Temples, Tombs & Hieroglyphs: A Popular History of Ancient Egypt

by Barbara Mertz

An eye-opening, edifying, and endlessly entertaining tour through an astonishing bygone world—the acclaimed classic history of ancient Egypt, now newly revised and updated

Writing as Elizabeth Peters, world-renowned Egyptologist Barbara Mertz is the author of the phenomenally popular New York Times bestselling mystery series featuring archaeologist Amelia Peabody. In Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs, Dr. Mertz explores the breathtaking reality behind her fiction by casting a dazzling light on a remarkable civilization that, even after thousands of years, still stirs the human imagination and inspires awe with its marvelous mysteries and amazing accomplishments.

A fascinating chronicle of an extraordinary epoch—from the first Stone Age settlements through the reign of Cleopatra and the Roman invasions—Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs brings ancient Egypt to life as never before. Lavishly illustrated with pictures, maps, photographs, and charts, it offers tantalizing glimpses into Egyptian society and everyday life; amazing stories of the pharaohs and the rise and fall of great dynasties; religion and culture; folklore and fairy tales; stories of the explorers, scientists, and unmitigated scoundrels who sought to unravel or exploit the ageless mysteries; and breathtaking insights into the magnificent architectural wonders that rose up from the desert sands.

Revised and updated to include the results of the most recent historical research and archaeological finds, Dr. Mertz's book is unhampered by stuffy prose and dry academic formality. Instead, it is a vibrant, colorful, and fun excursion for anyone who's ever fantasized about exploring the Valley of the Kings, viewing up close the treasures of the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, or sailing down the Nile on Cleopatra's royal barge.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Egypt, Ancient History, Archaeology, Egyptology, Audiobook

352 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1964

About the author

Barbara Mertz (September 29, 1927 – August 8, 2013) was an American author who wrote under her own name as well as under the pseudonyms Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Michaels.

Barbara G. Mertz studied at the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, receiving an M.A. in 1950 and a Ph.D. in Egyptology in 1952. In 1950 she married Richard Mertz and had two children, Elizabeth and Peter. She was divorced in 1969. A past president of American Crime Writers League, she served on the Editorial Advisory Board of KMT, A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt. She was also a member of the Egypt Exploration Society and the James Henry Breasted Circle of the Oriental Institute. Under her own name she was the author of Temples, Tombs and Hieroglyphs, A Popular history of Ancient Egypt and Red Land, Black Land, Daily Life in Ancient Egypt. Under her pseudonym as Barbara Michaels she has written twenty nine novels of suspense. As Elizabeth Peters, she has produced thirty seven mystery-suspense novels, many of them set in Egypt and the Middle East.

Dr. Mertz was awarded a D.H.L. from Hood College in 1989. The Mystery Writers of America awarded her the MWA Grandmaster in 1998. She has also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Malice Domestic and the Grandmaster Award from Bouchercon.

Reviews

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always been fascinated by Egypt, the Pharohs, mummies, tombs. Going to school in Chicago, there were many field trips to the Field Museum. When we arrived, I'd run right for their Egyptology Dept. with their amazing collection of mummies.

The author of this book also wrote as Elizabeth Peters, whose mystery series, I read avidly. It was hard to keep track of all the different, Pharohs, Viziers and Gods. Too much was covered, but I did learn things, though not as much as I would have liked. Learned a new word, Pyramidiots, which was used to describe the people who have woo woo theories on how the pyramids were erected and who built them. This part of the book I found fascinating. She dispels a few common myths and explains how this was actually done and why.

A mixed read, parts informative, fascinating but at the same time, somewhat overwhelming.

[Jason Koivu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adding "a popular..." to the title perfectly describes this and lets the reader know they're about to embark upon a light reading.

Giving you the entirety of Ancient Egypt's imperial history and more, Temples, Tombs & Hieroglyphs seems to spend more time on its subtitle rather than the main. The leaders - seemingly every single one - gets a decent going-over, at least as much as can be known at this time. The history of Egypt is, after all, rather sketchy.

