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Life in Ancient Egypt
What was it like to live in the ancient land watered by the Nile, thousands of years before Christ was born? How did a man earn his living, what did he wear, where did he go in his leisure time? What was the relationship between an ordinary Egyptian and his government, his wife, his children? Was life for him grim or optimistic, difficult or easy, reverent or worldly? Did his people travel, explore, conquer? Were they very much different from those of the other great civilizations of antiquity, the Greek and the Roman? What was the nature of their science, art, magic, religion? If the past has lessons for the present, what can we deduce from ancient Egyptian life that is of value to us today?
For generations, scholar, specialists, and general readers have been turning to a monumental sourcebook for the answers to such Life in Ancient Egypt by Adolf Erman. It is one of the most influential and frequently consulted works on Egyptology ever written, a classic in its field and the basis of numerous other studies and works. It is still one of a very few books that offer the modern reader so satisfying, informative, and complete a survey in one volume.
Erman, a rigorously trained scholar, Director of the Egyptian Museum in Berlin, and author of standard works on Egyptology, covers his subject thoroughly and with a wealth of interesting, concrete detail. He examines ancient Egypt’s political structure, crime and police systems, domestic life and kinships, dress, amusements, religion, learning, mathematics, magic and folk beliefs, literature, art, agriculture, trades, arts and crafts, commerce, warfare, and much else. His objective point of view, eschewing romanticism on the one hand and frigid pedantry on the other, gives us a treatment that is as trustworthy in fact as it is evocative in effect — as Professor Jon Manchip White says in his new introduction for this edition, “From first to last … a superb performance.” The scholar, the student and the merely curious can do no better than to go to this first, great authority on ancient Egypt. Profusely illustrated throughout.
For generations, scholar, specialists, and general readers have been turning to a monumental sourcebook for the answers to such Life in Ancient Egypt by Adolf Erman. It is one of the most influential and frequently consulted works on Egyptology ever written, a classic in its field and the basis of numerous other studies and works. It is still one of a very few books that offer the modern reader so satisfying, informative, and complete a survey in one volume.
Erman, a rigorously trained scholar, Director of the Egyptian Museum in Berlin, and author of standard works on Egyptology, covers his subject thoroughly and with a wealth of interesting, concrete detail. He examines ancient Egypt’s political structure, crime and police systems, domestic life and kinships, dress, amusements, religion, learning, mathematics, magic and folk beliefs, literature, art, agriculture, trades, arts and crafts, commerce, warfare, and much else. His objective point of view, eschewing romanticism on the one hand and frigid pedantry on the other, gives us a treatment that is as trustworthy in fact as it is evocative in effect — as Professor Jon Manchip White says in his new introduction for this edition, “From first to last … a superb performance.” The scholar, the student and the merely curious can do no better than to go to this first, great authority on ancient Egypt. Profusely illustrated throughout.
570 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1885
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 30, 2020
This work is one of the most amazing pieces of scholarship I've ever worked my way through. First appearing in 1886, it is a massive collection of detail after detail after detail about life in ancient Egypt. Virtually all facets of this three thousand year long civilization are explored: government, religion, the military, agriculture, trade, transportation, education, family life, dress, cosmetics, leisure activities, buildings, funerals, law and art. In each section, there is many, many minute details presented, largely drawn from inscriptions and drawings in tombs, and a truly scholarly attention to appropriate documentation. Each page seems to include an average of between five and ten footnotes referencing publications of sources for each point that is made. Erman's ability to organize, collate and then present such a truly overwhelming wealth of detail was, as stated above, most amazing.
However, there is a point in describing each particular aspect of each particular tree in the woods, that the general nature of the forest remains largely unseen. Erman's argument that the people of this civilization never really thought of themselves as members of an Egyptian nation, and that their familial, religious or feudal relations with their overseers were more important than any nebulous concept of nationhood is an interesting one, but it is largely undeveloped throughout the work. As well, the ponderous weight tradition seems to have played in their lives presented another overarching theme he somehow failed to emphasize. Technical means of building construction largely remained the same. Drawing were always done in the same way (in profile, one foot forward). Inscriptions in tombs were so verbose, hyperbolic and repetitious as to be virtually useless as historical documents, and education copy books were just that: exercise works in which the same relatively meaningless panegyrics were copied page after page. Similarly, although clothing did change and the designs of boats were altered from the Old through the Middle to the New Kingdoms, the general reliance on agricultural production; a peaceful, unmartial focus on life, and profound belief in the importance of their treatment of the dead were constant throughout almost the entire period. Erman does not emphasize these characteristics, spending most of his energy in getting the precise details of whatever it was he is cataloguing right.
Thus, the work is more of an encyclopedia or textbook than a true historical analysis or interpretation. Still, it is nonetheless an amazing achievement.
