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Janice Yellin

  • Professor Emeritus
Academic Division: Arts & Humanities
781-239-5160
Dr. Yellin has taught at Louisiana State University, the University of Florida, Brandeis University, and Merrimack College. She has held the Martha Willcomb Lectureship in Egyptian Civilization at Harvard University. Her major interest is in Egyptology and Meroitic Studies. She is currently Director of the Royal Pyramids of Kush Project which is publishing the pyramids of the kings and queens of ancient Meroe (c350 BC - AD 350) which are located north of Khartoum. These decorated, royal tombs are the last pyramids built in Africa and are endangered by human activities and environmental changes. The project has been funded by grants from major foundations. She has published numerous articles on ancient Sudanese art and religion and recently completed her term as a member of the Board of the International Society for Nubian Studies.

Academic Degrees

  • Ph D, Brandeis University
  • MA, Brandeis University
  • BA, The City College of New York

Academic Interest / Expertise

Archaeology; Egyptology; Nubian Studies

Awards & Honors

  • 2018 — Babson Research Scholar, Babson College
  • 2016 — Stipend for month of research in Berlin, German Arachaeological Institute, Berlin
  • 2015 — BFRF Summer Stipend, Babson College
  • 2014 — Tif Award, Babson College
  • 2012 — BFRF Summer Stipend, Babson College
  • 2011 — BFRF Summer Stipend, Babson College
  • 2007 — BFRF Summer Stipend, Babson College
  • 2006 — BFRF Summer Stipend, Babson College
  • 2005 — Board of Research Summer Stipend, Babson College
  • 2003 — Board of Research Summer Stipend, Babson College
  • 2002 — Board of Research Summer Stipend, Babson College
  • 2001 — Board of Research Summer Stipend, Babson College
  • 2000 — Board of Research Summer Stipend, Babson College
  • 1999 — Grant, The National Endowment for the Humanities, Division of Collaborative Research
  • 1997 — Board of Research Summer Stipend, Babson College
  • 1996 — Board of Research Summer Stipend, Babson College
  • 1996 — Grant, Fondation Michela Schiff-Giorgini Grant
  • 1996 — Grant, German-American Academic Council (TransCoop Program)
  • 1996 — Grant, The Haycock Memorial Fund, British Institute in Eastern African, (
  • 1996 — Grant, The Samuel H. Kress Foundation
  • 1994 — Board of Research Summer Stipend, Babson College
  • 1994 — Fondation Michela Schiff-Giorgini Grant,,
  • 1994 — Grant, Senior Research Program, The J. Paul Getty Foundation
  • 1993 — Board of Research Summer Stipend, Babson College
  • 1990 — Board of Research Summer Stipend, Babson College
  • 1988 — Hauptreferant (Keynote speaker), Sixth International Conference of Meroitic Studies
  • 1987 — Board of Research Summer Stipend, Babson College
  • 1986 — Martha A. Willcomb Lectureship on Egyptian Culture,, Harvard University Department of Fine Arts,
  • 1984 — Faculty Development Grant, Merrimack College
  • 1983 — Faculty Development Grant, Merrimack College
  • 1980 — Graduate Council Grant, University of Florida
  • 1979 — Teacher of the Year, College of Fine Arts, University of Florida, Gainesville
  • 1975 — NEH Grant, University of Florida
  • 1974 — Sachar International Award, Brandeis University
  • 1966 — New York State Regent Scholarship Winner,

