Margaret Alice Murray

Born in Calcutta in 1863, Margaret Murray became one of the most notable Egyptologists of her generation. She studied at University College London under Flinders Petrie and went on to build a career there, becoming the first woman appointed as a lecturer in archaeology in the United Kingdom.

Her work ranged across Egyptian religion, excavation, museum teaching, and public scholarship. She also served as the first female keeper of archaeology at the Manchester Museum and published extensively for both specialist and general readers, helping bring ancient history to a wider audience.

Murray is also remembered for her writings on witchcraft and folklore, especially the ideas she presented in The Witch-Cult in Western Europe. Those theories were highly influential for a time and later strongly challenged by other scholars, so her legacy is often seen as both groundbreaking and debated.