However, there is a point in describing each particular aspect of each particular tree in the woods, that the general nature of the forest remains largely unseen. Erman's argument that the people of this civilization never really thought of themselves as members of an Egyptian nation, and that their familial, religious or feudal relations with their overseers were more important than any nebulous concept of nationhood is an interesting one, but it is largely undeveloped throughout the work. As well, the ponderous weight tradition seems to have played in their lives presented another overarching theme he somehow failed to emphasize. Technical means of building construction largely remained the same. Drawing were always done in the same way (in profile, one foot forward). Inscriptions in tombs were so verbose, hyperbolic and repetitious as to be virtually useless as historical documents, and education copy books were just that: exercise works in which the same relatively meaningless panegyrics were copied page after page. Similarly, although clothing did change and the designs of boats were altered from the Old through the Middle to the New Kingdoms, the general reliance on agricultural production; a peaceful, unmartial focus on life, and profound belief in the importance of their treatment of the dead were constant throughout almost the entire period. Erman does not emphasize these characteristics, spending most of his energy in getting the precise details of whatever it was he is cataloguing right.
Thus, the work is more of an encyclopedia or textbook than a true historical analysis or interpretation. Still, it is nonetheless an amazing achievement.
January 30, 2017
This one was packed with information, but was pretty dry to read through. This one is good for history buffs who like all the details.
January 30, 2018
A lot of the information is out-of-date and Erman is a bit moralizing and dismissive of the value of the culture of ancient Egypt, but I suppose this is a result of the time this book was written. I wouldn't recommend this work if you are looking for solid information about ancient Egypt, but it does help more interested parties see how the study and understanding of this ancient culture evolved. There are also excellent drawings which, on their own, make this a book worth owning to an Egypt enthusiast.
April 9, 2011
Thomas Mann supposedly used this as the source for Joseph and His Brothers and it's a Dover book, so how could you go wrong. Besides, the author is so forthright:
"As a rule but few facts can be gleaned from the inscriptions, which mostly contain foolish exaggeratins of the glory of the monarch; a hundred texts will tell us that the Pharaoh was the 'friend of the gods,' and that he 'overthrew all the barbarians,' while ne solitary inscription may inform us which temple he built, or against what nation he sent his soldiers. Civil wars and disputes about the succession are always passed over in silence, that posterity might only know that 'the gods have established their son the Pharaoh on the throne, that the world may rejoice.'" (p. 36)
The book is most interesting as a commentary on ancient Egyptian painting, because the text is an extended commentary on the scenes of everyday life that are found in the tomb paintings, and Erman's descriptions provide an entertaining guide to the conventions the painters used to depict time, dimensions, and relations.
"As a rule but few facts can be gleaned from the inscriptions, which mostly contain foolish exaggeratins of the glory of the monarch; a hundred texts will tell us that the Pharaoh was the 'friend of the gods,' and that he 'overthrew all the barbarians,' while ne solitary inscription may inform us which temple he built, or against what nation he sent his soldiers. Civil wars and disputes about the succession are always passed over in silence, that posterity might only know that 'the gods have established their son the Pharaoh on the throne, that the world may rejoice.'" (p. 36)
The book is most interesting as a commentary on ancient Egyptian painting, because the text is an extended commentary on the scenes of everyday life that are found in the tomb paintings, and Erman's descriptions provide an entertaining guide to the conventions the painters used to depict time, dimensions, and relations.
April 30, 2008
Remarkably acurate for the time it was written (19th Century), this detailed overview of life in ancient Egypt contains beautiful black-and-white illustrations of Egyptian treasures, documents, and monuments. The author's Christian disaproval of Egyptian customs leads to numerous stuffy Victorian remarks, which only added to my enjoyment.
July 5, 2019
Astonishingly relevant 130-years on. Many of Erman's educated speculations were confirmed by later boots-on-the-ground science. His architectural elevations and cross-sections — derived entirely from dimensionless and often hard-to-interpret reliefs — are totally charming and probably very accurate.
November 9, 2022
Life in Ancient Egypt, Adolf Erman (1854-1937), 1886, 570 pages, Dewey 932, ISBN 0486226328
DATES p. 37
Dynasties 1-3 no monuments
Old Empire (pyramids, p. 39):
Dynasties 4-5 at latest from about 2830 BCE: ≈300 yr, ≈15 kings
Dynasty 4: 3 pyramids of Gizeh: (p. 39)
Chufu (Cheops)
Cha'frê' (Chephren)
Menkerê' (Mykerinos)
Dynasty 6 at latest from about 2530 BCE
Third king Pepy, p. 39
Dynasty 7-11 political confusion
Middle Empire:
Dynasty 12 about 2130 BCE
Dynasty 13 about 1930 BCE
Dynasties 14-17 political confusion
New Empire, peak prosperity & power, p. 42:
Dynasty 18 about 1530-1320 BCE
Dynasty 19 about 1320-1180 BCE
Dynasty 20 about 1180-1050 BCE
MAP
p. 19.
CLIMATE and pre-dam Nile:
(This 1886 book predates the 1902 Aswan Low Dam and 1970 Aswan High Dam.)
December to March: cool air, occasional near-freezing nighttime low. p. 9.
January: the Nile is back in its bed. p. 10.
January to May: Nile continues subsiding. p. 10.
Mid-February to mid-June: Southeast wind is hot, dusty, often hurricane-force. p. 9.
April to November: very hot. p. 9.
