American Research Center in Egypt
Encyclopedia
The American Research Center in Egypt is a scholarly institution dedicated to supporting the conservation of Egyptian antiquities and research in Egyptology
, Coptology
and all periods of Egyptian history.
, with the intention of creating a research center in Egypt on the model of similar institutions in Greece and Rome
. The center's Egyptian headquarters opened in 1951 in an office at the Office of U.S. Information and Educational Exchange in the American Embassy in Cairo. Throughout its early years, the center received substantial funding from the United States Department of State
. In 1962, the first edition of the Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt
was published. All American staff were evacuated from Egypt during the Six-Day War
, but returned after the cessation of hostilities, even though the United States and Egypt would not resume normal diplomatic relations until 1974. In the aftermath of devastating earthquakes in 1992
, ARCE was chosen by USAID to administer an American-funded initiative to restore damage done to Egypt's tangible cultural heritage.
and its institutional members in conserving and excavating sites around Egypt, with notable current projects including El Kab
, the Precinct of Mut
, the Red Monastery
, the Temple of Khonsu the Temple complex at Luxor
, the temple of Ramses II at Abydos
and the Mosque of Aslam al-Silahdar in Cairo. In addition to JARCE, the Center publishes scholarly monographs on subjects related to Egyptian culture and history. Within the United States, local chapters of ARCE aim to increase interest and understanding of Egyptian history and culture amongst the general public.
Egyptology
Egyptology is the study of ancient Egyptian history, language, literature, religion, and art from the 5th millennium BC until the end of its native religious practices in the AD 4th century. A practitioner of the discipline is an “Egyptologist”...
, Coptology
Coptology
Coptology is most commonly defined as the science of Coptic studies, the study of Coptic language and literature.-Origin:The European interest in Coptology may have started as early as the 15th century AD. The term was used in 1976 when the First International Congress of Coptology was held in...
and all periods of Egyptian history.
History
ARCE was founded in 1948 in Boston by Edward W. Forbes, then the director of the Fogg Museum at Harvard, and Sterling Dow, then president of the Archaeological Institute of AmericaArchaeological Institute of America
The Archaeological Institute of America is a North American nonprofit organization devoted to the promotion of public interest in archaeology, and the preservation of archaeological sites. It has offices on the campus of Boston University and in New York City.The institute was founded in 1879,...
, with the intention of creating a research center in Egypt on the model of similar institutions in Greece and Rome
American Academy in Rome
The American Academy in Rome is a research and arts institution located on the Gianicolo in Rome.- History :In 1893, a group of American architects, painters and sculptors met regularly while planning the fine arts section of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition...
. The center's Egyptian headquarters opened in 1951 in an office at the Office of U.S. Information and Educational Exchange in the American Embassy in Cairo. Throughout its early years, the center received substantial funding from the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
. In 1962, the first edition of the Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt
Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt
The Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt is an academic journal published by the American Research Center in Egypt. It was established in 1962 to publish research into the art, archaeology, languages, history, and social systems of the Egyptian people. As is usual for Egyptological...
was published. All American staff were evacuated from Egypt during the Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
, but returned after the cessation of hostilities, even though the United States and Egypt would not resume normal diplomatic relations until 1974. In the aftermath of devastating earthquakes in 1992
1992 Cairo earthquake
The 1992 Cairo earthquake occurred at 13:09 UTC on 12 October, with an epicenter near Dahshur, 35 km south of Cairo. The earthquake had a magnitude of 5.8, but was unusually destructive for its size, causing 545 deaths, injuring 6512 and making 50,000 people homeless...
, ARCE was chosen by USAID to administer an American-funded initiative to restore damage done to Egypt's tangible cultural heritage.
Present Activities
ARCE currently maintains its headquarters in the Garden City neighborhood of Cairo with a second branch in Luxor. The United States headquarters are currently in San Antonio, Texas. The Cairo Center features a specialist research library and conference facilities and is intended as a base for academics from the United States and elsewhere when conducting research in Egypt. ARCE also runs a summer language program for university students studying Arabic and awards fellowships for research in Egypt and works with the Supreme Council of AntiquitiesSupreme Council of Antiquities
The Supreme Council of Antiquities is the branch of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture responsible for the conservation, protection and regulation of all antiquities and archaeological excavations in Egypt...
and its institutional members in conserving and excavating sites around Egypt, with notable current projects including El Kab
El Kab
El Kab is an Upper Egyptian site on the east bank of the Nile at the mouth of Wadi Hillal, about 80 km south of Luxor, consisting of prehistoric and Pharaonic settlements, rock-cut tombs of the early 18th Dynasty , remains of temples dating from the Early Dynastic period to the Ptolemaic...
, the Precinct of Mut
Precinct of Mut
The Precinct of Mut, located near Luxor, Egypt, is one of the four main temple enclosures that make up the immense Karnak Temple Complex and occupies some 150,000 m². It is dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Mut, the mother goddess. The area in which the precinct is located, originally was known as...
, the Red Monastery
Red Monastery
The Red Monastery is a Coptic Orthodox monastery named after an Egyptian saint called Pishay . It is located near the Upper Egyptian city of Souhag, and about four Km north west of the White Monastery...
, the Temple of Khonsu the Temple complex at Luxor
Luxor Temple
Luxor Temple is a large Ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the River Nile in the city today known as Luxor and was founded in 1400 BCE.,...
, the temple of Ramses II at Abydos
Abydos, Egypt
Abydos is one of the most ancient cities of Upper Egypt, and also of the eight Upper Nome, of which it was the capital city. It is located about 11 kilometres west of the Nile at latitude 26° 10' N, near the modern Egyptian towns of el-'Araba el Madfuna and al-Balyana...
and the Mosque of Aslam al-Silahdar in Cairo. In addition to JARCE, the Center publishes scholarly monographs on subjects related to Egyptian culture and history. Within the United States, local chapters of ARCE aim to increase interest and understanding of Egyptian history and culture amongst the general public.
Affiliate Institutions
ARCE is partially funded by its institutional affiliates and cooperates with them in large scale projects in Egypt. Affiliate institutions include:- The American University in Cairo
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- The British MuseumBritish MuseumThe British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
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- The University of California, Berkley
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- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- The University of MichiganUniversity of MichiganThe University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
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- Princeton UniversityPrinceton UniversityPrinceton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
- The University of Texas, Austin
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