Rhind Lectures
Encyclopedia
Rhind Lectures are a series of lectures on topics of archaeology, delivered over the course of a weekend by a chosen expert. They have been hosted by the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
since 1874. The content of the lectures is usually published in journals or expanded into new works by their authors.
The name commemorates Alexander Henry Rhind
, whose bequest to the society funded this lectureship. Rhind directed that his estate be used for this purpose, once the interests of living parties was extinguished, this eventuated 11 years after his death in 1863. The speaker and subject is selected years in advance, allowing an individual to give a detailed exposition on a topic in his area of expertise.
A number of guests have spoken on archaeology, anthropology and other subjects embraced by antiquarian
s. The programme has an introduction, six lectures, and a questions and answer session.
The Rhind Lectures have continued into the 21st century, and since 2009 the society has published a video file that is freely available to the public.
1 1874/76 'The past in the Present' Arthur Mitchell
, MD, LLD
2 1876/78 'The past in the Present' Arthur Mitchell, MD., LLD. These inaugural lectures were published as The Past in the Present: What is Civilisation, and concluded that civilisation was not inherent in modern people, or that essential characteristics were distinguishable from those of earlier peoples, rather it progressively emerged by the preservation of knowledge.
3 1879 'Scotland in Early Christian Times' Joseph Anderson
4 1880 'Scotland in Early Christian Times' Joseph Anderson
5 1881 'Scotland in Pagan Times: The Iron Age' Joseph Anderson
6 1882 'Scotland in Pagan Times: The Bronze and Stone Ages' Joseph Anderson
7 1883 ["Theme of ‘Roman Wall"] Rev J Collingwood Bruce, LLD FSA
8 1884 'Ogham inscriptions in Ireland and Scotland' Sir Samuel Ferguson
, QC., LLD., President of the Royal Irish Academy
9 1885 'Early Christian symbolism in Great Britain and Ireland' J Romilly Allen (John Romilly Allen), CE
10 1886 'Register of Privy Council of Scotland' David Masson
, MA LLD., Professor of Rhetoric & English Literature, University of Edinburgh
11 1887 [Greek archaeology] Alexander Stuart Murray, LLD., Keeper of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, London. Murray used this as the basis for his Handbook of Greek Archaeology (1892).
12 1888 'The Lake dwellings of Europe' Robert Munro
, MA MD., Author of Ancient Scottish Lake Dwellings
13 1889 'Early Ethnology of the British Isles' John Rhys
, MA, Professor of Celtic at Oxford. Published under the same title, 1891.
14 1890 [title] Professor J Duns, DD., New College, Edinburgh
15 1891 'The Anthropological History of Europe' John Beddoe
, MD LLD FRS, Vice-President of the Anthropolocial Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
16 1892 [title] Joseph Anderson, LLD., Assistant Secretary and Keeper of the Scottish National Museum of Antiquities, Edinburgh
17 1893 [title] Sir Herbert Eustace Maxwell, Bart., MP
18 1894 'Early fortifications in Scotland' David Christison, MD
19 1895 [title] Arthur John Evans, MA., Keeper of the Ashmoleum Museum, Oxford
20 1896 'Industrial arts of Scandinavia in pagan times' Dr Hans Hildebrand
, Royal Antiquary of Sweden
21 1897 [title]' James MacDonald, LLD
22 1898 'Heraldry' J Balfour Paul, Lyon King-of-Arms
23 1899 'Architecture in Scotland' Thomas Ross
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland is the senior antiquarian body in Scotland, with its headquarters in the National Museum, Chambers Street, Edinburgh...
since 1874. The content of the lectures is usually published in journals or expanded into new works by their authors.
The name commemorates Alexander Henry Rhind
Alexander Henry Rhind
Alexander Henry Rhind was a Scottish lawyer and Egyptologist.Born in Wick on 26 July 1833 in the Highlands, Rhind studied at the University of Edinburgh...
, whose bequest to the society funded this lectureship. Rhind directed that his estate be used for this purpose, once the interests of living parties was extinguished, this eventuated 11 years after his death in 1863. The speaker and subject is selected years in advance, allowing an individual to give a detailed exposition on a topic in his area of expertise.
A number of guests have spoken on archaeology, anthropology and other subjects embraced by antiquarian
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
s. The programme has an introduction, six lectures, and a questions and answer session.
The Rhind Lectures have continued into the 21st century, and since 2009 the society has published a video file that is freely available to the public.
