Students

AHIS380 – Ancient Egyptian Religion

2012 – E2

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Boyo Ockinga
Contact via boyo.ockinga@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
30cp or (6cp in AHIS or AHST units at 200 level)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit is a study of religious thought and its development in Ancient Egypt. It covers topics such as the concept of god, creation accounts, cosmology, divine kingship, polytheism, monotheism, pantheism, myths, temple cult, oracles and personal religion.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Identifying Egyptian deities form their their iconography and skills to interprt their various iconographic forms.
  • Skills to analyse and interpret literary and archaeological evidence and to understand the rich and complex literary imagery and material expression of the religious thought and practice of the ancient Egyptians.
  • In-depth knowledge of the primary sources on specific issues in Egyptian religion and the ability to evaluate what has been written on the topic against your own analysis of the primary sources.
  • Broad understanding of Egyptian religion as an expression of the ancient Egytpians' attempt to make sense of the world in which they lived and find answers to the challenges it presente dto them.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Due
Tutorial Paper (1) 20% Week 4, 6, 9 or 11
Essay (1) 45% Friday Week 8
Exam(1) 35% In class - Week 13

Tutorial Paper (1)

Due: Week 4, 6, 9 or 11
Weighting: 20%

Students choose when to write the Tutorial Paper (due either in Week 4, 6, 9 or 11). The topic for the paper is the preparation for the week's tutorial in written form: the analysis and interpretation of primary texts on a them in Egyptian religion.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identifying Egyptian deities form their their iconography and skills to interprt their various iconographic forms.
  • Skills to analyse and interpret literary and archaeological evidence and to understand the rich and complex literary imagery and material expression of the religious thought and practice of the ancient Egyptians.
  • In-depth knowledge of the primary sources on specific issues in Egyptian religion and the ability to evaluate what has been written on the topic against your own analysis of the primary sources.

Essay (1)

Due: Friday Week 8
Weighting: 45%

Detailed study of a topic in Egyptian religion: emphasis is on the analysis of primary sources and evaluation of secondary studies. 
Length: 3000 words.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identifying Egyptian deities form their their iconography and skills to interprt their various iconographic forms.
  • Skills to analyse and interpret literary and archaeological evidence and to understand the rich and complex literary imagery and material expression of the religious thought and practice of the ancient Egyptians.
  • In-depth knowledge of the primary sources on specific issues in Egyptian religion and the ability to evaluate what has been written on the topic against your own analysis of the primary sources.

Exam(1)

Due: In class - Week 13
Weighting: 35%

The closed-book, invigilated exam (1 hour) at the end of the unit covers the material presented and discussed in the lectures. The exam has two parts with a selection of questions to chose from. Students answer one question from each part in essay style.

On-campus students: in class in Week 13. External students: in Week 13 - arrangements for the location of the exam will be organised through the iLearn site of the unit.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identifying Egyptian deities form their their iconography and skills to interprt their various iconographic forms.
  • In-depth knowledge of the primary sources on specific issues in Egyptian religion and the ability to evaluate what has been written on the topic against your own analysis of the primary sources.
  • Broad understanding of Egyptian religion as an expression of the ancient Egytpians' attempt to make sense of the world in which they lived and find answers to the challenges it presente dto them.

Delivery and Resources

Delivery: Day, Evening, External (online)

This unit uses iLearn. All students in all modes have acces to the unteiLearn site.

Times and location for Lectures and Tutorials: for current updates, lecture times and classrooms please consult the MQ Timetables website: www.timetables.mq.edu.au

There are 12 2-hour Lectures on campus (Weeks 1-12) that introduce students to the themes of ancient Egyptian Religion. These lectures are recorded and made available through Echo360 for the external students. These lectures and the accompanying readings from the textbooks are the basis for the final exam in Week 13.

In the Tutorials (in smaller groups) the students read, analyse and discuss primary texts. For the external students as one such group these tutorials are conducted online. Students are expected to actively participate and contribute regularly to the tutorials.