June 1: Nile begins to rise. p. 10.
Mid-June to Mid-February: cooling northwest wind. p. 9.
July: high 110 degrees F. p. 9.
July 31: Nile has become a mighty torrent. p. 10.
Sept. 15: highest Nile level: Egyptian New Year's Day. p. 10.
Sept. 30 to October 31: Nile reaches its highest level. p. 10.
November through May: Nile subsides. p. 10.
MUD DEPOSIT
The yearly precipitation of mud from the flooded Nile, raises the level of the land, so that a higher inundation is needed, to ensure a good harvest. p. 11.
HUMAN-CHANGED LAND
By 1886, the hippopotamus had been extirpated from Egypt, and papyrus was absent north of 9 degrees north latitude. p. 12.
LABORERS
The Egyptian laborer, both of 1886 and of the past, has always been a creature with little pleasure in his life, who does his work in a serious and indeed listless way, rather like his ox or his ass. p. 13.
IRRIGATION TYRANNY
"An autocratic government is always necessary in order to control and regulate irrigation." p. 13.
ISOLATION
"The Egyptians never experienced the invigorating influence of a great national war." p. 15.
A SMALL STATE
Egypt is smaller than Belgium, 12,500 square miles, that is, 570 miles long by an average of 22 miles wide. p. 15.
CROWDED
The 1886 population of Egypt is over 5 million (over 400 people per square mile, counting the Nile valley and delta only). p. 17.
BOUNDARY
The southern boundary of Egypt is the first cataract: 7 miles of rapids at 24 degrees north latitude. The mouth of the Nile is at 31.5 degrees north. p. 18.
WORDS
"Pharaoh" is "per'o," "the great house."
DATES p. 37
Dynasties 1-3 no monuments
Old Empire (pyramids, p. 39):
Dynasties 4-5 at latest from about 2830 BCE: ≈300 yr, ≈15 kings
Dynasty 4: 3 pyramids of Gizeh: (p. 39)
Chufu (Cheops)
Cha'frê' (Chephren)
Menkerê' (Mykerinos)
Dynasty 6 at latest from about 2530 BCE
Third king Pepy, p. 39
Dynasty 7-11 political confusion
Middle Empire:
Dynasty 12 about 2130 BCE
Dynasty 13 about 1930 BCE
Dynasties 14-17 political confusion
New Empire, peak prosperity & power, p. 42:
Dynasty 18 about 1530-1320 BCE
Dynasty 19 about 1320-1180 BCE
Dynasty 20 about 1180-1050 BCE
MAP
p. 19.
CLIMATE and pre-dam Nile:
(This 1886 book predates the 1902 Aswan Low Dam and 1970 Aswan High Dam.)
December to March: cool air, occasional near-freezing nighttime low. p. 9.
January: the Nile is back in its bed. p. 10.
January to May: Nile continues subsiding. p. 10.
Mid-February to mid-June: Southeast wind is hot, dusty, often hurricane-force. p. 9.
April to November: very hot. p. 9.
June 1: Nile begins to rise. p. 10.
Mid-June to Mid-February: cooling northwest wind. p. 9.
July: high 110 degrees F. p. 9.
July 31: Nile has become a mighty torrent. p. 10.
Sept. 15: highest Nile level: Egyptian New Year's Day. p. 10.
Sept. 30 to October 31: Nile reaches its highest level. p. 10.
November through May: Nile subsides. p. 10.
MUD DEPOSIT
The yearly precipitation of mud from the flooded Nile, raises the level of the land, so that a higher inundation is needed, to ensure a good harvest. p. 11.
HUMAN-CHANGED LAND
By 1886, the hippopotamus had been extirpated from Egypt, and papyrus was absent north of 9 degrees north latitude. p. 12.
LABORERS
The Egyptian laborer, both of 1886 and of the past, has always been a creature with little pleasure in his life, who does his work in a serious and indeed listless way, rather like his ox or his ass. p. 13.
IRRIGATION TYRANNY
"An autocratic government is always necessary in order to control and regulate irrigation." p. 13.
ISOLATION
"The Egyptians never experienced the invigorating influence of a great national war." p. 15.
A SMALL STATE
Egypt is smaller than Belgium, 12,500 square miles, that is, 570 miles long by an average of 22 miles wide. p. 15.
CROWDED
The 1886 population of Egypt is over 5 million (over 400 people per square mile, counting the Nile valley and delta only). p. 17.
BOUNDARY
The southern boundary of Egypt is the first cataract: 7 miles of rapids at 24 degrees north latitude. The mouth of the Nile is at 31.5 degrees north. p. 18.
WORDS
"Pharaoh" is "per'o," "the great house."
July 19, 2025
Overall a wonderful and impressive book, but at times it has the dullest pages one can imagine. I read every word so this could “count” here, but I suggest skimming the boring parts for any future reader.
November 3, 2022
It was super dry to say the least however it was packed with a lot of information that was really helpful and interesting.
900-999-geography-history
November 8, 2019913.32
March 9, 2022
Really well written and fun and engaging to read. Awesome introduction to and survey of ancient Egyptian history, culture, technology and theology.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews