Sacred Flames

Meghan E. Strong is an archaeologist and art historian whose research incorporates sensory archaeology, ritual performance, material cultures studies, and lychnology (the study of ancient lighting devices). She is co-director of the Nuri Archaeological Expedition in Sudan and splits her academic time between the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Case Western Reserve University.

• List of Figures AcknowledgmentsList of AbbreviationsIntroductionChapter One. The Archaeology of LightChapter Two. Artificial Lighting in ContextChapter Three. The Language of LightChapter Four. Offering Light Chapter Five. The Power of Light Chapter Six. Accessing the Ancient Egyptian LightscapeAppendix One. Lighting Devices Appendix Two. Theban Tombs with Light-offering Scenes NotesBibliographyIndex

“Through the analysis and contextualization of numerous types of lighting devices, Meghan Strong offers a multi-faceted, innovative method for decoding ancient Egypt that has not been previously explored in depth. Out of metaphorical darkness emerges compelling new research that brightens our knowledge of ancient Egyptian culture—of commoners and kings, the living and the dead, the sacred and the profane. Sacred Flames makes a substantial contribution to Egyptology, lychnology, the archaeology of the night, the anthropology of luminosity, and studies of ideology and inequality.”— Nan Gonlin, Bellevue College, Washington“Meghan Strong’s innovative research into artificial light in ancient Egypt blends representational, textual, and experimental evidence. She explores the way in which flames extended the daytime, provided protection in the night world, and enhanced and stimulated color intensity. From oils to wicks, from dark structures to the landscape, this book truly throws light on an aspect of Egypt that has not been previously studied in such an exciting and holistic way.” — Penny Wilson, Durham University"Original, compellingly argued, and beautifully written, Meghan Strong reminds us that for most of human history, people have lived without electric lights. With this important book, she fills a historiographic lacuna in studies of ancient Egyptian uses of light, both natural and artificial. Her perspectives range from the concrete and practical (including personal experimentation), to the 'Egyptian lightscape,' the sensorium, time, cost, social status, ritual, and decorum, among others. This fresh and transdisciplinary work will be relevant for years to come."—Elizabeth Bolman, Case Western Reserve University“A very welcome study. Highly recommended!”—Kent Weeks