I picked this up as supplemental research for a fantasy series I'm working on. It didn't go as deep into the Indiana Jones type of traps and snares I was hoping for, but it is quite detailed about the temples and tombs, so it wasn't a total loss by any means.

Temples, Tombs & Hieroglyphs is not the most scholarly of works on the subject. Barbara Mertz got her degree in Egyptology back in the '50s, then spent much of her subsequent time writing mystery fiction. But again, that's a-okay for the kind of book we've got here. Mertz's offhand, cheeky tone keeps this light and enjoyable through out. It's the perfect refresher for us old folks who have forgotten much of what we learned in school.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a perfect antidote to The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt (see my review here.) Whereas Rise was dry, stuffy, and felt like was written by someone from 50 years ago, this 50 year old book had personality, style, enthusiasm, and felt fresh. Barbara Mertz used her fiction writing chops to create an entertaining, well-structured book that drew a lively picture of ancient Egyptians, their most famous personalities (such as Rameses III, Hatshepsut and Akhenaten), and linked their story to archeological discoveries amd monuments we can still see today.

Dr. Mertz inserts a lot of her personality, interests, and humor into this narrative, freely admitting that she has her own opinions and soap boxes. This worked fine for me, as it felt like a breath fresh air in comparison to Rise, which was dull, and lacked even the mention of multiple opinions or lack of evidence to certain interpretations. Wilkinson presented his history as facts; Mertz very much admits that much of what we know is conjecture.

Barbara Mertz is most known as Elizabeth Peters, the writer of the Amelia Peabody historical mystery series, and she clearly knows how to weave a good yarn. The narrator of the audiobook, Lorna Raver, is phenomenal. I highly recommend this book - older but way better than Rise and Fall. Free on Hoopla.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the most irritating & frustrating non-fiction work I have read in some time. It can't decide if it's a history of Egypt, a history of Egyptian archeology, or a gossipy history of people studying Egyptian history. The author's lame attempts at sarcastic side-bars don't help one bit. It contains some interesting information, but it's in no way a cohesive read. Very disappointing.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a book that could be an introduction or refresher course on Ancient Egyptian history that's both informative and entertaining, I can only recommend this. It covers what I consider to be the "real Ancient Egypt" – starting with the predynastic Egypt and ending just as Alexander the Great conquers Egypt.

This is a book very much about the Egypt of the (dynastic) pharaohs, so if you want detailed information about the Greco-Roman period and it's personalities, it's best to look elsewhere. No doubt some people will be disappointed by this. I've always found the Greco-Roman period and even Cleopatra dull by comparison to the earlier times, so I'm not disappointed at all.

I could complain about the lack of detail given to some periods or pharaohs, but with 3,000 years of history to cover, it would be nitpicking. You can feel the love and enthusiasm the author has for the subject in almost every page, which makes it stand out all the more.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very fun, absorbing, quick history of ancient Egypt. The author unapologetically tells us that she's going to cover what's interesting to her - and in my opinion that makes for a much more interesting book for the reader as well. Could be a great way to introduce Egyptian history to a child. Also, for fans of Amelia Peabody, it's fun to see where Barbara Mertz (pen name is Elizabeth Peters) has developed her theories and interests in the realm of historical fiction. And yes, there are a couple historical mysteries too...
On the flip side, I can't agree with every theory in here. But Barbara Mertz writes forthrightly and with no attempt to brainwash you into accepting her particular theories. I'd have no hesitation in recommending it.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review applies to the audio version of the book. This book took longer than it all should have as I would turn it on to listen to when I went to bed, and I would fall asleep and then have no idea where I lost consciousness. I must have listened to chapter four about ten times.

Listening to this book is a lot like having a class taught by a fun, albeit eccentric, professor. I have no idea what Barbara Mertz looks like, but I have decided to cast her as Professor Sprout only with more scarves. If you had her as a professor, you would show up early to get her off track and stay late to hear her stories of drinking Egyptian beers with the native diggers.

