Kirsty Grant

Thesis title: The Cult of Nocturnal Horus: An Investigation of Horus Menti-(n)-irti's Role in the Egyptian Religious Landscape of the First Millennium BC

Biography

Background

Kirsty obtained her MA (Hons) and MSc at the University of Edinburgh between 2014-2019, specialising in animal cults and animal mummification in the Late Dynastic to Early Roman Period, Egypt. Her MA (Hons) dissertation focussed on the cat as a religious symbol in Pharaonic Egypt, while her MSc research investigated and presented evidence for the animal mummification industry from the Late Period to the occupation of Egypt by the Roman Empire. Her PhD thesis focuses on the cult of Horus Menti-(n)-irti and its prevalence across Egypt during the first millennium BC. 

Kirsty has excavation experience in Scottish and Egyptian archaeology. She also has experience in the heritage sector in both curation and conservation.

 

Qualifications

MA (Hons) Ancient History & Classical Archaeology - The University of Edinburgh 2014-2018

MSc Classical Art & Archaeology - The University of Edinburgh 2018-2019

Undergraduate teaching

Tutor for:

  • Greek Art & Archaeology
  • Archaeology 1A
  • Archaeology 1B
  • Roman World 1B
  • Classical Literature

Research summary

  • Egyptian religion
  • Animal cults
  • Mummification
  • Zooarchaeology
  • Egyptology
  • Archaeology in popular culture

Current research interests

Kirsty's PhD research examines several key aspects of the cult of the nocturnal aspect of Horus, Mxnti-(n)-irti (“Horus-Foremost-one-without-Eyes”). The cult of this nocturnal manifestation of Horus is associated primarily with the shrew mouse and reached its peak in popularity during the revitalisation of the animal cults beginning in the Late Period. The primary purpose of this research is to illuminate the role of this nocturnal manifestation of Horus and to assess its significance in the religious landscape of ancient Egypt. She is also interested in archaeology in popular culture, with a particular focus on the gaming industry.

Past research interests

Kirsty previously researched evidence for the practical aspects of the animal mummification industry of the first millennium BC. This involved compiling and assessing past/current assumptions about how the cults operated, and examining these assumptions in light of archaeological evidence for the mummification of animals as votive offerings. For her MA (Hons) dissertation, Kirsty researched the ways in which animals were viewed and their role in Egyptian pharaonic society using felines as a case study.
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