Required texts

(1) Assmann, Jan, The Search for God in Ancient Egypt [Engl. transl. David Lorton] (Ithaca & London, 2001)(2) Hart, George, The Rouledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses (London, 2005). (3) Hornung, Erik, Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt. The One and the Many [Engl. translation J. Baines] (London, 1982). (4) B.G. Ockinga (ed.), Ancient Egyptian Religion: An Anthology of Primary Sources. This 50 page anthology ancient sources in translation is available to students to down-load from the library's E-reserve holdings for the unit.

Further recommended texts and readings in the Unit Bibliography supplied in iLearn.

Unit Schedule

 

Week 1

Introduction: Multiplicity of Approaches

Week 2

Name - Cosmic Manifestation - Image

Week 3

Individual deities (1)

Week 4

Individual deities (2)

Week 5

Divine kingship (1)

Week 6

Divine kingship (s) and Ordering Systems

Week 7

Temples (1)

Week 8

Temples (2)

Week 9

Creation Accounts and Cosmology

Week 10

Myths

Week 11

Polytheism / Monotheism

Week 12

Personal Piety and Oracles

Week13

Exam

Learning and Teaching Activities

Preparing for and attending lectures

Preparing for lectures through set readings. Gaining an overview of the major themes in Ancient Egyptian Religion in the lectures by

Participating in tutorials

On the basis of reading and analysing primary texts,contributing to the group discussion in the tutorials.

Researching a topic

For the Essay you gain familiarity with the primary sources and secondary studies on ancient Egyptian religion.

Applying interpretive skills to the knowledge acquired

In the tutorial discussions and the written work, you will apply interpretive skills to the knowledge acquired and practice skills of interpretation and evaluation.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy  http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at: http://students.mq.edu.au/support/.

UniWISE provides:

  • Online learning resources and academic skills workshops http://www.mq.edu.au/learning_skills/
  • Personal assistance with your learning & study related questions.
  • The Learning Help Desk is located in the Library foyer (level 2).
  • Online and on-campus orientation events run by Mentors@Macquarie.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Support Unit who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

Details of these services can be accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au/ses/.

IT Help

If you wish to receive IT help, we would be glad to assist you at http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/

When using the university's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students and it outlines what can be done.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Skills to analyse and interpret literary and archaeological evidence and to understand the rich and complex literary imagery and material expression of the religious thought and practice of the ancient Egyptians.
  • In-depth knowledge of the primary sources on specific issues in Egyptian religion and the ability to evaluate what has been written on the topic against your own analysis of the primary sources.
  • Broad understanding of Egyptian religion as an expression of the ancient Egytpians' attempt to make sense of the world in which they lived and find answers to the challenges it presente dto them.

Learning and teaching activities

  • On the basis of reading and analysing primary texts,contributing to the group discussion in the tutorials.
  • For the Essay you gain familiarity with the primary sources and secondary studies on ancient Egyptian religion.
  • In the tutorial discussions and the written work, you will apply interpretive skills to the knowledge acquired and practice skills of interpretation and evaluation.

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identifying Egyptian deities form their their iconography and skills to interprt their various iconographic forms.
  • Skills to analyse and interpret literary and archaeological evidence and to understand the rich and complex literary imagery and material expression of the religious thought and practice of the ancient Egyptians.
  • In-depth knowledge of the primary sources on specific issues in Egyptian religion and the ability to evaluate what has been written on the topic against your own analysis of the primary sources.
  • Broad understanding of Egyptian religion as an expression of the ancient Egytpians' attempt to make sense of the world in which they lived and find answers to the challenges it presente dto them.

Learning and teaching activities

  • Preparing for lectures through set readings. Gaining an overview of the major themes in Ancient Egyptian Religion in the lectures by
  • On the basis of reading and analysing primary texts,contributing to the group discussion in the tutorials.
  • For the Essay you gain familiarity with the primary sources and secondary studies on ancient Egyptian religion.
  • In the tutorial discussions and the written work, you will apply interpretive skills to the knowledge acquired and practice skills of interpretation and evaluation.

