“Philosophy Across Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece” Seminar

Prof. Mostafa Alnashar, Professor of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, Cairo University; Prof. Sameh Altantawy, Professor of Modern and Contemporary Philosophy of Art and Aesthetics, Faculty of Arts, Capital University; Prof. Aziza Sobhy, Professor of Ancient Philosophy, Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University

25 October 2026

01:00 PM

Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conference Center, Delegates Hall

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, through the Antiquities Museum affiliated with the Cultural Outreach Sector, is organizing a seminar entitled “Philosophy Across Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece” on Sunday, 25 October 2026, at 1:00 pm, at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Conference Center, Delegates Hall. The seminar will be held as part of the 17th Alexandria Dialogues, an annual event hosted by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

The seminar will be moderated by Prof. Ahmed A. Zayed, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and will bring together a distinguished group of academics and specialists to offer scholarly perspectives on one of the most intriguing questions in the history of human thought: the relationship between ancient Egypt and ancient Greece, and whether ancient Egyptian thought may have laid the foundations for some of the questions that later became central to Greek philosophy. The speakers include Prof. Mostafa Alnashar, Professor of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, Cairo University, and President of the Egyptian Philosophical Society, who will deliver a lecture entitled “The Question of the Origins of Philosophy: Between Egyptian Wisdom and Greek Philosophy”; Prof. Sameh Altantawy, Professor of Modern and Contemporary Philosophy of Art and Aesthetics, Faculty of Arts, Capital University, who will present a lecture entitled “The Philosophy of Art in Ancient Egypt”; and Prof. Aziza Sobhy, Professor of Ancient Philosophy, Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University, who will deliver a lecture entitled “The Question of Destiny in Ancient Egypt and Its Influence on Greek Mythology.” The lectures will explore ancient Egyptian concepts such as Ma’at, alongside Egyptian perceptions of the cosmos, humanity, order, justice, and death. The discussion will then turn to ancient Greece, tracing the development of philosophical traditions from the early natural philosophers to Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

Open to the public, the seminar underscores the importance of meaningful scholarly dialogue in understanding the points of convergence and divergence between the two civilizations. It will examine the historical and intellectual connections between ancient Egypt and the Greek world, while distinguishing ancient Egyptian religious and ethical wisdom from philosophy as a form of rational, evidence-based, and systematic inquiry. The seminar aims to explore the characteristics of philosophical thought in ancient Egypt and ancient Greece, shed light on the intellectual and philosophical perspectives of both civilizations, identify their similarities and differences, and examine the extent to which ancient Egyptian thought contributed to shaping philosophical traditions in the ancient world. It also seeks to raise awareness of the richness of Egypt’s intellectual and cultural heritage and encourage younger generations to adopt scientific and critical approaches to studying the history of philosophy and examining questions of cultural influence and interaction. These objectives contribute to strengthening national cultural identity and highlighting Egypt’s role as one of the influential intellectual and cultural centers in human history.

The Alexandria Dialogues series comprises a collection of discussion forums launched several years ago by Prof. Ahmed A. Zayed. The series aims to promote open dialogue among intellectuals, decision-makers, and the public. The 17th edition focuses on travel literature relating to Egypt, which constitutes a valuable body of intellectual and historical sources documented by geographers and travelers over the decades. Studying these accounts helps foster mutual understanding between cultures by examining the urban, social, economic, and cultural aspects of Egyptian life observed by visitors. Such discussions contribute to supporting Egypt’s cultural landscape and reinforcing its position as a leading center for civilization and dialogue.