of Troy, Paris, and Herakles. Greek influence led to the adoption of Herakles' name for a grand temple during the Ptolemaic dynasty. Natural forces caused the city's disappearance for 1600 years. Recently rediscovered, it's a buried city under Nile mud, revealing treasures from Cleopatra's Ptolemaic Dynasty.