Join us every third Thursday of every month at 9:00 AM for Coffee With the Curator at the Museum of World Treasures!

Event Details

• Date: Thursday, December 18, 2025
• Time: 9:00 AM
• Location: Museum of World Treasures [Get Directions]

Program Fee

• Museum Members: Free
• Non-Members: $4 per person plus tax

Become a Museum Member

Attending Information

• Open to all ages
• No need to register; simply walk in!
• Light refreshments provided.

Ancient Egyptian Religion

Egyptologist and Associate Professor of History at Missouri State University Dr. Julia Troche will offer an overview of ancient Egyptian religion. Two students will join her to share research from their term papers: Jennifer Fischer will offer insights into personal piety, one's personal relationship with the divine in ancient Egypt through an examination of so-called "soul houses" and the notion of sympathetic magic. Andrew Heinzler will introduce attendees to a brief period of Egyptian history called the Amarna Period, wherein religious practices changed to a focused worship of the god Aten (also called Atenism). He will examine whether this was the world's earliest monotheism, or if it is better understood as something else. Finally, Dr. Troche will wrap up with a discussion of the god Ptah. Ptah is one of Egypt's most important gods, but likely one you have never heard of, or only know a little about. While this presentation on ancient Egyptian religion is by no means comprehensive, Troche, Fischer, and Heinzler hope to offer a broad overview as well as a few deep dives to immerse you in the complexities and nuances ancient Egyptian religious practice.