Her book reads exactly like a professor teaching you "Oh, but we'll get back to that later..." and "That's the theory...but I don't buy it" and "His name is blah...and really that's all you need to know about him."

She doesn't make claims that the book is anything more than an overview--it was written in 1964 but revised in 2007. But it's a fun rompy overview of Egypt right up until Cleopatra gets bitten.

By the way, I just looked her up--my casting call isn't far off. Needs more scarves.

The book is quick moving--assuming you don't fall asleep repeatedly--and a fun listen. Though towards the end I started zoning. I'm thinking the sound of the narrators voices has a Pavlovian effect on me that I can only deny for so long.

[Kiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, entertaining read. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in learning an overview about ancient Egypt. This is not an art history tome. The narrative reads as a story told by a storyteller or oral historian who brings the culture, customs and the era to life. There are even photographs and sketches of the artifacts and of the tombs as well as maps and diagrams. While reading the book I found it helpful to look up the sites and tombs on Google images as a reference to help visualize them even though Ms. Mertz’s enthusiastic descriptions are very thorough and well-written. Unfortunately, I understand the book is out of print. Thanks to Goodreads friend, Christopher Needham, who had a copy, I was able to enjoy this book and put it on my shelf.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy her humor and irreverence on a subject that can be rather stuffy.

['Aussie Rick' · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly I must admit that I am not an expert on this subject. I learnt the basic stuff at High School and that's about it. My interest was sparked in Ancient Egypt after taking my daughter to watch 'The Mummy' and subsequently reading Bob Brier's book 'The Murder of Tutankhamen'.

As it has been previously noted by other reviewer's this book is somewhat dated (orginally published in 1964) but that does not detract from the wonderful narrative that the author weaves around the Pharaohs and their place in history.

The author does not get bogged down in technical details and you never lose interest in the story. She has a knack of writing about these far away times and people as if it was yesterday and draws you into her story. Overall I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to obtain a decent overview of Ancient Egypt.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another revamped recently and re-released non fiction by Barbara Mertz. This one is more about the ruling history and rulers of ancient Egypt. The earlier book I reviewed, Red Land Black Land is more about the people and customs. I read it about 6 months ago or so and really enjoyed it. In typical Barbara Mertz style she writes about ancient Egypt with much knowledge and humor. I would again recommend this book to anyone who has even the vaguest interest in Ancient Egypt. I may even re-read it in preparation for my big trip in November. (We’ll see though, my reading list is quite staggering without it.):)

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good and somehow entertaining book that tries to condense the complex and long history of pharaonic Egypt and the many ancient dynasties. The book is very well researched and the narration (for Audible version) is quite fitting, I found it entertaining but a little scattered at big portions of it, especially with the rapid description of the following dynasties.

Even if you are a history lover, you may still find the book quite dull at parts, so I would recommend it only if you are really into your 'Egyptian history'

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a popular history of ancient Egypt. It covered an enormous amount of material: current archeology, rulers and politics of ancient Egypt, a bit of religion, a bit of medicine, a bit of bogus theories. It was too much for me to take in. I think I left more overwhelmed than informed.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barbara Mertz is renowned for her Amelia Peabody novels set in Egypt during the late 1800's- early 1900's and the novels are all the more interesting with facts derived from her own knowledge and education as an archaeologist. In this book, she provides a conversational, chatty voice to inform her readers of the rulers of Ancient Egypt through the numerous dynasties as well as provide some insight into an exotic locale and culture.

She does a good job attempting to distinguish rulers that would change names as often as they changed their wigs - especially in the earliest of dynasties - as well as provide tales that would flesh out the society, religion and people that are known to - in some cases - specialized Egyptologists. Viziers, priests, relatives, sons, daughters, wives, queens, regents, co-regents, generals, architects and even rulers from nearby kingdoms. Admittedly, there is a great deal of speculation since the time period is not well documented and later pharaohs did not hesitate to re-carve monuments or just dismantle and re-utilize for some other purpose.

