Project Kepos: Pharaohs and Flowers – The Wonder of Ancient Egyptian Gardens

New event in the Kepos Project – Archaeology and Landscape Meetings, a series of conferences dedicated to Italian and international cultural heritage, promoted by the William Walton Foundation and Giardini La Mortella and curated by Dr. Mariangela Catuogno.

In the year marking the centenary of Lady Walton’s birth, to celebrate her extraordinary work as the creator of Giardini La Mortella, the Kepos Project has included a series of events dedicated to the history of gardens and their evolution over time.

The next event, taking place on Saturday, August 29 at 8:00 PM in the Museum Hall of Giardini La Mortella, will focus on gardens in ancient Egypt. The speaker will be Dr. Divina Centore, Egyptologist at the Egyptian Museum of Turin – “Interpretation, Accessibility and Sharing” Department.

A journey through nature, myth and history that will surprise and enchant, revealing the secrets of ancient Egyptian gardens. One example is Thebes, around 1350 BC. Under the blazing sun, a hidden gem shines: the garden of Nebamun, a high-ranking official of the Temple of Amun. Here, date palms, fig trees, Egyptian persea trees, water lilies and papyrus reflected the power and wealth of their owner.

Similar oases could be found within temples and other sacred settings, as well as in private residences. The magnificent gardens of ancient Egypt are a little-known aspect of Egyptian civilization. Yet archaeobotanical remains, ancient texts and paintings challenge the image of Egypt as an arid, desert land and show us how the Egyptians were able to create enchanting gardens and orchards that, besides providing food, raw materials and medicines, held profound symbolic meanings and passed down fascinating stories.

Following greetings from Alessandra Vinciguerra, President of the William Walton Foundation and Giardini La Mortella, Dr. Divina Centore will explore the subject in a presentation entitled Pharaohs and Flowers. The Wonder of the Gardens of Ancient Egypt.

The event will be moderated by Dr. Mariangela Catuogno, Scientific Director of the Kepos Project.