Why is the Washington Monument in the shape of an Egyptian obelisk? What is an Egyptian-style sphinx doing in a cemetery on the outskirts of Cambridge, Massachusetts, as a Civil War memorial built in 1872? Just as a previous Egyptian revival had been set off by the discovery of the Corpus Hermeticum in the mid 15th century, the invasion of Egypt by Napoleon and the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphs in 1822 led to a massive increase in all things ancient Egypt. Obelisks, papyrus columns, temple facades and pyramids sprang up in jails, courthouses, theaters and cemeteries. This presentation discusses how early Americans viewed ancient Egypt and appropriated its legacy for their own ends. Presented by Dr. Foy Scalf, Head of the Research Archives library at the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures of the University of Chicago.

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