Bloomsbury Summer School & Academy (text)

Fascinated by ancient civilisations?

We offer anyone with any level of knowledge, inspiring short courses on ancient Egypt and other areas of the ancient world.

BSS&A in Egypt 2027

BSS&A in Egypt is a very special learning experience — courses taught in Egypt, offering a programme of classes and visits to archaeological sites, often including sites that are usually closed to visitors but are opened specially for BSS&A by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Our 15 BSS&A in Egypt courses to date have been directed by Prof. Barry Kemp, Mr John Romer, Dr Robert Morkot, Dr Stephen Harvey, Dr Peter Lacovara, Dr Bill Manley, Dr Bernadette Brady, and Dr Anna Stevens. We usually base ourselves in one hotel for the entire course. Thus far, our courses have taken place in Cairo, Minya, Sohag, Luxor, and Aswan. Why not join us in spring 2027 in Luxor?


Sunday 14 to Saturday 20 March 2027

THE ROYAL HAREM IN ANCIENT EGYPT: QUEENS, CONCUBINES, AND CONSPIRACY

Course Director: Prof. Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones (Cardiff University)

A NEW course taught in Luxor by Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, Professor in Ancient History at Cardiff University and renowned lecturer and author on monarchy, gender, and queenship in ancient Egypt and the Near East. Enjoy daily lectures plus visits to fascinating ancient sites, including two special openings: the harem-palace complex at Malqata; the harem of Medinet Habu — the royal residence situated in the imposing fortified gatehouse at the entrance of Ramesses III's mortuary temple on Luxor's West Bank. Lloyd accompanies the site visits and is on hand throughout to answer questions, discuss, and socialise with you.

This unique on-site course aims to liberate the ancient harem from its Orientalist clichés to show shows that the harem was a political institution. It was the place where dynastic identities were created. Absolute power lay in the hands of pharaohs, it is true, but in the royal harem, the policies of even the greatest monarchs could be swayed by his mother, a wife, or a favourite concubine. Throughout Egypt’s history, royal women formed a key part of dynastic identity, in public and in private. This lively and fascinating course, centred in beautiful Luxor, will give you the opportunity to discover the world of the ancient Egyptian royal harem up-close in visits to well-known, and less familiar, sites in and around ancient Thebes. In addition to class time, and time on site, our meals together also provide a unique opportunity to chat about all things ancient Egyptian with fellow enthusiasts.


Course Director info Itinerary
Course fee per person:
£3,585 (Single Supplement: £130)
Recommended reading
Dodson, A. and Hilton, D. (2005) The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. American University in Cairo.

Cooney, K. (2018) When Women Ruled the World: Six queens of Egypt. Blackstone Publishing.

Llewellyn-Jones, L. (2024) The Cleopatras: The forgotten queens of Egypt. Wildfire.

Marsman, H. J. (2003) Women in Ugarit and Israel: Their social and religious positions in the context of the Ancient Near East. Brill.

Robins, G. (1993) Women in Ancient Egypt. British Museum Press.

Tyldesley, J. (2006) Chronicle of the Queens of Egypt: From early dynastic times to the death of Cleopatra. Thames & Hudson.


Course fee inclusions and exclusions

Price includes:

  • All hotel nights (6 nights at the Marsam Hotel and breakfast)
  • All airport transfers, including meet-and-assist services on a private basis for separate arrivals
  • All tours and transfers as detailed in the itineray above including entry fees to all sites, museums, guiding, and coach transportation
  • Visits as indicated in the itinerary, including entry fees to sites and museums, guiding, and transportation
  • Guiding headsets
  • Two private openings as indicated in the itinerary
  • Daily lectures (except Day 5) led by Prof. Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones
  • Meals and drinks as follows:
  • Breakfast daily in our hotel
  • Welcome Dinner on Day 2 and Farewell Dinner on Day 6
  • 5 lunches in restaurants and 1 packed lunch
  • Refreshments at each lecture session
  • Unlimited water with meals and on the coach transportation
  • Tips for the bus driver, archaeological sites guards, porters, waiters, and others providing ad hoc services during the course

Price DOES NOT include:

  • Airfare*
  • Travel insurance
  • Entry visa for Egypt (obtainable on arrival in Egypt for most countries)
  • Meals or drinks not noted in the itinerary
  • Goods or services not specified as included in the per person course price
  • Tip for our Egyptian tour guide
  • Any other costs for goods or services not indicated asincluded in the per person course price

* Participants are responsible for their own airfare to and from Luxor. Should you require assistance booking flights, our Egyptian Travel Coordinator, Galal Alsenusy and his team can organise this for you. For details please email: alsinusygalal@yahoo.com


How to book

To make your booking and send deposit payment (£800 per person), please fill in this form:

Payment Information:

Payment should be made to Golden Gates Travel (Galal Alsenusy) via bank transfer as follows:

Bank: Arab African International Bank
Branch Name: Luxor
Address: Khaled Ebn El Waleed St., Luxor, Egypt
Currency: GBP†
Account Name: Golden Gates Travel
Account Number: 1178056410010401
Swift Code: ARAIEGCXXXX
IBAN Number: EG130057013101178056410010401

IMPORTANT: It is critical that you instruct your bank that payment must be Pounds Sterling, NOT Egyptian Pounds. All fees must be paid by the sender. As a reference, please use: BSSA2027 + your surname. The balance is due on Wednesday 13 January 2027.

† For payment in USD or EUR, contact us.

If required, the recipient's address is as follows:

Golden Gates Travel
47 Musab Bin Omair St.
Luxor, Egypt

GGT is IATA protected (No. 90266293)

BSS&A welcomes neurodivergent participants. We want your time with us to be comfortable, enjoyable, and inclusive, and will do our best to accommodate any additional needs.

For any further queries, please contact Dr Kathryn Piquette: