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24 Hours in Ancient History #2
24 Hours in Ancient Egypt: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There
Spend twenty-four hours with the ancient Egyptians.
Ancient Egypt wasn't all pyramids, sphinxes and gold sarcophagi. For your average Egyptian, life was tough, and work was hard, conducted under the burning gaze of the sun god Ra.
During the course of a day in the ancient city of Thebes (modern-day Luxor), Egypt's religious capital, we meet twenty-four Egyptians from all strata of society-from the king to the bread-maker, the priestess to the fisherman, the soldier to the midwife-and get to know what the real Egypt was like by spending an hour in their company. We encounter a different one of these characters every hour and in every chapter, and through their eyes see what an average day in ancient Egypt was really like.
Ancient Egypt wasn't all pyramids, sphinxes and gold sarcophagi. For your average Egyptian, life was tough, and work was hard, conducted under the burning gaze of the sun god Ra.
During the course of a day in the ancient city of Thebes (modern-day Luxor), Egypt's religious capital, we meet twenty-four Egyptians from all strata of society-from the king to the bread-maker, the priestess to the fisherman, the soldier to the midwife-and get to know what the real Egypt was like by spending an hour in their company. We encounter a different one of these characters every hour and in every chapter, and through their eyes see what an average day in ancient Egypt was really like.
Audible Audio
First published October 18, 2018
311 people are currently reading
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About the author
Donald P. Ryan
20 books23 followersDonald P. Ryan is an Egyptologist and archaeologist who has spent more than twenty years excavating in the Valley of the Kings.
―The American University in Cairo Press
―The American University in Cairo Press
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
December 25, 2018
If you’re an experienced Egyptologist or enthusiast, this book is probably not what you’re looking for as it’ll just tell you what you already know. This is the kind of book that works well for a very specific audience, and that is the newcomer to the subject. Maybe you know absolutely nothing about ancient Egypt and want to get into the subject, or you’ve learnt a bit about the significant monarchs and important battles but you’re still kind of fuzzy on the essentials: this is the book for you. It gets right back to basics and presents an ordinary, unremarkable daily routine in the lives of a variety of typical ancient Egyptians, from the farmer and carpenter up to the pharaoh. There’s not too much to say since the text is so simple and straightforward, but the author is an Egyptologist himself and I didn’t spot any silly mistakes. In fact, this book gets a special mention because it accurately portrayed three aspects of ancient Egypt that just this year I have seen university level textbooks by well-respected academics get wrong – the ancient Egyptian habit of calling a lover ‘sister’ as an endearment although only royalty tended to practise incest, the ancient Egyptian superiority complex on the basis of culture, and the Ptolemies' origins in Makedon. So, go on, have an extra point from me.
April 9, 2023
I’ve hesitated to start this book. I thought it would be too popular, written by some publicist who deals in nice stories. But Donald P. Ryan is a respected Egyptologist, with field experience as an archaeologist, so he knows what he's talking about. Of course, this is docu-fiction, so with an imaginary, narrative slant. Ryan follows 24 characters for an hour, in the year 1414 bce, at the height of the New Kingdom. The characters are chosen very broadly: the pharaoh and his vizier, of course, but also a soldier, a midwife, up to and including a grave robber. So, that gives one a reasonable overall picture. Ryan mainly uses introspection, a technique that allows him to deftly go wider than that single character. Small information boxes are inserted to complete the picture. Absolutely creditable, although I must mention that all in all I didn't learn that much. I don't mean that in a derogatory way: let's say it was complementary to what I had already read in different non-fiction books.
July 2, 2022
This work is an examination of what 24 hours in ancient Egypt might look like for its inhabitants. The author chose to tell 24 different stories, one set in each hour of a typical day. The stories ranged from a sleepless night of the pharaoh to the hot workday of a mud-brick maker. Each chapter included fictionalized accounts interwoven with detailed historical accounts and information.
I greatly enjoyed the inclusion of historical texts relevant to Egypt between chapters and throughout the chapters themselves. There was so much good information included and told in a relatable and interesting way. I also appreciated how the author chose to convey this information through fictionalized accounts of different characters from all different walks of life in Egypt. The characters were diverse in background and personalities, and there were many chapters that I wished were longer as I greatly enjoyed those characters.
The author chose to set up this work by telling one story for each hour of the day. One of the earliest hours was a midwife delivering a baby, while one of the latest hours was of a dancing girl trying to entertain wedding guests. Again, the diversity of the characters and their professions/motivations was extremely varied and insightful.
