Archaeology and Ancient Egypt

This large-format, magnificently illustrated book shows the portraits and monuments that are the artistic masterpieces of antiquity in a new light. It traces the profiles of 34 kings and queens to present an in-depth picture of the history and art of ancient Egypt and its pharaohs. The pharaoh, as the incarnation of the falcon god Horus and son of the sun god Ra, was the guarantor of cosmic order on Earth and the intermediary between the gods and men. Some pharaohs left such traces of themselves that they became immortal figures: the names Khufu, Tutankhamun, and Ramesses II remain well known after thousands of years. For other monarchs, the names and fragments of representations may be the only traces we can use today to reconstruct the events of those times. This splendid collection of images brings together the greatest and most significant art of the pharaohs, and interprets its meaning and aesthetic achievement.

This large-format, magnificently illustrated book shows the portraits and monuments that are the artistic masterpieces of antiquity in a new light. It traces the profiles of 34 kings and queens to present an in-depth picture of the history and art of ancient Egypt and its pharaohs. The pharaoh, as the incarnation of the falcon god Horus and son of the sun god Ra, was the guarantor of cosmic order on Earth and the intermediary between the gods and men. Some pharaohs left such traces of themselves that they became immortal figures: the names Khufu, Tutankhamun, and Ramesses II remain well known after thousands of years. For other monarchs, the names and fragments of representations may be the only traces we can use today to reconstruct the events of those times. This splendid collection of images brings together the greatest and most significant art of the pharaohs, and interprets its meaning and aesthetic achievement.

The art of ancient Egypt has never lost its power to inspire fascination and awe. Over some three thousand years the great civilization of the Nile Valley produced some of the finest works of art the world has ever known, whether exquisitely painted on tomb walls, carved in stone or wood, or cast in metal. Illustrated with over 250 remarkable objects from collections in Europe, the United States, and Egypt, this book traces the course of Egyptian art from its sudden initial flowering to its final resurgence during the rule of the Ptolemies. Gay Robins, who brings to the subject many fresh insights based on firsthand study in Egypt, explains how the ancient artists developed an artistic system that was perfectly adapted to expressing the Egyptians’ world view, encapsulated in their religious and funerary beliefs. She explores the different functions of artistic products in temples, tombs, and everyday life, and stresses the importance of understanding them within the context for which they were originally designed. Finally, she demonstrates that, contrary to popular opinion, Egyptian art was not unvarying down the ages but was adapted, through changes in proportion, composition, style, and subject matter, to meet the needs of different periods.

This thoughtful and highly readable book covers every aspect of Egyptian culture, from early prehistory, through the three millennia of pharaonic history, to late Roman antiquity when Christianity replaced the ancient Egyptian religion and the hieroglyphic script finally died out. The expert authors draw on the most recent discoveries and research, as well as the vast Egyptian collections of the British Museum, to illustrate the many facets of this magnificent ancient kingdom. The opening chapters explore the geography and climate of the Nile Valley, the social and economic life of its inhabitants, and an outline of the many periods of Egypt’s history. Later chapters discuss the Egyptians’ religious beliefs, as presented in ancient art and texts; their funerary practices; their distinctive and harmonious art and architecture; their technical achievements in working stone, metals, precious stones, pottery, glass, wood, and other materials; and Egypt’s neighbors, in particular its southern neighbor Nubia, whose remarkable civilization deserves to be equally well known.

The ancient site of Tell el-Amarna in Middle Egypt was the capital city of the heretic pharaoh Akhenaten and his chief consort, Nefertiti. Occupied for just sixteen or so years in the fourteenth century BC, the city lay largely abandoned and forgotten until excavations over the last hundred years brought it back into prominence. Based on more than three decades of research and excavation by Barry Kemp, the world authority on the city and its enigmatic pharaoh, this definitive account provides new insight into Amarna and its people. Professor Kemp brings to life the royal family and their offspring, including Tutankhamun, as well as prominent citizens such as the high priest Panehsy, the vizier Nakht, the general Ramose, and the sculptor Thutmose. It is a tour de force of archaeological writing, brilliantly illustrated with more than 260 photographs, evocative line drawings, and reconstructions by the author.

Ancient Egyptian cities and towns have until recently been one of the least-studied and least-published aspects of this great civilization. Now, new research and excavation are transforming our knowledge. This is the first book to bring these latest discoveries to a wide general and scholarly audience, and to provide a comprehensive overview of what we know about ancient settlement during the dynastic period. From the earliest city, Hierakonpolis, founded at the beginning of Egyptian history around 3000 BC, to the famous metropolis of Alexandria, one of the great cities of the Greco-Roman world, the development of urban living is explored throughout the whole Nile Valley and Delta. The different parts of Egyptian cities and towns are examined in detail, with accounts of the sacred precincts, royal palaces and military fortifications as well as forensic descriptions of a variety of typical houses. And beyond the monumental architecture and domestic buildings, the reader is introduced to daily life in ancient Egypt: from essential provisioning of food and water to evidence of sport and leisure activities, from early schooling to the ritual activities surrounding death, from labor to politics to religion. Evidence from literature, scribal texts, inscriptions and graffiti, as well as artifacts and architectural remains, combine to re-create in amazing detail the everyday lives of the inhabitants of these communities. Written by a leading authority, and supported by a detailed gazetteer of sites, The Complete Cities of Ancient Egypt has a range and depth beyond any other publication on the subject and will quickly become the standard work, as well as appealing to all those who seek to look beyond the tombs and temples to the urban life of those who made their homes along the Nile.

