LIFE in ancient Egyptian society comes under the microscope at a specialist museum this month.

Egyptology expert John Ruffle will give a talk at Durham's Oriental Museum to tie in with a month-long display looking at daily life in ancient Egypt.

Life, Prosperity and Health! casts a glance at everyday ancient Egyptians, rather than the more widely-heralded tales of the pharaohs and gods.

Mr Ruffle returns to the museum, from where he retired after 18 years as keeper, in 1998, to discuss The Egyptian 'Low Life': Minor Characters in Egyptian Art, on Saturday.

"Egypt has always been my chief interest," he said. "It is how I made my bread and butter, and I've been doing some lecturing at the University of Glasgow.

"This talk is something I've developed as an offshoot of one of the lectures, really looking at how the Egyptians showed ordinary people in their paintings and sculptures.

"We get so used to the kings and gods, at what you may call the top end of the market.

"But this is looking at how they portrayed the good, honest workmen.

"They were probably more freely drawn, so we get much closer to the ordinary Egyptians, rather than the statuesque poses seen in the royal figures."

Despite his work in Glasgow, and involvement in an archaeology project in the Egyptian desert, he still lives in Kirk Merrington, County Durham.

His talk, at 2.30pm on Saturday, is free. Admission to the museum, in Elvet Hill, Durham, is £1.50 for adults and 75p for concessions, or £3.50 for family groups. There is no charge to students.