Keith R. Amery
@keithramery.bsky.social
Englishman living in Portugal. Married, with new dog and probably world's oldest cat. Discworld fan, Egyptology - author of forthcoming English language guide to ancient Egyptian museum collections of Portugal with other projects in the pipeline
"Some days I have trouble finding my car keys, and there is empirical evidence they exist " (Terry Pratchett)
December 17, 2025 at 3:31 PM
"Some days I have trouble finding my car keys, and there is empirical evidence they exist " (Terry Pratchett)
Remembered, before moving, Setubal Camara Municipal had restored the Convento de Jesus as a museum of local history, so finding myself back in Setubal yesterday with a free afternoon, decided to go and visit. The staff are very friendly and helpful, and bilingual information available in English.
December 17, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Remembered, before moving, Setubal Camara Municipal had restored the Convento de Jesus as a museum of local history, so finding myself back in Setubal yesterday with a free afternoon, decided to go and visit. The staff are very friendly and helpful, and bilingual information available in English.
Found ourselves outside the house museum and studio of Carlos Relvas in Golega this Afternoon. Relvas was a Portuguese photographer known for pioneering the use of the stereograph image in Portugal. Architecturally unlike anything else in Portugal.
September 17, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Found ourselves outside the house museum and studio of Carlos Relvas in Golega this Afternoon. Relvas was a Portuguese photographer known for pioneering the use of the stereograph image in Portugal. Architecturally unlike anything else in Portugal.
To those of a scientific nature in need of a laugh, this is, imo, the funniest joke ever written. ('Pyramids', 1989, Terry Pratchett). He even manages to get a second joke in specially for bookworms, by including a footnote within the footnote. "died of acute ankle failure" Genius. 😉
July 4, 2025 at 4:34 PM
To those of a scientific nature in need of a laugh, this is, imo, the funniest joke ever written. ('Pyramids', 1989, Terry Pratchett). He even manages to get a second joke in specially for bookworms, by including a footnote within the footnote. "died of acute ankle failure" Genius. 😉
Before presenting in Batalha on Sunday last, had breakfast with cafe owner down the road from our hotel, close to the venue 😉
May 30, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Before presenting in Batalha on Sunday last, had breakfast with cafe owner down the road from our hotel, close to the venue 😉
Terry Pratchett always nails it! ("Equal Rites', 1987)
May 29, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Terry Pratchett always nails it! ("Equal Rites', 1987)
This weekend I was presenting on museums and the "myth" of accessibility at the first international conference on transnational encounters in history, art and patrimony in Batalha, Portugal thanks to the kind invitation of Francisca Gigante & Francisco Teles de Gama, the organisers. To be published.
May 26, 2025 at 1:10 PM
This weekend I was presenting on museums and the "myth" of accessibility at the first international conference on transnational encounters in history, art and patrimony in Batalha, Portugal thanks to the kind invitation of Francisca Gigante & Francisco Teles de Gama, the organisers. To be published.
For people who think I'm just obsessed with Egyptian antiquities, it's true, but here's a "Greek vase" (South-Italian red-figure calyx krater to be exact) from the collection of Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian "Mr Five-Cent" himself, anyway. Photo by me at Foundation headquarters in Lisbon Portugal
May 19, 2025 at 11:59 AM
For people who think I'm just obsessed with Egyptian antiquities, it's true, but here's a "Greek vase" (South-Italian red-figure calyx krater to be exact) from the collection of Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian "Mr Five-Cent" himself, anyway. Photo by me at Foundation headquarters in Lisbon Portugal
Ptolemaic Period relief sculptors trial piece of a Pharaoh's head in profile wearing the blue Khepresh war crown (yes, I know, but it would take too long to explain). Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal. Photo my own
May 19, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Ptolemaic Period relief sculptors trial piece of a Pharaoh's head in profile wearing the blue Khepresh war crown (yes, I know, but it would take too long to explain). Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal. Photo my own
Late Period alabaster statue of the Judge Bes as a squatting scribe (back view). Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by me.
May 19, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Late Period alabaster statue of the Judge Bes as a squatting scribe (back view). Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by me.
Late Period alabaster statue of the Judge Bes as a squatting scribe. Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by me
May 19, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Late Period alabaster statue of the Judge Bes as a squatting scribe. Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by me
Late Period pair of stained ivory panels from a set of seven, originally part of a chest, depicting male offering bearers bringing goods from all the 'nomes' (districts) of Egypt to the tomb owner, harking back to the Old Kingdom. Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal. Photo my own
May 19, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Late Period pair of stained ivory panels from a set of seven, originally part of a chest, depicting male offering bearers bringing goods from all the 'nomes' (districts) of Egypt to the tomb owner, harking back to the Old Kingdom. Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal. Photo my own
Thirtieth Dynasty of the Late Period Electrum (alloy of gold and silver) anonymous mummy mask representing the flesh and bones of the gods because gold doesn't tarnish. Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by me
May 19, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Thirtieth Dynasty of the Late Period Electrum (alloy of gold and silver) anonymous mummy mask representing the flesh and bones of the gods because gold doesn't tarnish. Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by me
Bronze Standard of Djedhor, Late Period, representing the solar barque with shrine atop a crocodile supported on a lotus column. Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal, temporary exhibition in the Foundation headquarters. Photo by me
May 19, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Bronze Standard of Djedhor, Late Period, representing the solar barque with shrine atop a crocodile supported on a lotus column. Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal, temporary exhibition in the Foundation headquarters. Photo by me
Bronze torso of King Pedubast I or II of the Twenty-Third Dynasty from a monumental hollow-cast bronze statue in the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal temporary exhibition in the Foundation headquarters. Photo by me.