But I do admit she did a lovely job covering thousands of years. I actually learned one thing - Egypt is called the black land, the red land because the black land is the fertile soil from the Nile inundation and the red land is the barren desert. The maps were very helpful - what few there were. Nearly all the photos seemed more like tourist shots rather than those provided by a professional photographer.

Now for where I was disappointed. The summary says Ancient Egypt from the Stone Age settlements through the Greeks and Romans. The Greek part - namely Alexander the Great of Macedonia - is barely a page and Roman lasts a paragraph. The only participation of hieroglyphics beyond a cartouche at the beginning of each chapter of a noted pharaoh that would be mentioned in the next pages was a diagram of one royal titulary and a couple serekh. No definitions or breakdown of the icons. In fact the only two icons that were identified were horus (example looks more like an owl than a hawk) and set-animal which looks more like a deer than a canine/jackel. The Rosetta Stone - which is attributed as a major contribution in the breakdown/translation of Egyptian hieroglyphics - was mentioned once.

Maybe I'm too knowledgeable about Ancient Egypt - something I never thought I would consider.

2020-052

[Apteris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully readable. 3,000 years of history made fascinating and gripping.

Readers will learn about remarkable historical figures such as Thutmoses III, Hatshepsut, Imhotep, Nefertiti, Akhenaton, Tutankhamen, Ramses II, and others. Likewise will they learn about these Egyptian figures' adversaries, advisors, daily lives -- and of the lives of their people and kingdoms.

And while few need additional impetus to visit a country like Egypt, the descriptions of its attractions in this book are richly evocative.

[Kellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating popular history of Egypt. Mertz's writing style and dry sense of humor made it compelling and enjoyable.

[Christine Zibas · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who has an interest in Egypt or ever wondered exactly who the ancient Egyptians were and why their dynasties lasted for thousands of years, Barbara Mertz's Temples, Tombs & Hieroglyphs is the perfect introduction. More commonly known to readers as Elizabeth Peters, Mertz is the author of the popular Amelia Peabody mystery series.

Long before she started her career as a best-selling writer, however, Barbara Mertz began as a trained Egyptologist, with a PhD from the famed Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago, the launching pad for many successful Egyptologists. These credentials make her the perfect person to write this history, as she is able to translate the rich Egyptian history of the pharaohs into something more easily understood by readers with no archaeological background, except an interest in Egypt.

This is not to say that the book is always easy reading, although Mertz tackles her subject with a passion and humor readers are unlikely to find in any other, more typical history tome. She manages to bring the Egyptians of old to life, translating ancient hieroglyphs into fascinating stories of individuals, each with their own purpose, strengths and weaknesses exposed.

She opens up the fascinating world of tomb robbers and archaeologists (which some claim are not so far apart in purpose or behavior at times). She demonstrates how information is extrapolated from archaeological findings and illustrates how history is revised over time as new facts and theories come to light.

Despite the injection of personality Mertz brings, this can be dense material at times. For anyone uninitiated in the world of the Egyptians, there are more than 30 dynasties, each with several rulers, falling into 10 eras, dating from the Stone Age Archaic Period to the time of Cleopatra and the Roman invasion. The sheer length of time and individuals and events covered is staggering.

With repeating pharaohnic names, unfamiliar landscapes and place names, conflicting historical research and theories, the book can be overwhelming at times. Yet the reward for sticking it out (dare I even say, re-reading parts) is worth the time and effort expended. Frankly, I read this book twice, cover to cover, and the second time around, I finally began to get a real sense for the overall arc of historical time period covered. And I would hazard to say that it seems even more likely that dipping in again would yield even more historical treasure and understanding.

