Egyptology Scotland was formed on December 12, 2000 with the objective of promoting the study and understanding of ancient Egypt in Scotland.
The society holds a lecture series each year in Glasgow and Edinburgh and arranges group visits to museums and exhibitions around the UK. We are always on the lookout for new members and volunteers to serve on the committee, so please join up and join in!
What we offer
Full-colour printed regular newsletter
Annual lecture programme, discounted for members
Group museum visits, members' nights, hieroglyph workshops, and other events
Online members-only Facebook community
Committee
Claire Gilmour
Claire Gilmour is Chair of Egyptology Scotland, having served on the committee since 2009. She graduated from the University of Glasgow with MA(Hons) in Archaeology & Celtic Civilisation and DipHE Egyptology (Distinction), and from the University of St Andrews with MLitt Museum & Gallery Studies. She works as part of the East Ayrshire Leisure museum collections care team, where her duties include managing the archaeology collection, and is currently undertaking PhD research at the University of Bristol on the history of Egyptology in Scotland. She also teaches Egyptology, Ancient Near East and Archaeology courses at the University of Glasgow.
Bill Manley
Dr Bill Manley, Honorary President of Egyptology Scotland, is an Egyptologist, university lecturer, museum curator and best-selling author. Best known for devising popular forms of access to the study of Ancient Egypt, Bill’s books have been translated into more than twenty-five languages. For many years he has taught Egyptology and Coptic at the University of Glasgow, while his publications include standard textbooks for adult learners and university students, such as The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Egypt (1996), How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs (1998, with Mark Collier), Egyptian Hieroglyphs for Complete Beginners (2012), Egyptian Art (2017) and The Oldest Book in the World: Philosophy in the Age of the Pyramids (2023). He has also worked with archaeological surveys in Egypt and Palestine, was a Senior Curator at National Museums Scotland from 2005-2010, is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Liverpool, and teaches Egyptology occasionally at Complutense University, Madrid. Bill’s specialist output has included museum exhibitions, and contributions to scholarly publications and encyclopaedias on Ancient Egyptian and Coptic texts, the history of Egyptology, the archaeology of Palestine, and the world’s earliest philosophy.
Alan Jeffreys
Alan Jeffreys is vice chair of the society. He has been involved with Egyptology from his schooldays, first working in the National Museum of Scotland under Cyril Aldred, then curator of Egyptology, and continuing his interest ever since. He has visited Egypt many times, was the long-time editor of the Egyptology Scotland newsletter, 'Scottish Pharaonic' and hosts the society's lectures in Edinburgh.
Isabel Hood
Isabel Hood edits the Egyptology Scotland newsletter and runs the Society’s @EgyptScotland Twitter account. She hurtles around more ancient civilization courses, activities and exhibitions than most sensible people would consider feasible or sane, generally while clutching a bag full of at least one ancient language and wondering what she’s forgotten. Isabel is always on the look out for informative content for the newsletter and you can submit articles to her through chairegyptscot@gmail.com.
Kate Gingell
Kate Gingell is Treasurer of Egyptology Scotland.
Margaret Maitland
Dr Margaret Maitland is Principal Curator of the Ancient Mediterranean at National Museums Scotland.
Malcolm Macqueen
Malcolm Macqueen is Membership Secretary of Egyptology Scotland.