Publications

Journal Articles

  • Yellin, J.W. (2018). The Family of Arkamani I in the Southern Cemetery at Meroe. Vol: 9, Page: 201-206. University of Vienna.
  • Wolf, P., Reidel, A., Yellin, J., Hallof, J., Bashir, M. (2018). The Qatari Mission for the Pyramids of Sudan - Fieldwork in the Meroe Royal Cemeteries - A Progress Report. Vol: 22, Page: 3-21. British Museum. link
  • Yellin, J.W. (2015). Meroitic royal chronology: the conflict with Rome and its aftermath. Journal of the Sudan Archaeological Research Society. Vol: 19, Page: 2-15. British Museum. link
  • Yellin, J.W. (2015). The Family of Arkamani I in the Southern Cemetery at Meroe. Beiträge für Sudanforschung. Vol: 9, Page: 201-206. University of Vienna. link
  • Yellin, J.W. (2014). The Kushite Nature of Early Mortuary Meroitic religion: A Pragmatic Approach to Osirian beliefs. The ancient Sudan. Communications of the Sudan Archaeological Society of Berlin. Vol: Special Issue 2014.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2014). The Chronology and Attribution of Royal Pyramids at Meroe and Gebel Barkal: BEG N 8, BEG N 12, BAR 5 and BAR 2. Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections. Vol: 6, Issue: 1. University of Arizona. link
  • Yellin, J.W. (2011). Meroitic (Laungauge). Encyclopedia of Ancient History.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2009). La transition entre le Nepateen tardif et l'Epoque meroitique, d'apres les recherches sur la necropole royale sud de Meroe. Bulletin de la Societe Francaise d'Egyptologie. Vol: 174, Page: 8-28.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2004). “Secret of Ancient Meroitic Language". Calliope Magazine. Vol: 15, Issue: 12. Cobblestone Press.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2003). "Loved by the Gods”. Calliope Magazine. Vol: 14, Issue: 12. Cobblestone Press.
  • Yellin, J.W. (1979). "The Meaning of Hieroglyphs". Odyssey Magazine.

Book Chapters

  • Yellin, J.W. (2021). A Prolegomena to the Study of Meroitic Art: Oxford Handbook of Ancient Nubia. Page: Ch. 31. Oxford University Press. link
  • Yellin, J.W. (2021). Royal and Elite Cemeteries of Meroe: The Oxford Handbook of Ancient Nubia. Page: Ch. 28. Oxford University Press. link
  • Yellin, J.W. (in press). Meroitic Art: Oxford Handbook of Ancient Nubia. Page: 42. Oxford University Press.
  • Yellin, J.W. (in press). Royal and Elite Cemeteries of Meroe: Oxford Handbook of Ancient Nubia. Page: 8. Oxford University Press.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2012). Al-Hassa: Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile. Page: 253-254. The American University in Cairo Press.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2012). Al-Hobagi: Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile. Page: 247-249. The American University in Cairo Press.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2012). Arminna West and Arminna West: Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile. Page: 361-362. The American University in Cairo Press.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2012). Dangeil: Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile. Page: 274-276. The American University in Cairo Press.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2012). Hamadab: Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile. Page: 255-257. The American University in Cairo Press.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2012). Karanog: Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile. Page: 368-370. The American University in Cairo Press.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2012). Meroe: Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile. Page: 258-273. The American University in Cairo Press.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2012). Muweis: Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile. Page: 250-252. The American University in Cairo Press.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2012). Naqa: Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile. Page: 230-237. The American University in Cairo Press.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2012). Sai Island: Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile. Page: 329-331. The American University in Cairo Press.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2012). Tombos: Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile. Page: 310-312. The American University in Cairo Press.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2012). Toshka East and Toshka West: Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile. Page: 363-364. The American University in Cairo Press.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2012). Wad Ban Naqa: Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile. Page: 244-246. The American University in Cairo Press.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2012). Nubian Religion: Ancient Nubia: African Kingdoms on the Nile. Page: 125-144. The American University in Cairo Press.
  • Yellin, J.W. (2004). "The Garstang Cache from Meroe": P. L. Shinnie, The Capital of Kush II. Akademie Verlag.
  • Yellin, J.W., Hinkel, F. (1998). "The Royal Pyramid Chapels of Kush Project": Proceedings of the Seventh International Congress of Egyptologists. Leuven.
  • Yellin, J.W. (1996). "Egyptian Religion and its ongoing impact on the formation of the Napatan State": CRIPEL. Issue: 17. Lille.
  • Yellin, J.W. (1995). "Akhmim": The MacMIllan Encyclopaedia of World Art.
  • Yellin, J.W. (1995). "Meroitic Funerary Religion": Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt, part II: Principate. Vol: 18.5, Page: 2869-2892. Walter de Gruyter.
  • Yellin, J.W. (1991). "The Decorated Pyramid Chapels of Meroe and Meroitic Funerary Religion": Studia in Honorem F. Hintze.
  • Yellin, J.W. (1984). "The Iconography of an Astronomical Text from Begrawiyah South": Meroitica. Vol: 7.
  • Yellin, J.W. (1984). "The Use of Abaton Style Milk Libations at Meroe": Meroitica. Vol: 6.
  • Yellin, J.W. (1982). "The Role of Anubis in Meroitic Religion": Nubian Studies.
  • Yellin, J.W. (1979). "A Suggested Interpretation of Type B Chapels at Begrawiyah North": Meroitica. Vol: 5.

