The Festivals of Drunkenness in the Temple of Mut

The Temple of Mut is an ancient Egyptian sanctuary dedicated to the mother goddess Mut. From the early New Kingdom (c. 15th century BCE) through the Roman era, this temple was the setting for several festivals of drunkenness. The archaeological remains of a columned hall at Mut’s temple indicate that these celebrations took place during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut (c. 1479–1459 BCE). These included the annual Drunkenness Festival and the major Theban ritual known as the Beautiful Feast of the Valley. In this lecture, Betsy Bryan examines how these festivals were celebrated at Mut and at other sites in ancient Egypt, highlighting their participants, rituals, and religious purposes.

Free admission. Presented by the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East and the Harvard Museums of Science and Culture.