Born: 1871 (Dublin, Ireland)
Died: 1957
Biography:
Hilda Mary Isabel, Lady Petrie (née Urlin; 1871–1957), was an Irish-born British Egyptologist and wife of Sir Flinders Petrie, the father of scientific archaeology. Hilda’s contributions to the field of Egyptology, both as an artist and an archaeologist, were significant and enduring.
Hilda was born in Dublin in 1871, the youngest of five daughters of Richard Denny Urlin and Mary Elizabeth Urlin. Her family moved back to London when she was four, and she received her education from a governess along with other children of a similar age. It was during this time that she developed her love for exploring the countryside, often going on bicycling expeditions with her friend Beatrice Orme. Together, they visited and sketched ancient churches, making brass rubbings. Hilda’s upbringing also exposed her to the women’s suffrage movement, as her childhood friend, Philippa Fawcett, came from a family actively involved in the movement.
Hilda’s passion for geology led her to study at King’s College for Women, where she excelled in Professor Seeley’s geology course. Equipped with a notebook and hammer, she embarked on field trips to further her knowledge. Hilda also displayed a considerable talent for facsimile drawing, taking courses to hone her skills in this area.
At the age of twenty-five, Hilda was introduced to Flinders Petrie, a renowned Egyptologist, by the painter Henry Holiday. Petrie recognized Hilda’s accurate copying skills and employed her as an artist. This collaboration soon developed into a deep personal and professional relationship, culminating in their marriage on November 26, 1896.
Throughout their married life, Hilda and Flinders Petrie embarked on numerous archaeological expeditions to Egypt and later to Palestine. Hilda’s artistic skills were put to use in recording tomb hieroglyphs and creating plans of the sites they excavated. She directed some excavations herself, working in often difficult and dangerous conditions. Her meticulous work contributed significantly to the understanding and preservation of ancient Egyptian history.
In 1905, when the British School of Archaeology in Egypt was founded in London by Flinders Petrie, Hilda took on the role of secretary and fundraiser. She worked tirelessly to secure support for the school and their ongoing excavations. Hilda continued to participate in archaeological surveys and excavations, excluding a period when their two children were young. Her work was widely published, and she also delivered public lectures in London and other locations, sharing her experiences and knowledge with a broader audience.
Hilda Petrie’s contributions to Egyptology extended beyond her artistic and archaeological work. As a woman in a male-dominated field, she played an important role in women’s history. She defied societal expectations and made significant contributions to the scientific study of ancient Egypt, challenging the notion that women were merely passive onlookers in the field of archaeology.