International conference «Achievements and Problems of Modern Egyptology», which was organized by the Centre for Egyptological Studies of the RAS under the auspices of the Russian Academy of Sciences, took place in Moscow on September 29-October 2, 2009.

Its main goal is to share experience between scholars of different countries and to discuss the latest achievements in the field of Egyptology and Egyptian archaeology, study of history, culture, religion and languages of Ancient, Graeco-Roman and Coptic Egypt.

More than 50 leading Egyptologists and Archaeologists living and working all over the world, including directors of European and American Archaeological institutions, took part in it.

The ceremony of the formal opening of the Conference was arranged on September, 29. The conference started with an opening speech by vise-president of Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander D. Nekipelov, dedicated to the history, development and achievements of Russian archaeology in Egypt, from the research of Vladimir Golenischev to today. It continued with speeches by a representative from the Ministry of Culture and Dr. Zahi Hawass, who focused on recent discoveries and the preservation of Egyptian heritage.

After that Dr. Galina Belova, director of the Centre of Egyptological Studies of the RAS, made a lecture on research and excavations at Kom Tuman, Memphis. Soil investigations have made it clear that the Nile in the past flowed near to the excavated area, making Tom Tuman one of the “islands of Memphis”.