How can I attend SSAE lectures and events?

Updated

You can attend lectures held by The Society for the Study of Ancient Egypt (SSAE) by simply showing up — no booking is required. The society runs meetings at two venues, in Chesterfield and Nottingham, and some events are held on Zoom only. To confirm the latest arrangements, check the Events page on egyptology-ssae.org or contact the society directly.

What the SSAE is

The Society for the Study of Ancient Egypt exists to promote and encourage interest in, and study of, the history and archaeology of Ancient Egypt. It describes itself as a friendly and enthusiastic society, and states that beginners are welcome with no prior knowledge required — just an interest in Egypt.

Where lectures take place

The society lists two venues for its meetings:

  • Chesterfield
  • Nottingham

Individual events are not necessarily held at both. The website's example listings show a Chesterfield venue in one case and a Zoom-only event in another, so the location varies by lecture.

Do you need to book?

No. The website states there is no need to book for lectures — you can "pop along" to one. That makes attendance low-commitment: you turn up at the advertised time and venue rather than reserving a place in advance.

How to check a specific lecture

Because venues and formats differ from event to event, confirm the details before travelling:

  1. Go to the SSAE website (egyptology-ssae.org) and open the Events section.
  2. Check the date, start time, speaker, and whether the lecture is in person or Zoom only.
  3. Note the venue if it is in person — for example, Chesterfield Library Lecture Theatre appears in one listing.
  4. If anything is unclear, use the Contact Us page to ask the society directly.

The site also lists separate sections for SSAE events, non-society events, and venue information, so the Events page is the main place to look for current arrangements.

Example of how listings are presented

The website's "Coming up next" section shows entries in this form:

Lecture Speaker Date and time Format/venue
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

This illustrates the two things to verify each time: whether the lecture is in person, on Zoom, or both, and the exact start time.

Practical points to keep in mind

  • No prior knowledge needed. The society explicitly welcomes beginners.
  • No booking mentioned. Attendance is described as drop-in; if that changes for a particular event, the Events page or the society's contact channels are where it would be stated.
  • Zoom-only events exist. If a lecture is listed as Zoom Only, attending in person is not an option for that event.
  • Details can change. The site notes a "last updated" date, so re-check close to the lecture date rather than relying on an old listing.

If you want more than lectures

The website also includes sections for a Members Library and a "Join Us" page, so if you decide to go beyond occasional lectures, membership information is available there. For anything not covered on the site, the Contact Us page is the route to ask about events, venues, or membership.