The richest gift that Mertz offers in her overview of Egypt can be found in the simple stories of the rulers described here, in illuminating for the novice the archaeological tricks of the trade (and weaknesses of such methods) used to determine exactly (or to the best of anyone's knowledge) what happened so many years ago. Mertz's infectious passion for all things Egyptian (well, except possibly pottery shards) can't help but influence her readers to want to learn more. Through her book, she has opened the door to her own exciting world, and readers can't help but want to share in that magic.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Spoiler! Everyone in this book died. ;)

- Barbara Mertz was a wonderful historian who penned the excellent Amelia Peabody mystery series under the name of Elizabeth Peters. I only mention this because I had no idea who Barbara Mertz was when I was checking the book out of the library. It's a small world indeed.

- I really enjoyed her narrative. Barbara had a certain spunk that made her writing very approachable and just plain entertaining. The historical figures in this book are vibrant individuals. I had no problem keeping track of multiple dynasties, and that says a lot considering there were like three Amenhoteps and about eleven Ramseses. Barbara also didn't hesitate to let us know her feelings towards certain subjects and theories. I absolutely loved her take on Ramses II and his "valour" in battle. Also, I do know how she would have done away with King Tut, if she was an ancient Egyptian dead set against him. Absolutely amazing, hilarious lady!

- She kind of skimmed intermediary periods (and I think justly so, since they are such a mess), and didn't go too deep into very complicated concepts (hence "popular history" title). Barbara also openly admitted to favour some dynasties over others, thus spending more time on certain events, but the book was her playground, so I can hardly hold it against her. For anybody really interested in the later part of Egyptian history, you will not find much info here on Cleopatra and her liaisons. Third intermediate period saw Egypt torn apart by foreign invaders like Lybians, Cushites, etc. The late period marked the rule of Persian empire interlaced with some short-lived attempts by Egyptian pharaohs to return to power. Later on it was conquered by Alexander the Great and ceased to exist as true Egyptian kingdom altogether. Barbara Mertz focused primarily on true Egyptian history, so most of her extensive information ended with the fall of the New Kingdom.

- I'm definitely adding this book to my personal library.

[Bill Telfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's that? You say you've always been curious about the subject of "ancient Egypt" but the topic is just too huge and sprawling that you have no idea how the Pyramids of Giza relate to King Tut, or what the Sphinx can possibly have to do with Cleopatra --and everything in between? Well, let Barbara Mertz (the amazing late author of the Amelia Peabody mysteries under the pen name "Elizabeth Peters") put it all in lovely, concise, and, yes, even humorous perspective for you. I listened to this one in audiobook form, and, I'll tell you, it's one of those books that, upon its completion, I feel as though I have taken an entire course in Egyptology. My head is full of knowledge now. I have brains. I am "smort." You can be "smort" too -- read this book.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this. It's fun, entertaining and filled with lots of interesting information, never dull or dry.

It's quite obvious that the author knows very well how to engage the readers and now I must go searching for her fictional works :P

Is this a complete history of Ancient Egypt? Nope, and the author tells us that from the beginning, stating that she will go about what interests her, and I had no qualms with it. I enjoyed every minute of it and, as a plus, learn quite a bit. If you have at the less a minimum interest in old archaeology and/or Ancient Egypt, you'll have a good time reading this =D

Lorna Raver's narration is very, very good.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are seriously interested in the minutiae of Egyptian scholarship then this book is probably going to seem pretty once-over-lightly. If you are like me, and know the basic outlines, this is going to be just your dish. It was for me. Mertz, who also wrote as Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Michaels --- historical thrillers/supernatural thrillers --- also was an Egyptologist of no mean credentials or ability. But because she was also a first-rate writer, she introduces the reader to the basic outline of ancient Egyptian history in wonderful prose. I loved reading this.

[Bondama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Mertz, long known for her thrillers under the two pseudonyms Barbara Michaels and Elizabeth Peters, has finally come out with a non-fiction book on her speciality, Egyptology. This is an imminently readable work, taking the reader through a history of all the dynasties and Kingdoms that are thousands of years old. This is an incredible book -- and extremely accessible to virtually anyone with an interest in the Ancient Egyptians.

