What is The Society for the Study of Ancient Egypt (SSAE) website?

Updated

The website at egyptology-ssae.org is the official online home of The Society for the Study of Ancient Egypt (SSAE), a society whose stated purpose is to promote and encourage interest in, and study of, the history and archaeology of Ancient Egypt. It is aimed at anyone with an interest in Ancient Egypt, and the site explicitly notes that beginners are welcome with no prior knowledge required. If you are looking for a society to follow, lectures to attend, or a way to connect with others interested in Egyptology, this site is the starting point.

What the SSAE is

The SSAE describes itself as a friendly and enthusiastic society. Its core purpose, as stated on the site, is to promote and encourage interest in and study of the history and archaeology of Ancient Egypt. It is not a university department or a commercial tour operator; it is a membership-oriented society that organises lectures and maintains resources for its members and the wider public.

What the website offers

The site functions mainly as an information hub for the society's activities and resources. Based on the site's own navigation and content, you can expect to find:

  • About Us – background on the society and its purpose
  • Events – upcoming lectures and meetings
  • Our Venues – where meetings take place
  • Members Library – library resources for members
  • Join Us – membership information
  • Web Links – external links of interest
  • Contact Us – ways to get in touch
  • CHES and Non Society Events – additional event listings

The site also notes it participates in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme, and links to the society's Facebook and Twitter/X presence.

Events and how to attend

The site lists upcoming lectures with dates, speakers, topics, times, and formats. Examples shown on the page include:

Topic Speaker Date and time Format
The Book of the Dead Joel Sams Saturday, 5th December, 1:30 pm Chesterfield Library Lecture Theatre and on Zoom
Disease, disability and Healing in Ancient Egypt Dr Sofia Aziz Saturday, 10th October, 1:30 pm Zoom only

The society states that there is no need to book to attend a lecture — you can simply turn up. Meetings are held at two venues: Chesterfield and Nottingham, with some events offered online via Zoom.

Who it is for

The SSAE is open to anyone interested in Ancient Egypt. The site specifically welcomes beginners and states that no prior knowledge is required — just an interest in Egypt. This makes it suitable both for people who are new to Egyptology and for those who already follow the subject and want regular lectures and a like-minded community.

Practical points to note

  • No booking required for lectures, according to the site.
  • Two physical venues (Chesterfield and Nottingham) plus online Zoom options for some events.
  • Membership is available via the "Join Us" section, and members have access to a library.
  • The page shows a "last updated" date, so event listings may change — check the Events section for the current schedule before travelling.

If your goal is to attend a talk, meet other people interested in Ancient Egypt, or use a members' library, the SSAE site is worth browsing. Start with the Events page to see what is coming up, and the Join Us page if you want member benefits.