Dr. Shannon Grimes, professor of religion, presented Meredith College’s 2026 Mary Frances Preston Lecture in Biblical Studies on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Jones Chapel.
Grimes was introduced by Meredith Chaplain Stacy Pardue, who noted that Grimes was celebrating 20 years at the College this year.
Grimes’ talk, titled Wisdom Builds Her House: A Comparison of Lady Wisdom and the Egyptian Goddess Seshat, compared female wisdom figures in the Bible and in Ancient Egyptian texts.
After citing similarities in how Lady Wisdom and Seshat were treated in texts, Grimes concluded by encouraging attendees to embrace the concept of wisdom.
“Wisdom is enchanting; you should delight in wisdom,” she said. “Wisdom will guide, nurture, and protect you.”
Grimes said she enjoyed the opportunity to give the talk and hoped it left a lasting impression on attendees.
“The audience asked great questions at the end,” she said. “I hope they were able to reflect on the nature of wisdom itself.”
Established by Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Barham, Jr., the lecture series honors the life and work of Mary Frances Preston. Preston lecturers are typically brought in from off campus; one of the reasons Grimes was selected this year was because of the acclaim her research has garnered.
In 2024, Grimes presented a keynote address on Seshat, an ancient goddess of scholars, scribes, and temple artisans, at the international Hermapolis Symposium in Egypt. Grimes is also the author of Becoming Gold: Zosimos of Panopolis and the Alchemical Arts in Roman Egypt.
The 2026 lecture was sponsored by the Office of the Chaplain and the Department of History, Political Science, International Studies, and Religion. For more information about the department, visit meredith.edu/history-political-science-international-studies
Melyssa Allen – News Director
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