Books

  • Yellin, J.W., Hinkel, F.W., , (in press). The Necropolises of Kush I.1a, b: Meroe. The Southern Royal Cemetery: Necropolises of Kush. Vol: I.1, 1.2. German Archaeological Institute (DAI), Berlin.
  • Hinkel, F.W. (in press). The Necropolises of Kush I.1a, b: Meroe. The Southern Royal Cemetery. Vol: I.1, 1.2. German Archaeological Institute (DAI), Berlin.

Other

  • Yellin, J.W. (2018). Cowherd: Repétoire d'Iconographie méroïtique (RIM). Vol: 1. Musee du Louvre.
  • Yellin, J.W. (1988). Mummies and Magic. Museum of Fine Arts.

Presentations

  • Decoding the Arts of Ancient Meroe Yellin, J. Lecture series, Ancient Nubia Now, Boston (2019)
  • ?Origins and afterlives in Kush: History and dynamics underlying the integrations of Egyptian Beliefs in Early Meroitic Religion? Yellin, J. Origins and Afterlives of Kush. A Conference in Nubian Studies, Santa Barbara CA (2019)
  • "Cowherd" symposium presenting RIM Yellin, J. 14th International Conference for Nubian Studies, Paris (2018)
  • Meroe during the Napatan Period Yellin, j. 14th International Conference for Nubian Studies, Paris,, Paris (2018)
  • The Last Pyramids in Africa: Royal Burials of the Kingdom of Kush Yellin, J. Devens Lecture, Museum of Fine Arts Boston (2017)
  • Meroe and Roman Egypt: The last centuries of a shared devotion to Isis in her temple at Philae Yellin, J. Scholar's Colloquium of the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities, Toronto (2017)
  • Meroitic offering scenes in Egyptian lower Nubian temples. New evidence for Meroitic activities at Philae and the origins of the Abaton libations during the late III century BC Yellin, J. 12th International Conference for Meroitic Studies 2016, Prague (2016)
  • The interplay of Egyptian and Meroitic religion in the Dodecaschoenos [Upper Nubia] Yellin, J. International Conference of Egyptology, Florence, Italy (2015)
  • Meroitic Chronology in the late 1st century BC to mid-1st century AD: Evidence from the Royal Pyramids of Meroe and Gebel Barkal Yellin, J. 13th International Conference for Nubian Studies, Neuch?tel, Switzerland (2014)
  • Offerings for Eternity: Decoding the Language of Religious Art from the Royal Pyramids at Meroe Yellin, J. The Kirwan Memorial Lecture, London (2014)
  • Archival Work in the Necropolis of Kush Yellin, J. Meroe Archival Project Colloquium, Reading, UK (2013)
  • Art Writing History. When did the Meroitic Kingdom Really Begin? Yellin, J. BFRF Research Chat, Babson College (2011)
  • La transition entre le napateen tardif et l'Epoque meroitique, d'apres les recherche sur la necropole royale sud de Meroe Yellin, J. Annual Meeting, Paris, France (2009)
  • A God in the Land of Gold: Tutankhamun in Nubia Yellin, J. Boshell Lecture Series on Archaeology, Dallas, TX (2009)
  • The Last Pyramids in Africa. Ancient Kushite Burials at Meroe Yellin, J. Public lecture in conjunction with the exhibit, Lost Kingdoms of the Nile: Ancient Nubian Art from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA (2008)
  • Are the First Royal Pyramids at Meroe Napatan or Meroitic. Evidence for Continuity in the Southern Royal Cemetery at Meroe Yellin, J. Eleventh International Conference for Meroitic Studies, Vienna (2008)
  • Lessons from the South Cemetery at Meroe Yellin, J. Seminar f?r Arch?ologie und Kulturgeschichte Nordostafrikas (AKNOA), Berlin (2008)
  • ?The Royal Pyramids of Kush Project and the Hinkel Method? Yellin, J. Colloquium in Honor of Friedrich W. Hinkel, Aegyptisches Museum, Berlin (2007)
  • ?Iconography and Meroitic Chronology? Yellin, J. Tenth International Conference of Meroitic Studies, Paris (2004)
  • ?The Reconstruction of Beg S 007 and its implications? Yellin, J. Tenth Conference of the Society for Nubian Studies, Rome (2002)
  • The Royal Pyramids of Kush" Yellin, J. Ninth International Conference of Nubian Studies, Boston, MA (1998)
