Research Project Kyphi
Project Kyphi is one of the principal Research Projects of the Hellenic Institute of Egyptology. It endeavours to open new ways to the understanding of ancient Botany, Archaeo–Chemistry, Palynology and Aromatics. It started in January 2017, with the advent of the 1st Athens International Egyptological Conference that was dedicated to Environment and Religion in Ancient and Coptic Egypt. At that time the 1st Experiment of re–enacting the confection of kyphi took place in vitro by our Pharmacist Mr Markos Filianos. Since then our Team flourishes and grows, while a new 2nd Experiment of in vitro preparation took place in October 2023 at a different laboratory, this time with all 16 ingredients of this famous ancient Egyptian incense and medicament, with the help of Dr Angeliki Kouki, at the premises of the Oenological Chemical Laboratory of the Agricultural University of Athens, with great success. Meanwhile, we have started to publish papers related to the anti–microbial and anti–bacterial action of the kyphi on cultivations of certain micro–organisms, through fumigation and the action of improvised «antibiotic» discs containing either kyphi or its extracted ingredients.
The Hellenic Team Members are currently the following:
Dr Dr Alicia Maravelia [Hellenic Institute of Egyptology & People’s University of Athens, Athens]
Mr Markos Filianos [Pharmacist – Hellenic Institute of Egyptology, Athens]
Dr Elsa Faviou, MD [Protipos Diagnostiki & Hellenic Institute of Egyptology, Athens]
Dr Emmanuel Magiorkinis, MD [Sōtēria Hospital & Hellenic Institute of Egyptology, Athens]
Dr Angeliki Kouki [Chemist – Highest Ecclesiastical Academy & Agricultural University of Athens]
Mrs Dimitra Tserkaki, MSc [Chemist – Hellenic Institute of Egyptology, Athens]
Mrs Sophia Tsourinaki [SEN & Hellenic Institute of Egyptology, Athens]
Mr Konstantinos Thanos [Hellenic Institute of Egyptology, Athens]
The Egyptian and International Team Members are currently the following:
Prof. Dr cAbd ᾿el-Halim cAbd ᾿el-Mogali Mohammed [Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Ministry of Agriculture, Cairo, Egypt]
Dr Hedvig Győry [HEFS–AEC & Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, Hungary]
Prof. Dr Sherin Sadek M. ᾿El-Gendi [cAin Shams University, Cairo, Egypt]
Dr Pauline Norris [Egyptologist and Botanist, Independent Researcher, Newtown, UK]
Dr Roger Forshaw [KNH Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