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identifying Egyptian deities form their their iconography and skills to interprt their various iconographic forms.
  • Skills to analyse and interpret literary and archaeological evidence and to understand the rich and complex literary imagery and material expression of the religious thought and practice of the ancient Egyptians.
  • In-depth knowledge of the primary sources on specific issues in Egyptian religion and the ability to evaluate what has been written on the topic against your own analysis of the primary sources.
  • Broad understanding of Egyptian religion as an expression of the ancient Egytpians' attempt to make sense of the world in which they lived and find answers to the challenges it presente dto them.

Learning and teaching activities

  • Preparing for lectures through set readings. Gaining an overview of the major themes in Ancient Egyptian Religion in the lectures by
  • On the basis of reading and analysing primary texts,contributing to the group discussion in the tutorials.
  • For the Essay you gain familiarity with the primary sources and secondary studies on ancient Egyptian religion.
  • In the tutorial discussions and the written work, you will apply interpretive skills to the knowledge acquired and practice skills of interpretation and evaluation.

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Skills to analyse and interpret literary and archaeological evidence and to understand the rich and complex literary imagery and material expression of the religious thought and practice of the ancient Egyptians.
  • In-depth knowledge of the primary sources on specific issues in Egyptian religion and the ability to evaluate what has been written on the topic against your own analysis of the primary sources.
  • Broad understanding of Egyptian religion as an expression of the ancient Egytpians' attempt to make sense of the world in which they lived and find answers to the challenges it presente dto them.

Learning and teaching activities

  • Preparing for lectures through set readings. Gaining an overview of the major themes in Ancient Egyptian Religion in the lectures by
  • On the basis of reading and analysing primary texts,contributing to the group discussion in the tutorials.
  • For the Essay you gain familiarity with the primary sources and secondary studies on ancient Egyptian religion.
  • In the tutorial discussions and the written work, you will apply interpretive skills to the knowledge acquired and practice skills of interpretation and evaluation.

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Skills to analyse and interpret literary and archaeological evidence and to understand the rich and complex literary imagery and material expression of the religious thought and practice of the ancient Egyptians.
  • In-depth knowledge of the primary sources on specific issues in Egyptian religion and the ability to evaluate what has been written on the topic against your own analysis of the primary sources.
  • Broad understanding of Egyptian religion as an expression of the ancient Egytpians' attempt to make sense of the world in which they lived and find answers to the challenges it presente dto them.

Learning and teaching activities

  • Preparing for lectures through set readings. Gaining an overview of the major themes in Ancient Egyptian Religion in the lectures by
  • On the basis of reading and analysing primary texts,contributing to the group discussion in the tutorials.
  • For the Essay you gain familiarity with the primary sources and secondary studies on ancient Egyptian religion.
  • In the tutorial discussions and the written work, you will apply interpretive skills to the knowledge acquired and practice skills of interpretation and evaluation.

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning and teaching activities

  • In the tutorial discussions and the written work, you will apply interpretive skills to the knowledge acquired and practice skills of interpretation and evaluation.

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Skills to analyse and interpret literary and archaeological evidence and to understand the rich and complex literary imagery and material expression of the religious thought and practice of the ancient Egyptians.

Learning and teaching activities

  • Preparing for lectures through set readings. Gaining an overview of the major themes in Ancient Egyptian Religion in the lectures by
  • On the basis of reading and analysing primary texts,contributing to the group discussion in the tutorials.
  • For the Essay you gain familiarity with the primary sources and secondary studies on ancient Egyptian religion.
  • In the tutorial discussions and the written work, you will apply interpretive skills to the knowledge acquired and practice skills of interpretation and evaluation.

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Broad understanding of Egyptian religion as an expression of the ancient Egytpians' attempt to make sense of the world in which they lived and find answers to the challenges it presente dto them.

Learning and teaching activities

  • For the Essay you gain familiarity with the primary sources and secondary studies on ancient Egyptian religion.

Technologies used and required

See Delivery and Resources.

What has changed

No major changes.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
01/08/2012 Submission dates of tutorial papers corrected