Johnson, John de Monins (1882-1956).
Negatives made during the excavation of Antinoë (modern el-Sheikh Ibâda,
opposite el-Ashmûnein, in Middle Egypt) in 1913-14 by Johnson for the
Graeco-Roman branch of the Egypt Exploration Society. Report published in JEA i
(1914), 168-81 figs. pls. xxii-xxvi.
John de Monins Johnson (1882-1956) was educated at Magdalen Colege School and Exeter
College, Oxford. He was trained as a papyrologist and before his work at Antinoë he had
excavated at Atfî. Most of Johnson's career was connected with Oxford University Press
where he became Printer to the University in 1925. His excavations at Antinoë have never
been published.
Although there are earlier pharaonic monuments in the area, especially a temple of Ramesses II
(1279-1213 BC), the city of Antinoë was founded in AD 130 by Emperor Hadrian in
memory of the death by drowning of his lover Antinous. The settlers, of Greek descent, were
given special privileges in order to encourage the growth of the city.
The aim of the excavation was to look for papyri and the work concentrated on a number of
mounds within the city walls. Many objects of daily life, such as shoes, sandals, baskets and
textiles, were also found during the excavation.
The John de Monins Johnson material in the Archive of the Griffith Institute consists
of 313 black-and-white glass negatives, without any supporting written records and with no
descriptions of the photographed objects.
1. Pottery.
13 negatives.
2. Pottery.
14 negatives.
3. Miscellaneous small finds.
14 negatives.
4. Papyri and inscriptions.
[4.1]
[4.2]
[4.3]
[4.4]
[4.5]
[4.6]
[4.7]
[4.8]
[4.9]
[4.10]
5. Views.
[5.1]
[5.2]
[5.3]
[5.4]
[5.5]
[5.6]
[5.7]
[5.8]
[5.9]
[5.10]
[5.11]
[5.12]
6. Views, dig in progress, and some objects in situ.
70 negatives.
7. Views.
[7.1]
[7.2]
[7.3]
[7.4]
[7.5]
[7.6]
[7.7]
[7.8]
[7.9]
[7.10]
[7.11]
[7.12]
8. Views.
[8.1]
[8.2]
[8.3]
[8.4]
[8.5]
[8.6]
[8.7]
[8.8]
[8.9]
[8.10]
[8.11]
[8.12]
[8.13]
9. Small finds. Metalwork, etc.
8 negatives.
10. Small finds. Basketry, textiles, etc.
[10.1]
[10.2]
[10.3]
[10.4]
[10.5]
[10.6]
[10.7]
[10.8]
[10.9]
[10.10]
[10.11]
[10.12]
[10.13]
[10.14]
11. Coffins.
12 negatives.
12. Coffins.
11 negatives.
13. Coffins.
4 negatives.
14. Coffins in situ.
46 negatives.
15. Coffins, fragments of cartonnage, etc.
45 negatives.
16. Coffins.
15 negatives.
(April 24, 1998)
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