Lecturers
The total number of lectures in the series in 2010 was 131. The following is a list of the earliest lecturer to 1899, the titles of their lectures is given where known.1 1874/76 'The past in the Present' Arthur Mitchell
Arthur Mitchell (physician)
Sir Arthur Mitchell K.C.B., M.D. was a Scottish doctor involved in the study and care of patients with mental illness. He served on several public commissions, and also wrote a number of works on historical subjects.-Biography:...
, MD, LLD
2 1876/78 'The past in the Present' Arthur Mitchell, MD., LLD. These inaugural lectures were published as The Past in the Present: What is Civilisation, and concluded that civilisation was not inherent in modern people, or that essential characteristics were distinguishable from those of earlier peoples, rather it progressively emerged by the preservation of knowledge.
3 1879 'Scotland in Early Christian Times' Joseph Anderson
4 1880 'Scotland in Early Christian Times' Joseph Anderson
5 1881 'Scotland in Pagan Times: The Iron Age' Joseph Anderson
6 1882 'Scotland in Pagan Times: The Bronze and Stone Ages' Joseph Anderson
7 1883 ["Theme of ‘Roman Wall"] Rev J Collingwood Bruce, LLD FSA
8 1884 'Ogham inscriptions in Ireland and Scotland' Sir Samuel Ferguson
Samuel Ferguson
Sir Samuel Ferguson was an Irish poet, barrister, antiquarian, artist and public servant. Perhaps the most important Ulster-Scot poet of the 19th century, because of his interest in Irish mythology and early Irish history he can be seen as a forerunner of William Butler Yeats and the other poets...
, QC., LLD., President of the Royal Irish Academy
9 1885 'Early Christian symbolism in Great Britain and Ireland' J Romilly Allen (John Romilly Allen), CE
10 1886 'Register of Privy Council of Scotland' David Masson
David Masson
David Masson , was a Scottish writer.He was born in Aberdeen, and educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and at Marischal College, University of Aberdeen. Intending to enter the Church, he proceeded to Edinburgh University, where he studied theology under Dr Thomas Chalmers, with whom he remained...
, MA LLD., Professor of Rhetoric & English Literature, University of Edinburgh
11 1887 [Greek archaeology] Alexander Stuart Murray, LLD., Keeper of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, London. Murray used this as the basis for his Handbook of Greek Archaeology (1892).
12 1888 'The Lake dwellings of Europe' Robert Munro
Robert Munro (archaeologist)
Robert Munro was a Scottish archaeologist. He was educated at the University of Edinburgh and was a physician at Kilmarnock until 1886 when he turned his whole attention to archaeological research. He was a member of many learned societies at home and abroad and published several books on the...
, MA MD., Author of Ancient Scottish Lake Dwellings
13 1889 'Early Ethnology of the British Isles' John Rhys
John Rhys
Sir John Rhys was a Welsh scholar, fellow of the British Academy, celticist and the first Professor of Celtic at Oxford University.-Early years and education:...
, MA, Professor of Celtic at Oxford. Published under the same title, 1891.
14 1890 [title] Professor J Duns, DD., New College, Edinburgh
15 1891 'The Anthropological History of Europe' John Beddoe
John Beddoe
John Beddoe was one of the most prominent English ethnologists in Victorian Britain.-Life:Beddoe was born in Bewdley, Worcestershire and educated at University College, London and Edinburgh University . He served in the Crimean War and was Physician at Bristol Royal Infirmary from 1862 to 1873...
, MD LLD FRS, Vice-President of the Anthropolocial Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
16 1892 [title] Joseph Anderson, LLD., Assistant Secretary and Keeper of the Scottish National Museum of Antiquities, Edinburgh
17 1893 [title] Sir Herbert Eustace Maxwell, Bart., MP
18 1894 'Early fortifications in Scotland' David Christison, MD
19 1895 [title] Arthur John Evans, MA., Keeper of the Ashmoleum Museum, Oxford
20 1896 'Industrial arts of Scandinavia in pagan times' Dr Hans Hildebrand
Hans Hildebrand
Hans Olof Hildebrand Hildebrand was a Swedish archeologist. Born in Stockholm, he was the son of Bror Emil Hildebrand and Anna Mathilda Ekecrantz...
, Royal Antiquary of Sweden
21 1897 [title]' James MacDonald, LLD
22 1898 'Heraldry' J Balfour Paul, Lyon King-of-Arms
23 1899 'Architecture in Scotland' Thomas Ross
External links
- Rhind Lectures 2010 videocast: Professor Martin Carver on "Design vs Dogma: Reflections on Field Archaeology" The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.