A Renewed Scientific Activity at the Faculty of Arts…
Discussion of a Doctoral Thesis in the Department of History on Household Furniture in Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt
Written by: Dr. Hind Hassanein
Under the patronage of Professor Dr. Ahmed El-Menshawy, President of the University, Professor Dr. Gamal Badr, Vice President of the University for Graduate Studies and Research, Professor Dr. Magdy Allwan, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, and Professor Dr. Sameh Fikry, Vice Dean of the Faculty for Graduate Studies and Research.
The Faculty of Arts discussed the doctoral thesis submitted by the researcher Mahmoud Mahfouz Zaki in the field of Ancient History, titled: Household Furniture in Egypt during the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods: A Historical, Analytical, and Documentary Study.
The discussion committee was chaired by Professor Dr. Yousry Abdel Hakim, Professor of Greek and Roman History and Civilization and Head of the History Department at the Faculty of Arts, Assiut University (Supervisor and Chair), and Professor Dr. Ahmed Farouk, Professor of Greek and Roman History and Civilization and Head of the History Department at the Faculty of Education, Mansoura University (Examiner), and Professor Dr. Kamal Salah, Professor of Greek and Roman History and Civilization at the History Department, Faculty of Arts, Assiut University (Supervisor).
Dr. Hamdi Khaled, Assistant Professor of Greek and Roman History and Civilization in the History Department, Faculty of Arts, Assiut University (discussant). The discussion was held in the presence of a distinguished group of professors, faculty members, and researchers interested in material heritage and social life in ancient Egypt. The thesis aims to reconstruct the image of domestic life in Egypt during the period spanning from the Ptolemaic era to the Roman era, by tracing the development of home furniture, its forms, and functions. The researcher adopted an analytical and documentary methodology, combining the study of museum artifacts, wall inscriptions, Demotic and Greek papyri, in addition to classical texts and funerary literature. The research highlighted the social, economic, and religious dimensions associated with furniture, and how the cultural interaction between Egyptian, Greek, and Roman elements was reflected in the domestic space. It also addressed changes in consumption patterns, the role of local artisans, and the impact of political transformations on housing and living culture, thereby representing a qualitative contribution to studies of the social and material history of Egypt during its transitional periods.
After an extensive scientific discussion in which the researcher reviewed the research problem, its methodology, and the most important results he reached, the scientific committee unanimously recommended awarding the researcher Mahfouz Mahmoud Zaki the Doctorate degree in Ancient History with first-class honors, with a recommendation for printing, publishing, and exchange between universities. The chairman of the committee and its members praised the researcher's meticulous scholarly effort, affirming that the study constitutes a modern reference that enriches the Egyptian historical library and opens new avenues for research in the history of daily life and artisanal economy. This discussion comes within the framework of the Faculty of Arts' keenness to support rigorous scientific research, encourage humanities disciplines that connect heritage with contemporaneity, and prepare research cadres capable of contributing to the dialogue of both local and global knowledge. The attendees appreciated the academic efforts exerted by the researcher Mahfouz Mahmoud Zaki, wishing him continuous success and leadership in his scientific career, and affirming that such research enhances the faculty's position as a beacon for historical and archaeological studies in the region. #FacultyOfArtsMedia
