Egyptian Society's Day School returns after a five-year break

The Egyptian Society of South Africa’s Day School is set to return next month for the first time in five years.

The society, which has been active for 29 years and hosts monthly lectures at St George’s Grammar School in Mowbray, had to pause its Day School during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Committee member Jane Mulder said the event is a favourite with members and draws attendees of all ages who are interested in Ancient Egypt.

The 2025 Day School will take place on Saturday, August 23, and comes shortly before the first anniversary of the death of society founder Keith Grenville, who passed away in August last year (“Egyptian society pays tribute to founder,” Southern Suburbs Tatler, October 3, 2024).

“The day will be quite full,” said Ms Mulder. “It starts with a first lecture followed by a tea break, a second lecture followed by a Greek lunch, and a third lecture after lunch.”

This year’s programme features three speakers. Professor Phillip Bosman, from the University of Pretoria, will open with a lecture titled Alexander in Egypt – Between history and myth-making. He will be followed by Professor Izak Cornelius of Stellenbosch University with A Tale of Two Cities... on the Nile – Pharaonic Egypt and Ptolemaic culture and religion.

After lunch, Joseph Koetsier, who holds a bachelor’s degree in cross-cultural educational studies, applied linguistics, and economics from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, will present The History of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina – Its foundation, development, destruction, and resurrection.

The Day School will be held at the Hellenic Community Hall, next to the Greek Orthodox Church in Mountain Road, Woodstock, from 10am to 3pm.

Tickets cost R300 and include a Greek lunch and Greek biscuits during the tea break.

Booking is open until Thursday, August 14. To purchase tickets, phone 021 852 7273 or 084 774 3972.