Orell Witthuhn

Orell Witthuhn is a Lecturer for special tasks and Study Coordinator for the Ancient Cultures program at the Department of Egyptology and Coptic Studies, Georg-August-University Göttingen. Previously, they studied Egyptology at Philipps University of Marburg, earning a Master of Arts in 1997, with minors in Classical Archaeology and Philosophy.

• Research Interests: Ancient Egyptian religion, death and the afterlife, cultural and historical narratives, funerary practices, and cross-cultural exchange in the Mediterranean.
• Editorial Roles: Editor-in-Chief of the Scientific Literature Index (WLA) (2006–present) and co-editor of volumes like Architecture, Inscriptions, and Monuments of Ancient Egypt and Concepts of Death and the Afterlife.

Witthuhn’s recent publications focus on Egyptian death rituals, mythological texts, and imperial structures of the New Kingdom, with sub-fields spanning funerary symbolism, spatial concepts, and historical networks. They actively organize exhibitions (e.g., Bilder des Orients, 2007) and lead academic excursions to Egypt and the Mediterranean. Voluntary roles include Secretary of the Herzberg Local History Association (since 2020) and former Treasurer of the Marburg Association for the Promotion of Egyptology (2001–2010).