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What is The Society for the Study of Ancient Egypt?
The Society for the Study of Ancient Egypt (SSAE) is a membership society that promotes and encourages interest in the history and archaeology of Ancient Egypt. Its main public activity is a programme of lectures held at two venues, Chesterfield and Nottingham, with some talks also offered online via Zoom. According to the site, beginners are welcome and no prior knowledge is required — the emphasis is on curiosity about Egypt rather than academic credentials.
What it offers
- Lectures and events: A rolling programme of talks, including Egyptological topics such as the Book of the Dead and disease, disability and healing in Ancient Egypt. Some sessions are in-person only, others are Zoom-only, so it is worth checking each listing.
- Two meeting locations: Chesterfield and Nottingham, which suits people in the East Midlands and surrounding areas.
- No booking for lectures: The site states you can simply turn up, which lowers the barrier for first-time visitors.
- Member resources: A members' library is listed, along with a "Join Us" section for those who want to support the society formally.
- Other events: A separate page covers non-society events, useful if you want a wider roundup of Egyptology talks in the region.
Who it suits
It is best for people who want regular, accessible talks and a local community rather than a formal course or qualification. If you live near Chesterfield or Nottingham and prefer in-person meetings, the society is a natural fit; if you are further away, the Zoom lectures are the practical entry point. Someone considering a first visit could check the events page for the next date and whether it is in-person or online, then simply attend — no booking is required for lectures.
For a broader national perspective, [[site:e Egyptology-ssae.org|The Society for the Study of Ancient Egypt]] is the society itself; comparable organisations include The Society for the Study of Ancient Egypt and, for wider Egyptological resources, The British Museum.
How do I attend a lecture or meeting of the SSAE?
You attend by turning up at one of the SSAE's advertised lectures. The society states there is no need to book, and beginners with no prior knowledge are welcome. Meetings are held at two venues, Chesterfield and Nottingham, and some talks are also offered on Zoom.
What to do
- Check the Events page for the next lecture, date, time and venue.
- Note whether it is in person, Zoom-only, or both — the listed examples include a Chesterfield Library Lecture Theatre talk also on Zoom, and a Zoom-only talk.
- On the day, arrive at the venue a little before the start time, or join the Zoom session if that is the format.
- If anything is unclear, use the Contact Us page to ask before travelling.
Practical points
- Booking is not required for lectures, so there is no ticket to reserve.
- Some events are not SSAE events; the site lists "Non Society Events" alongside its own programme, so check which section a listing sits in.
- Venue details are on the Our Venues page, which matters most if you are deciding between Chesterfield and Nottingham.
- The society also has a members' library and a Join Us page, so attending a lecture is a low-commitment way to try it before joining.
Example scenario You live between the two venues and see a talk you want. If it is Chesterfield-only, plan the trip there; if it is listed as Zoom-only, you can attend from home instead. If you are new to Egyptology, the no-booking, beginners-welcome approach means you can simply show up and listen.
Next step Open the Events page on The Society for the Study of Ancient Egypt and confirm the next meeting's format and venue, then use Contact Us if you need directions or confirmation.
Where are the SSAE's meeting venues in Chesterfield and Nottingham?
The SSAE lists two meeting venues: Chesterfield and Nottingham. The specific Chesterfield location named on the site is Chesterfield Library Lecture Theatre.
H3 Practical details
- Chesterfield: Chesterfield Library Lecture Theatre is the venue given for the example lecture "The Book of the Dead" by Joel Sams.
- Nottingham: Nottingham is confirmed as one of the society's two meeting venues, but the site introduction does not name a specific building or address for it in the supplied information.
- Format varies: the same events listing shows some talks are in person at Chesterfield and also on Zoom, while another is described as Zoom Only.
- Booking: the site states there is no need to book for lectures, and beginners are welcome with no prior knowledge required.
H3 Next step Check the SSAE events page before travelling, because the venue and format can change by talk: The Society for the Study of Ancient Egypt. If you need the exact Nottingham address, contact the society directly through the site rather than assuming it matches the Chesterfield library venue.
