ALGY244 is designed to explore themes of how the ancient Egyptians viewed the world around them;

To look at the ways in which the Egyptians saw the presence and operation of the divine within the natural environment, and how they built structures (especially temples and tombs) which allowed contact between the living and other spiritual entities (the gods, the dead);

To emphasise especially the ways in which the Egyptians integrated notions of 'sacred landscape' into their everyday lives.

(LO1) Students will gain a deep understanding of the complexities of sacred landscapes in ancient Egypt through a comprehensive approach to the material as presented by the Module Tutor and through their directed reading.

(LO2) By examining significant case studies of individual sacred landscapes students will derive a broader understanding of the issues involved than by concentrating on broader bodies of data alone.

(LO3) Students will develop an understanding of the interelationships between the natural environment, royal monuments, private monuments and, most importantly, the way the natural and built environment actually used, and the way that use changed, over a significant period of time.

(S1) Communication (oral, written and visual) - presentation skills – oral

(S2) Time and project management - personal organisation

(S3) Information skills - critical reading

(S4) Communication (oral, written and visual) - presentation skills - written

Teaching method 1 - lecture.
In the lectures, the module convenor will introduce major themes connected with the understanding of the concept of 'sacred landscape' in ancient Egypt, and exemplify these themes through a series of case studies.

Teaching method 2 - seminar.
All activities will also be linked directly to the assessed coursework produced by the students; this coursework will be one of a range of offered topics which will be connected to the major thematic areas of the module. As part of a formative assessment process, students will give a powerpoint presentation on the essay topic in advance of submitting the essay. Feedback on the presentation will enable students to improve the quality of the written essay and enhance their understanding of the topic they are treating. Summative assessment will, in addition to the essay, will be delivered by an end-of-semester exam to test the knowledge and understanding across the whole module.

Teaching m ethod 3 - tutorial.
The tutorials provide opportunities for the module organiser and students to discuss issues arising from the lectures.

This module will examine a series of major topics connected with the Sacred Landscape of Ancient Egypt. These topics will be explored by lectures and by a series of student presentations of specific thematic material, which will also form the basis for their submitted coursework.

The lectures may cover:

Sacred landscape and the natural environment;

Sacred landscape and the built environment:

Temples;

Sacred landscape and the built environment: Tombs;

The thematic topics for student presentation will be chosen by them from a series of individual topics within core areas, which may include:

Core Area 1: Abydos;

Core Area 2: Thebes;

Core Area 3: Amarna;

Core Area 4: the Nile Delta;

Core Area 5: Middle Egypt;

Core Area 6: Upper Egypt and Nubia.