Name: The Dazzling of Ra: Sun Worship and the Pharaohs of Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty with Dr. Mohamed Ismail Kh
Start: 2025-10-16T11:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-10-16T12:00:00-07:00
Location: Bowers Museum

$The Dazzling of Ra: Sun Worship and the Pharaohs of Egypt\u2019s Fifth Dynasty with Dr. Mohamed Ismail Kh$

THURSDAY | OCTOBER 16 | 11 AM – 12 PM
NORMA KERSHAW AUDITORIUM | LECTURE
Presented by Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General, Supreme Council of Antiquities, Egypt
Join us for a captivating lecture by Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled as he unveils the spiritual and political transformation that unfolded during Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty—a period that marked the rise of sun worship and the divine legacy of Ra, the Sun God.
Drawing from the most recent excavations at the Pyramid of Sahure in Abusir, Dr. Khaled will explore how the pharaohs of this era redefined kingship through their devotion to Ra. He will present newly uncovered evidence and architectural marvels that reflect the dazzling emergence of eternal light from the primordial chaos—an essential concept in ancient Egyptian cosmology.
Ticketed Event: Members $35 | General $40
Questions? Email [email protected] or call 714.567.3677. Proceeds benefit Bowers Museum Education Programs. Tickets are non-refundable.
This program is generously sponsored by Anne Shih.
About the speaker:
Dr. Mohamed Ismail is a distinguished Egyptologist whose academic and professional career reflects a deep commitment to the study and preservation of ancient Egyptian heritage. He completed his undergraduate studies at the universities of Minia and Cairo, followed by a PhD from Charles University in Prague in 2009. Between 2014 and 2016, he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Würzburg University under the auspices of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
From 2018 to 2024, Dr. Ismail served as a scientific researcher in the Egyptology Department at Würzburg University, Germany. As of March 2024, he has taken on the role of Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt.
Within the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, he previously held key positions, including Director of Foreign Mission Affairs and supervisor of the Development and Site Management Project at the Giza Plateau, reflecting his dedication to archaeological stewardship.
Dr. Ismail specializes in the Old Kingdom period and currently directs the Abusir Project, leading excavations at the pyramid complex of King Sahura. His work has significantly advanced our understanding of this era. He was awarded Antiquities Endowment Fund grants in 2018 and 2021 to restore the substructure of Sahura’s pyramid—efforts that have yielded groundbreaking findings and reshaped modern interpretations of the site.