“Be of Good Cheer”: The Colorful Grave Markers of Ancient Terenouthis

In 1935, U-M excavators recovered hundreds of grave markers—also known as funerary stelae—from a cemetery outside the ancient town of Terenouthis, Egypt. The stelae are carved with images of ordinary Roman-Egyptians and many are also inscribed with their names, ages, death dates, and messages of comfort and cheer to mourners. Maybe more surprising to modern museum-goers is that the grave markers were also brightly painted with a life-like palette of colors.

In this talk, conservators at the Kelsey Museum will describe their work to preserve and study the stelae, including the scientific techniques they’re using to study paint colors and some of the surprising discoveries their work has revealed.

Kelsey Museum Flash Talks are 15-minute Zoom lectures by Kelsey curators, staff members, researchers, and graduate students talking about their recent research or current projects. Each presentation is followed by 15 minutes of Q&A. Flash Talks are free and open to all visitors. They take place at noon on the first Friday of every month.

Join us via Zoom at:
https://umich.zoom.us/j/94856640990
Passcode: Kelsey