What events and lectures does the SSAE have coming up?
The SSAE lists two upcoming lectures on its homepage, both open to beginners and requiring no prior knowledge.
Upcoming lectures
| Date | Talk | Speaker | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 10th October, 1:30 pm | Disease, Disability and Healing in Ancient Egypt | Dr Sofia Aziz | Zoom only |
| Saturday, 5th December, 1:30 pm | The Book of the Dead | Joel Sams | Chesterfield Library Lecture Theatre and on Zoom |
Practical points
- No booking needed for lectures, according to the site — you can simply turn up at the Chesterfield venue. For Zoom-only talks, you would need to check the site or contact the society for access details, since attendance instructions aren't given on the homepage.
- Two regular venues: Chesterfield and Nottingham. The December talk is at the Chesterfield Library Lecture Theatre; the October one is online only, so Nottingham members can attend remotely.
- Audience: the society explicitly welcomes beginners, so these talks suit people with a casual interest in Egyptology as well as long-term members. Expect lecture-style presentations rather than hands-on workshops.
Next step
If you're deciding whether to go, the October Zoom talk is the lower-commitment option — no travel and no booking. For the December in-person talk, arrive a little early at Chesterfield Library Lecture Theatre to get a seat, and check the events page closer to the date in case details change. The site also mentions non-society events and a members' library, which may be worth a look if you want more than occasional lectures.
How do I become a member of the SSAE and what does membership include?
The SSAE doesn't publish a single online sign-up form; membership is handled through the society, so the practical route is to use the "Join Us" page on The Society for the Study of Ancient Egypt or contact them directly via the contact details listed there.
What the site shows about membership
- There is a dedicated "Join Us" section in the site navigation, alongside "Members Library", "Events", "Our Venues" and "About Us".
- The society describes itself as friendly and enthusiastic, and says beginners are welcome with no prior knowledge required — so membership is aimed at interested newcomers as much as long-term enthusiasts.
- Lectures are advertised as open to attend without booking, which means you can try a meeting before committing to joining.
What membership appears to include
The site's structure suggests the core benefits are access to the society's programme and its members' library:
| Area | What it suggests for members |
|---|---|
| Events | A regular lecture programme, with meetings at Chesterfield and Nottingham and some talks offered on Zoom |
| Members Library | A lending or reference collection available specifically to members |
| Community | A local society network with in-person and online attendance options |
Because the site does not spell out subscription rates or a full benefits list on the page shown, treat the above as what the navigation implies rather than a confirmed package.
A sensible next step
If you are new to Egyptology, attend one of the advertised lectures first — the site says no booking is needed — then ask about joining at the meeting or through the contact page. If you are joining mainly for the library or for Zoom-only talks, ask directly whether those are included before paying anything, since the site does not confirm it.
Do I need prior knowledge of Egyptology to join the SSAE?
No. The Society for the Study of Ancient Egypt states that beginners are welcome and that no prior knowledge is required—just an interest in Egypt. Its lectures are open to attend without booking, so you can try a meeting before deciding whether to join.
H3 What that means in practice
- You can walk into a lecture in Chesterfield or Nottingham and follow it without having read anything beforehand.
- Talks cover both specialist subjects (for example, the Book of the Dead) and broader themes such as disease, disability and healing in Ancient Egypt, so there is room for different levels of background.
- Some events are held online via Zoom, which suits people who cannot travel to the venues.
H3 A sensible next step Check the events page for the next lecture, pick a topic that sounds interesting rather than one that sounds most advanced, and attend as a guest. If you enjoy it, ask about membership and the members' library at the same meeting.
H3 Where prior knowledge does help It is not needed to join or attend, but it becomes useful if you want to read academic Egyptology in depth or contribute to discussions. In that case, general introductions to Egyptian history and archaeology are a reasonable starting point. The society's own web links page is a better guide than a random search, and the SSAE site itself lists events, venues and contact details.
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