Lawrence M. Berman, the John F. Cogan, Jr. and Mary L. Cornille Chair, Art of Ancient Egypt, Nubia, and the Near East, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, will be speaking on Wednesday, October 15, 6:00–7:00 pm ET. This hybrid talk titled, “Mavericks: Three Visionary Pharaohs of Egypt,” is free and open to the public.

Photograph: Head of Amenhotep III. New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, reign of Amenhotep III, 1390–1352 BCE. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Hatshepsut, Amenhotep III, and Akhenaten each ruled Egypt for long periods, leaving a lasting impact on its art, politics, and religion. Though all were powerful leaders, each tells a distinct story. In this lecture, Lawrence M. Berman explores the reigns and legacies of these three remarkable Eighteenth Dynasty pharaohs, considering questions such as: What made them successful—or controversial? How were they viewed in their own time, and how have archaeologists and the public interpreted them since? The talk also examines broader themes—from the power of images and identity to iconoclasm and the writing of history—inviting reflection on who gets to shape history, and why it still matters today.

Advance registration, https://hmsc.harvard.edu/calendar_event/mavericks-three-visionary-pharaohs-of-egypt/, recommended for online and in-person attendance. In  addition  to  this  event,  the  museum  will  be  open  and  free  of  charge.  

Virtual Egypt: 3D Teaching with Museum Collections,

The Harvard Museums of Science and Culture is hosting
a free (virtual & in person) program

September 17, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.

University museums hold rich yet often underutilized resources for teaching about ancient Egypt. With the growing availability of 3D and virtual reality technologies—such as photogrammetry, 3D scanning, and immersive modeling—educators now have powerful tools to enhance object-based learning beyond the traditional classroom. In this lecture, Rita Lucarelli will explore innovative strategies for incorporating 3D and VR technologies into teaching with university collections, using case studies from the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley. She will demonstrate how digital replicas, immersive applications, and collaborative projects can deepen student engagement with Egyptian material culture, from archaeological context to artifact function and curatorial interpretation. The presentation also considers the benefits and challenges of integrating these technologies into Egyptology and Art History curricula.

For more information and to register:  https://hmsc.harvard.edu/calendar_event/virtual-egypt-3d-teaching-with-museum-collections/ (Advance registration is recommended!)

About the Speaker:
Rita Lucarelli is Associate Professor of Egyptology in the Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures at the University of California, Berkeley, and Faculty Curator of Egyptology at the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology. Her research focuses on ancient Egyptian religion, particularly funerary texts, demonology, and the reception of Egyptian religious traditions in modern and contemporary culture. She is currently leading a Digital Humanities project that creates 3D models of ancient Egyptian coffins—The Book of the Dead in 3D (3dcoffins.berkeley.edu)—combining philological and technological approaches to make these complex objects more accessible for research and teaching. She is also completing a monograph on demonology in ancient Egyptian religious thought. In addition to her academic work, Professor Lucarelli teaches courses on ancient Egyptian religion and comparative religion as part of the Mount Tamalpais College program of Higher Education at San Quentin State Prison. Her work reflects a strong commitment to interdisciplinary teaching, digital innovation, and public scholarship.