[EmBe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eigentlich wäre der Titel dieser Lizensausgabe für die wbg "Pharaonen, Tempel, Mumien" besser, denn der gibt die Sichtweise der Autorin auf ihr Thema wieder. Ja, die Pharaonen, ihre Taten und Hinterlassenschaften stehen im Mittelpunkt, dann kommen Tempel, die für die Religion stehen, und dann erst die Mumien, die die Autorin zwar auch miteinbeziehen muss, aber sie persönlich nicht mag. Das Buch gibt die sehr subjektive Sichtweise der Autorin wieder, die Gewichtung zeigt sich besonders in den 30 Seiten, die sie der "Häresie" von Echnaton und seinen Auswirkungen widmet, 30 Seiten also über ein Zehntel der Textes für eine Zeit von über 20 Jahren.
Mertz ist vom Fach, und es gefiel mir, dass sie unterschiedliche Interpretationen der Geschehnisse, der Abfolge der Pharaonen erwähnt und ihre eigenen Vorlieben und Ansichten kenntlich macht. Sie nimmt die Ägyptlogie als Disziplin in den Blick, schildert anekdotisch wie Erkenntnisse zu Stande kamen, vermittelt einen Einblick in die Arbeit und Geschichte.
Das Buch ist also alles andere als trocken, es hat sich schnell gelesen, und doch war es auch unbefriedigend. Sie schreibt selbst davon, wie schwer es ist, alle neuen Erkenntnisse zu berücksichtigen. Und die schreiten sehr rasch voran, wie ich im Blick auf die zahlreichen TV-Dokumentationen sagen kann. 10 Jahre sind da eine lange Zeit.
Und ich muss wohl noch das andere Buch von Mertz über das Alte Ägypten lesen. In dem geht es um das Alltagsleben, das wird in diesem Buch so gut wie nicht erwähnt. Der Methoden-Fokus liegt auf den überlieferten Texten und den Monumenten. Mit einer ziemlichen Überraschung (für mich zumindest) wartet sie am Ende auf. Die "Sprüche Salomons" aus der Bibel sind ägyptischen Ursprungs und sind dort als Amenomope-Texte bekannt gewesen.
Geeignet als gut lesbarer Einstieg in die Materie, aber man muss diese persönlich geprägte Mischung auch mögen, sonst wird man enttäuscht.

[Jessica Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

At about the midway point I thought (Goodreads ate my comments...) I would like a bit more structure, and that hasn't changed. I personally like a lot of organization to help me keep the timeline and all the names straight when reading history. On that note, putting a smaller, more detailed timeline corresponding to the content in each chapter at the beginning of the chapter would have made a big difference for me.
That said, I found this to be a really engaging read. The author touches upon not only the names of the kings and descriptions of their tombs and temples; but on the political and religious climates of different periods, archaeologists and their discoveries, and charming stories and writing straight from Ancient Egypt itself. Key characters are introduced throughout and their stories, as much as is known, are told in a lively and personal manner. She wraps up the book by talking about how "we look into the mind of a man three millennia dead and call him 'brother'."

[Ann T · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a bit convoluted for me as there are so many characters, groups, empires, that I often got lost. However, it presents a good general overview of ancient Egyptian history. The author has a cheerful, talkative, and cultured writing style. She often makes little jokes or quips which take you time to comprehend until you finally get that she is doing it, then for the rest of the book, you catch them quickly. I listened to the audio and the narrator, Lorna Raver, did a fabulous job. I loved how she pronounced the names. Had I been reading this, I likely would have been even more lost.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really interesting book on Ancient Egypt! The author explored so many different pharaohs and there were so many that I had never heard about before. Plus, they talked about other aspects of Egyptian lives such as medicine and art! The author had a sense of humor that I really enjoyed as well.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars. An in-depth look at all of the rulers of Egypt, with a fair amount of sass and sarcasm. It did drag at times and eventually the names started to blur together, but overall it was one of the most entertaining books on history I've read.

[Shane Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. Told with personality and enthusiasm.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really entertaining and accessible history of Egypt.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was surprised and happy to find that it was a great history lesson without feeling like a history lesson. I learned a lot!