On 26 May 2025, Prof. Dr. Ludwig D. Morenz (Bonn) gave a guest lecture on the topic “Kopieren als Adaptieren” (“Copying as adaptation”) (in German):

Ludwig Morenz reported on various methods of epigraphic copying of ancient stone inscriptions from Pharaonic Egypt, including hand copies, tracing, and digital recording and editing (using the GigaMesh software: https://gigamesh.eu). Examples of this come from two archaeological projects in Bonn, focusing on the oldest written records and images (late 4th millennium) from the Aswan region and on the earliest evidence of alphabetic writing from south-western Sinai (early 2nd millennium). In his lecture, Ludwig Morenz also discussed the curious fact that the images and alef-bet inscriptions from southwestern Sinai can be understood as imitations of Egyptian original images. In this sense, the lecture dealt with multiple bridges, alienations and appropriations.

Prof. Dr. Ludwig D. Morenz holds the Chair of Egyptology at the University of Bonn. His research focuses on cultural studies-oriented Egyptology, including the history of writing, media archaeology, cultural semiotics and visual anthropology. One of his core areas of interest is the study of early alphabetic writing.