American Research Center in Egypt
New York Chapter
Upcoming Lectures:
The American Research Center in Egypt, New York Chapter (ARCE/NY) in Association with the Salmagundi Club presents:
Punishers or Protectors? Demons in Ancient Egypt
SPEAKER: Dr. Rita Lucarelli
REGISTRATION: Open to ARCE Members, please RSVP at this link
DATE/ TIME: Friday, January 9th, 2026, 6:00 P.M. ET.
ABSTRACT: Demonology, though often overlooked, was a vital component of ancient Egyptian religious thought. Far from being merely agents of chaos, Egyptian demons occupied complex roles as both punishing forces and powerful protectors.
This talk explores how demons were understood within the broader cosmology of ancient Egypt, and how they interacted with gods, humans, and the sacred spaces that connected them.
Drawing on textual, iconographic, and material evidence—often fragmentary and open to interpretation — we will examine how demons were classified and where they were believed to dwell, from tombs and temples on earth to the perilous gateways of the netherworld. By distinguishing between earthly and netherworldly demons, this presentation sheds light on their dual nature and the spiritual logic that governed their presence in the Egyptian worldview.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Rita Lucarelli is Associate Professor of Egyptology in the Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures at the University of California, Berkeley, and Faculty Curator of Egyptology at the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology. Her research focuses on ancient Egyptian religion, with particular emphasis on funerary texts, demonology, and the modern reception of Egyptian religious traditions.
She currently leads a Digital Humanities project—The Book of the Dead in 3D
(3dcoffins.berkeley.edu) — which integrates philological analysis with 3D modeling to make ancient Egyptian coffins more accessible for research and teaching. She is also completing a monograph on demonology in ancient Egyptian religious thought.
In addition to her academic work, Professor Lucarelli teaches courses on ancient Egyptian religion and comparative religion through the Mount Tamalpais College program of Higher Education at San Quentin State Prison. Her work reflects a strong commitment to interdisciplinary teaching, digital innovation, and public scholarship.
Upcoming Lectures:
February 24
John Freed — “Queen Tausret and the Mysterious Chancellor Bay”
Virtual Zoom Lecture
March 10
Chris Naunton — “Ancient Egypt Lost and Found … and Lost Again”
Salmagundi Club
March 16
Bob Brier — “Pierre Lacau: Villain or Hero?”
National Arts Club
April 16
Luigi Prada — Topic to be announced
Salmagundi Club
April 21
Aidan Dodson — “Amenhotep-son-of-Hapu: High Official, Architect, Demigod”
Salmagundi Club
May 2
“There Is More to Egypt Than Tut” Conference
Virtual Zoom Lectures
May 7
Peter Feinman — Topic to be announced
Virtual Zoom Lecture
June 12
Rita Freed — “Toward a Definition of Nubian Art”
National Arts Club
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