Presented by Dr. Colleen Darnell, Egyptologist and Lynda Thomas Distinguished Lecturer

The oldest complete dress ever discovered comes from a tomb in ancient Egypt--and after five thousand years, the pleated linen is still intact. While certain items of clothing for both men and women remained consistent for thousands of years, especially in imagery of divinities and royal ritual attire, artistic representations and surviving textiles provide a surprisingly detailed history of dress in ancient Egypt.

The reign of Tutankhamun and his remarkable parents, Akhenaten and Nefertiti, are one of the few periods when goddesses wear "contemporary" women's dress, yet another fascinating aspect of this revolutionary time. Two thousand years after the end of ancient Egyptian civilization, revivals of ancient motifs and design continue to influence fashion.

This lecture is made possible through a generous bequest by Lynda Thomas (1950-2021).

Egypt's Golden Couple: When Akhenaten and Nefertiti Were Gods on Earth by John Darnell and Colleen Darnell will be available for purchase in Bowers' gallery store soon!