Prof. Kenneth Kitchen (1932-2025)

SAD NEWS: Obituary: Kenneth Kitchen, Professor Emeritus of Egyptology. Words by Dr Glenn Godenho, Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology (University of Liverpool). HT Rogue Classicism.

Kenneth Kitchen, a giant of Egyptology and lifelong University of Liverpool student and staff member, passed away on 6th February, aged 92.

Professor Kitchen was born in Aberdeen, started studying Egyptology at the University of Liverpool in 1951, and never left, becoming a lecturer and in due course being awarded a Personal Chair and then the title of Brunner Professor of Egyptology.

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Peter J Williams has an obituary at Tyndale House: Professor Kenneth A. Kitchen (1932–2025).

Kenneth Anderson Kitchen was a phenomenon, one of a kind, and I felt very privileged to know him. He was someone with a vast knowledge of the ancient world. For parts of his life, he may have been the person who had read a greater variety of ancient Near and Middle Eastern texts than anyone in the entire world.

The Egyptian Exploration Society also has a notice:

Kenneth A Kitchen (1932–2025).

The EES, and many friends and colleagues around the world, mourn the death of Ken Kitchen who sadly passed away on Thursday 6th February, aged 92.

I am very sad to hear of Professor Kitchen's passing. I never met him, but when I was a teenager I encountered his popular book Ancient Orient and Old Testament. It signficantly influenced my decision to go into biblical and ancient Near Eastern studies.

Requiescat in pace.

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