May 19, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Bronze torso of King Pedubast I or II of the Twenty-Third Dynasty from a monumental hollow-cast bronze statue in the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal temporary exhibition in the Foundation headquarters. Photo by me.
18th Dynasty, New Kingdom wooden statue of the noble lady Hennuttawy with Gilded weeks collar necklace and holding a Gilded object? Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon temporary exhibition. Photo by me.
May 19, 2025 at 11:37 AM
18th Dynasty, New Kingdom wooden statue of the noble lady Hennuttawy with Gilded weeks collar necklace and holding a Gilded object? Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon temporary exhibition. Photo by me.
11th Dynasty, Middle Kingdom Polychrome Wooden Statue of a High Official. Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon, Portugal. Photo my own
May 19, 2025 at 11:33 AM
11th Dynasty, Middle Kingdom Polychrome Wooden Statue of a High Official. Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon, Portugal. Photo my own
11th Dynasty, Middle Kingdom, striding wooden figure of a high official, his arms in position shows he once had a walking stick in his left hand and a staff of office held low before him in his right. Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal, temporary exhibition. Photo my own.
May 19, 2025 at 11:31 AM
11th Dynasty, Middle Kingdom, striding wooden figure of a high official, his arms in position shows he once had a walking stick in his left hand and a staff of office held low before him in his right. Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal, temporary exhibition. Photo my own.
Old Kingdom relief from the tomb of Princess Meritites, Giza, close to the Great Pyramid of her father, Khufu, whose name is shown in the central cartouche. Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal, temporary exhibition in Foundation building whilst museum closed for renovation. Photo my own.
May 19, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Old Kingdom relief from the tomb of Princess Meritites, Giza, close to the Great Pyramid of her father, Khufu, whose name is shown in the central cartouche. Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal, temporary exhibition in Foundation building whilst museum closed for renovation. Photo my own.
Three of eleven Aboukir Medallions (from a total of twenty) acquired by Calouste Gulbenkian. Issued in reign of Roman Emperor Caracalla and celebrating the life of Alexander III (The Great), their purpose is still a question of debate. Temporary exhibition in the Foundation headquarters. Photo by me
May 19, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Three of eleven Aboukir Medallions (from a total of twenty) acquired by Calouste Gulbenkian. Issued in reign of Roman Emperor Caracalla and celebrating the life of Alexander III (The Great), their purpose is still a question of debate. Temporary exhibition in the Foundation headquarters. Photo by me
Gulbenkian's Red-Figure South-Italian Calyx Krater for mixing wine in temporary exhibition at the Foundation headquarters, whilst the Museum building is closed for renovation until 2026. Photo my own.
May 19, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Gulbenkian's Red-Figure South-Italian Calyx Krater for mixing wine in temporary exhibition at the Foundation headquarters, whilst the Museum building is closed for renovation until 2026. Photo my own.
Islamic Glass Hanging Mosque Lamp, Egypt or Syria, Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon, Portugal, temporary exhibition in the Foundation headquarters building now the museum is closed for refurbishment until 2026. Photo my own.
May 19, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Islamic Glass Hanging Mosque Lamp, Egypt or Syria, Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon, Portugal, temporary exhibition in the Foundation headquarters building now the museum is closed for refurbishment until 2026. Photo my own.
Unplanned flying visit to Lisbon today saw us ending up at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Typical of my luck, the Museum is now closed for refurbishment until 2026, but temporary exhibition of highlights in the Foundation headquarters and free this weekend for International Museum Day.
May 17, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Unplanned flying visit to Lisbon today saw us ending up at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. Typical of my luck, the Museum is now closed for refurbishment until 2026, but temporary exhibition of highlights in the Foundation headquarters and free this weekend for International Museum Day.
Goddesses on the back of a Ptolemaic era (1st century B.C. - 1st century A D.) cartonnage mummy mask of an anonymous ancient Egyptian noble woman in a private collection for International Women's Day.
March 8, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Goddesses on the back of a Ptolemaic era (1st century B.C. - 1st century A D.) cartonnage mummy mask of an anonymous ancient Egyptian noble woman in a private collection for International Women's Day.
Yesterday, full-on 10 hour in person & on-line museums conference for the planned reopening of the Museu Nacional de Arqueologia in Lisbon. Coincidentally, the Gulbenkian will be closing in March for its own renovation. Fortunately for me, updated catalogue including reserve collection also arrived
January 31, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Yesterday, full-on 10 hour in person & on-line museums conference for the planned reopening of the Museu Nacional de Arqueologia in Lisbon. Coincidentally, the Gulbenkian will be closing in March for its own renovation. Fortunately for me, updated catalogue including reserve collection also arrived