Powerful symbols of remote antiquity, the pyramids have intrigued and fascinated generations. Their secrets are here examined using the latest technology, including the first ever fully illustrated survey of all Egypt’s pyramids. Mark Lehner surveys the history, building, and use of the pyramids in unprecedented scope and detail, looking at the practical aspects—the quarries, ramps, and tools used in building them—as well as the conceptual—the cosmology and iconography of the pyramids and the intriguing Pyramid Texts. Fully illustrated, The Complete Pyramids is a companion volume to The Complete Tutankhamun and The Complete Valley of the Kings, both published by AUC Press.

This new volume in the popular Complete series reveals the essential role played by women in the royal household in ancient Egypt. A highly readable and authoritative account, it is ideal for home, university, or school reference. • Features vivid biographies of all the major royal women of Egyptian history, from early Dynastic times to the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BC • Includes the stories of famous queens such as Hatshepsut, Nefertiti, and Nefertari, as well as lesser-known consort queens and shadowy figures of the harem • Special features enliven the text, ranging from Wigs to Sphinxes, from Sexual Morality to Childbirth, plus genealogical trees and numerous sidebars • Timelines provide at-a-glance visual guides to the life of each queen • Illustrated with a wealth of portrait and site photographs, line drawings, and reconstructions Also in the series: The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt The Complete Pharaohs The Complete Pyramids The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt The Complete Tutankhamun The Complete Valley of the Kings

This groundbreaking book illuminates the lives of some 1,300 kings, queens, princes, and princesses of ancient Egypt, unraveling family relationships and exploring the parts they played in politics, cultural life, and religion. It ranges from the dawn of Egyptian history, when only isolated glimpses are available of the royal family, through the vast progeny of Ramesses II, and ends with the fiendishly complicated—and blood-soaked—interconnections of the Ptolemies and Cleopatras. The authors begin with a basic summary of the structure of the pharaonic state, including the nature of ancient Egyptian kingship itself and how its functions meshed with those of the bureaucracy. They then introduce key members of the royal family and assess what is known about the implications of the major titles that define them. The book goes on to provide a chronological survey of the royal family from c. 3100 BC and the 1st Dynasty up to Egypt’s absorption into the Roman Empire. For each dynasty—or significant part of a dynasty—the authors give a historical overview of the period, a summary listing of the kings involved, and a discussion of their families’ relationships, including, most importantly, the vital evidence for their royal status. Finally, the individuals who made up these families are placed in context via 27 genealogical trees, and described in comprehensive sets of short biographies. Handsomely illustrated with hundreds of photographs and line drawings, the book serves equally well as a biographical history of ancient Egypt’s royal families and a superb volume for home reference. Also available: The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt The Complete Pyramids The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt The Complete Tutankhamun The Complete Valley of the Kings

This book is the definitive account of the Valley of the Kings, visited by millions of tourists and famous throughout the world as the burial place of the New Kingdom pharaohs, from Amenophis I to Ramesses XI, including Tutankhamun and Ramesses the Great. Over three thousand years ago, at the height of Egyptian power, some eighty tombs were dug in the valley, their chambers stocked with treasures and decorated with magnificent wall paintings. Reeves and Wilkinson bring together the history, archaeology, and art of this spectacular necropolis in one exciting volume. Recently the Valley of the Kings made international headline news with the discovery by Kent Weeks, professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo, of the burial chapels of Ramesses the Great’s many sons in the huge tomb KV5. In a special section commissioned for this book, Professor Weeks describes the continuing excavations and the findings so far. The format of the book follows the highly successful spread-by-spread style of The Complete Tutankhamun, creating both an essential sourcebook and an entertaining guide for scholars, students, armchair travelers, and tourists.

In this superbly illustrated volume, distinguished Egyptologist Zahi Hawass guides readers through the architectural landscape of pharaonic Egypt, from the houses and palaces of the living to the temples of the gods to the tombs of the dead. Hundreds of color photographs and a compelling text unveil the mysteries of ancient Egypt as unearthed through major excavations, revealing fresh insight into how the ancient Egyptians lived, how they prepared for death, and how they perceived their own place within the universe. The Great Book of Ancient Egypt takes readers on a tour of the most important sites of ancient Egypt from the Pyramids of Giza to the Valley of the Kings to Abu Simbel. It recounts the history of the most famous kings and queens and sheds light on the everyday lives of the people. Hawass shares details of his personal archaeological adventures and reveals his own sense of awe of the magic and mystery of the pharaohs. Through his narrative, accompanied by a wealth of outstanding photographs, readers will learn little-known facts about the lives of the people and royalty of ancient Egypt. Also available in French, German, Italian, and Spanish

In this superbly illustrated volume, distinguished Egyptologist Zahi Hawass guides readers through the architectural landscape of pharaonic Egypt, from the houses and palaces of the living to the temples of the gods to the tombs of the dead. Hundreds of color photographs and a compelling text unveil the mysteries of ancient Egypt as unearthed through major excavations, revealing fresh insight into how the ancient Egyptians lived, how they prepared for death, and how they perceived their own place within the universe. The Great Book of Ancient Egypt takes readers on a tour of the most important sites of ancient Egypt from the Pyramids of Giza to the Valley of the Kings to Abu Simbel. It recounts the history of the most famous kings and queens and sheds light on the everyday lives of the people. Hawass shares details of his personal archaeological adventures and reveals his own sense of awe of the magic and mystery of the pharaohs. Through his narrative, accompanied by a wealth of outstanding photographs, readers will learn little-known facts about the lives of the people and royalty of ancient Egypt. Also available in French, German, Italian, and Spanish