  • "The Royal Pyramid Chapels of Kush Project" Yellin, J. Friends of Egyptian Art, Boston, MA (1998)
  • "The Ram and the Lion" Yellin, J. ?gyptisches Museum, Berlin (1997)
  • "The Royal Pyramid Chapels of Kush Project" Yellin, J. Annual Meeting, American Research Center in Egypt, St. Louis, MO (1996)
  • "The Royal Pyramid Chapels of Kush Project: Some Early Results from Begrawiyeh South" Yellin, J. Eighth International Conference of Meroitic Studies, London (1996)
  • "Nubia: Egypt's Rival in Africa" Yellin, J. Smithsonian Museums' Campus on the Mall Program, Washington DC. (1995)
  • "The Royal Pyramid Chapels of Kush Project" (co-authored with Dr. F. HInkel) Yellin, J. Seventh International Congress of Egyptology, Cambridge, UK (1995)
  • "The Royal Pyramid Chapels of Meroe" Yellin, J. Archaeological Institute of America and Center for Old World Archaeology, Brown University (1994)
  • "The Gold of Meroe: Treasures of an Ancient Sudanese Queen" Yellin, J. Public Lecture, Rhode Island School of Design Museum, RI (1994)
  • "Egyptian Religion and the Origins of the Kushite State" Yellin, J. Eighth International Conference for Nubian Studies, Lille (1994)
  • "Land of Silence: The Riddle of the Language of Meroe" Yellin, J. Public Lecture in conjunction with The Gold of Meroe Exhibit, NYC (1994)
  • "Meroitic Funerary Art in the Museum of Fine Arts" Yellin, J. Friends of Egyptian Art, Boston (1993)
  • "Mythology in Greek Temple Decorations" Yellin, J. Classics Day, Tufts University (1992)
  • "Kingship Dogma in Meroe" Yellin, J. Seventh International Conference of Meroitic Studies, Berlin (1992)
  • "The Role of Osiris in Meroe" Yellin, J. Sixth International Congress of Egyptology, Turin (1991)
  • "The Impact of Egyptian Religion in Meroe" Yellin, J. Sixth International Conference of Meroitic Studies, Khartoum (1989)
  • "Mums the Word" Yellin, J. a workshop on Rameses the Great, Wellesley, MA (1988)
  • "The Meaning of the Relief Decorations in Meroitic Royal Pyramid Chapels" Yellin, J. Fifth International Congress of Egyptology, Cairo (1988)
  • "The Family of Rameses the Great" Yellin, J. Rameses the Great Exhibit, Boston, MA (1988)
  • "Cleopatra," Famous Pharaohs: Kings and Queens Who Shaped Their Times Yellin, J. 13th Annual SCS - SSEA Symposium on Egyptology, Toronto (1987)
  • "The Impact of Greco-Roman Egyptian Religion in Meroe" Yellin, J. Fourth International Congress of Egyptology, Munich (1985)
  • "Five Meroitic Statuettes of an Ithyphallic God and their Implications" Yellin, J. Fifth International Conference of Meroitic Studies, Rome (1984)
  • "Meroitic Funerals and other Celebrations" Yellin, J. Symposium, Kush: Lost Kingdom of the Nile, Exhibit, Providence, RI (1984)
  • "Funerary Aspects and Iconography of the Ceremony of Driving In the Calves (hwt bhsw)" Yellin, J. Annual Meeting of the American Research Center in Egypt, San Francisco (1980)
  • "An Astronomical Text from Begrawiyeh South 503" Yellin, J. Fourth International Conference of Meroitic Studies, Berlin, DDR (1980)
  • "Iconography of Type B Chapels at Begrawiyeh North" Yellin, J. Symposium, Africa in Antiquity, Brooklyn Museum (1979)
  • "The Role of Anubis in Meroe" Yellin, J. Third International Conference of Nubian Studies, Cambridge, UK (1979)
  • "Further Observations on the Ceremony of Driving in the Calves (hwt bhsw)" Yellin, J. Annual Meeting of the American Research Center in Egypt, Baltimore (1975)
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Professional Services

  • Board Member Editorial Committee, Repétoire d'Iconographie méroïtique (RIM, Louvre Museum, Paris, 2018-)- . (2018 - Present)

Department & College Wide Services

  • Littauer Speaker Committee (Fall 2017 - Fall 2020)
  • Babson Research Day (Fall 2016 - Spring 2017)