Crossing time and space – to commemorate Hanna Szymanska

The book is dedicated to the memory of the late Professor Hanna Szymanska, written by eminent scholars, representing the fields of Egyptology, Classical Archaeology, Early Christian Studies and Conservation of Artefacts. Most of the studies are related to discoveries made by Hanna­ Szymanska in Egypt, at Tell Atrib and Marea. Some of the sensational discoveries unearthed recently at the Byzantine basilica at Mareao are presented here for the first time by K. Babraj, T. Derda, E. Jastrzebowska, and B. Lichocka. A group of articles is reminiscent of H. Szymanska’s studies on Egyptian terracottas from ancient Athribis. K. Mysliwiec presents the actual stage of research. S. Jedraszek discusses social implications of some types of Hellenistic figurines, P. Ballet analyses Early Christian terracottas from other sites, while N. Willburger proposes a new interpretation of the iconographic topos depicting an old drunken woman. Other contributions concern the sites of Deir el-Baha­ri (E. Laskowska-Kusztal), Dendera (A. Lukaszewicz) and Shenhur (T. Górecki, A. Poludnikiewicz). There is also a study on ancient stomatological instruments (A. Krug), an analysis of the relationships between Christian and Islamic religious texts (K. Koscielniak) and a description of Józef Sekowski’s journey to Egypt and Nubia in 19th century (J. Sliwa). G. Kor­pal analyses the conservation work on a modern sculpture, and T. Zurkowska describes the ambience of the excavations mission directed by H. Szymanska in a humourus way. A scien­tific biography of Hanna Szymanska, written by M. Dzielska, is found at the beginning of the book.