Egyptologist Bob Brier, who packed two theatres at the University of Central Oklahoma with two speeches Monday, is the author of numerous scholarly articles and books, including “ .” He hosts The Learning Channel’s television series “Pyramids, Mummies and Tombs,” and his research has been featured extensively on several news channels and newspapers.

And all of this began because of a basketball injury.

“It was an accident, literally,” Brier said about the beginning of his interest in Egyptology. Brier, who played basketball at school, injured both his knees during a basketball tournament, which required operations on both his legs. While he was in leg casts, one of his friends brought him a book about Egyptian hieroglyphs. Despite already having finished his schooling and starting a career, he found himself fascinated.

“For eight hours a day, I studied hieroglyphs,” he said. After learning them, Brier was asked to teach classes about hieroglyphs, which prompted him to finally visit Egypt. From that point on, Brier found a new career that he has been in for more than 30 years.

“I just fell in love with the place,” he said.

Brier’s first speech of the day, about a modern mummification he did to learn more about the ancient practice...

Brier’s evening speech, about his theory that King Tutankhamen was murdered...

Solving 3,000-year-old mysteries, Justin Martino, The Edmond Sun, Oklahoma, USA, September 18, 2006.

On Friday [September 06, 2006], Egyptologist Julie Scott will present “Rediscovering the Wisdom of the Ancient Mystery Schools,” as part of the Spirit of the Valley Festival. A 6,000-year-old self-help guide, the talk illuminates ancient ways — taught by mystery schools — to achieving a better grasp of oneself.

Ancient mystery schools were centres of study and mystic initiation that explored the universe, nature and humanity. In the ancient Western world, the schools educated students in natural laws and principles. The goal was to teach students a better sense of inner harmony. The schools also encouraged introspection of self and a larger connection with the great mystery of the universe.

As the director of the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose, California, since 1995, Close will use resources from the museum’s archives as well as current research to explore the beliefs and practices of ancient mystery schools — schools like Orpheus, ancient Eleusis, Delphi, Pythagoras, Mithras and Egypt, including Akhenaton, Osiris and Isis...

Ancient ways to a better being, Telluride Daily Planet, Colorado, USA, September 19, 2006.

Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif approved Tuesday 19/09/2006 holding two exhibitions in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, the United States, to display Coptic artefacts of Saint Catherine Monastery.

Culture Minister Farouk Hosni said the first exhibition, which will be held in Los Angeles under the title "Icons from Sinai...Sacred Pictures from the Holy Land," will run from October 1 to March 4, 2007.

He said the second fair, which will be held in Washington, D.C., under the same title, will run from November 1 to April 4, 2007...

Saint Catherine Coptic artefacts to be displayed in US, Egypt State Information Service, Egypt, September 20, 2006.

An Egyptian archaeological expedition has discovered Greek-language engravings in Alexandria, Egypt's Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni announced on Tuesday.

The engravings, which were discovered close to the Amoud al-Sawari monument, are said to date back to the times of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (ruled 161-180 AD.)

The secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass, said the engravings are six lines long and were found etched on an artefact measuring 50 centimetres long and 36 centimetres wide, which may perhaps be part of an ancient altar...

Greek language engravings discovered in Alexandria, dpa via Hellenic News of America, USA, September 19, 2006.

The Flint Institute of Arts reopens Sept. 30 [2006] with a new 10,000 square-foot wing, an Egyptian exhibit and a massive fresco covering one long wall.

Talk about a big bang!

Most Egyptian exhibits are designed to draw crowds, and this one is no exception. "Excavating Egypt: Great Discoveries From the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, University College London" tells the story of archaeologist William Matthew Petrie and his exploration of ancient Egypt...

Egypt exhibit highlights coming reopening of FIA, Carol Azizian, The Flint Journal, Michigan, USA, September 15, 2006.