Scripture and Scholarship: The Swedish Search for Ancient Egypt, 1677 – 1739

This project investigates Swedish knowledge production about ancient Egypt during the period 1677-1739 based on travelogues and different genres of texts produced in Sweden (religious texts, dissertations, literature, dream books, advisory literature, newspapers).

The central aim is to explore how antiquarian studies of ancient Egyptian remains challenged authoritative historical narratives and generated a new understanding of ancient Egypt.

In a European context, the Swedish source material is almost unknown and can therefore make a significant contribution to the growing field of research on early modern Egyptology.

The Swedish case shows how ancient Egypt was used as an ideological tool for political and religious purposes during the Swedish Great Power Era, but also how Egypt became a place where scientific travelers through empirical studies challenged and transformed established knowledge of the ancient world.

Combining cultural history with the history of science, the project analyzes the impact that references to ancient Egypt had in history, science and culture in early modern Sweden and how antiquarian studies of ancient remains in Egypt contributed both to the development of historical methods and a new history of ancient Egypt.