The Shabaqo Stone: From Egyptian Myth to Kushite Identity

Geological Lecture Hall
24 Oxford St.
Cambridge
Wed., Sep. 23, 2026, 6 – 7 p.m.



The Shabaqo Stone is a monument that preserves some of the most important religious writings to survive from ancient Egypt. It was carved for Shabaqo, a Kushite king who ruled Egypt during the Twenty-Fifth Dynasty (ca. 722–655 BCE). One of its central texts is the so‑called “Memphite Theology,” which portrays the god Ptah as a universal creator who brings the world into being through the powers of thought and speech. In this talk, Joshua Roberson will introduce the Shabaqo Stone’s historical and religious significance, and reveal a behind-the-scenes look at the first-ever digital documentation of this remarkable monument, carried out at the British Museum in 2019. Explore new insights, recent discoveries, and the cutting‑edge technologies that are transforming our understanding of one of Egypt’s most fascinating theological texts.

Gazette Classification: Community, Lecture, Science
Organization/Sponsor: Presented by the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East and the Harvard Museums of Science and Culture.
Speaker(s): Joshua Aaron Roberson, Associate Professor of Art History (Egyptian Language), University of Memphis; Assistant Director, Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology, University of Memphis
Cost: Free
Ticket Web Link: forms.cloud.microsoft…
Harvard Key Required: No
More info: hmsc.harvard.edu…