This work was rife with fascinating details. These ranged from details about setting up and carving an obelisk, to being a midwife or a potter, to a mother’s day at home, to the danger of hippos. Information concerning cultural details like the words Egyptians used for certain things, typical food for different classes of people, typical drinks, and their writing methods and schools were also woven throughout the stories in an interesting way. The chapters often started with a fictionalized character and a bit about them, then went into historically collected data and information that was used to inform details about this character.
I disliked that there were no footnotes or references included, though I did listen to the audiobook so it’s possible these are included in the print version. I feel that it’s very important that works like this include references detailing where the author acquired their information. There were also many unintentional tense changes, which should be edited.
I highly recommend this work to anyone who has an interest in ancient Egypt. This work could be fantastic for homeschool curriculums or to supplement any world history classes.
I received a complimentary copy of this work through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I greatly enjoyed the inclusion of historical texts relevant to Egypt between chapters and throughout the chapters themselves. There was so much good information included and told in a relatable and interesting way. I also appreciated how the author chose to convey this information through fictionalized accounts of different characters from all different walks of life in Egypt. The characters were diverse in background and personalities, and there were many chapters that I wished were longer as I greatly enjoyed those characters.
The author chose to set up this work by telling one story for each hour of the day. One of the earliest hours was a midwife delivering a baby, while one of the latest hours was of a dancing girl trying to entertain wedding guests. Again, the diversity of the characters and their professions/motivations was extremely varied and insightful.
This work was rife with fascinating details. These ranged from details about setting up and carving an obelisk, to being a midwife or a potter, to a mother’s day at home, to the danger of hippos. Information concerning cultural details like the words Egyptians used for certain things, typical food for different classes of people, typical drinks, and their writing methods and schools were also woven throughout the stories in an interesting way. The chapters often started with a fictionalized character and a bit about them, then went into historically collected data and information that was used to inform details about this character.
I disliked that there were no footnotes or references included, though I did listen to the audiobook so it’s possible these are included in the print version. I feel that it’s very important that works like this include references detailing where the author acquired their information. There were also many unintentional tense changes, which should be edited.
I highly recommend this work to anyone who has an interest in ancient Egypt. This work could be fantastic for homeschool curriculums or to supplement any world history classes.
I received a complimentary copy of this work through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
October 22, 2020
24 Hours in Ancient Egypt: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There looks at one day in the year 1414 B.C. under the reign of the Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep II. Hour by hour, stating at midnight, readers share one hour in the life of twenty four individuals of Thebes, modern day Luxor.
Information about the daily life of ordinary Egyptian people so long ago is scarce. The book therefore uses fictional characters to relate what is known about individuals holding differ occupations. An hour is spent with a doctor, a midwife, a dancer, a jeweler, a brickmaker, a priest, a retired soldier, a tomb robber and the pharaoh himself. Those are a few examples. We learn of the clothes that are worn, the food that is eaten and an assortment of traditions, occupations and practices.
Couples were predominantly monogamous. Beer and bread were staples of the diet. To treat the ill there were both general practitioners and specialists—eye doctors, dentists and those trained in treating snake and scorpion bites. Bricks made of mud, water and straw were the common building blocks—easily eroded, few such buildings remain today. What is left are the buildings of stone, buildings for the royalty and the gods. Silver was referred to as the “bones of the gods”, gold as the “flesh of the gods”. Lapis lazuli was highly prized; it had to be taken from distant Afghanistan or as war booty. This is an assortment of the information the book provides.
There are lots of interesting tidbits that I enjoyed reading about. However, the book is not for readers who know a lot about ancient Egypt. It is for novices, for people like me.
Sometimes words were explained with other words I didn’t understand. Then I went to the web.
Fictitious dialogues pepper the text. These I thought were stupid. They just didn’t fit—they were too modern.
John Telfer narrates very well. You hear every word, and the pace is perfect. Four stars for the narration.
Stop and think--what we are reading about are normal people like you and me, some three thousand four hundred years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That they had specialized doctors, drank beer, ate bread, that women danced naked clothed in a few beads to allure men, is mind boggling.
************************
*24 Hours in Ancient Rome: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There by Philip Matyszak 4 stars
*24 Hours in Ancient China: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There by Yijie Zhuang 4 stars
*24 Hours in Ancient Egypt: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There by Donald P. Ryan 3 stars
*24 Hours in Ancient Athens: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There by Philip Matyszak 3 stars
Information about the daily life of ordinary Egyptian people so long ago is scarce. The book therefore uses fictional characters to relate what is known about individuals holding differ occupations. An hour is spent with a doctor, a midwife, a dancer, a jeweler, a brickmaker, a priest, a retired soldier, a tomb robber and the pharaoh himself. Those are a few examples. We learn of the clothes that are worn, the food that is eaten and an assortment of traditions, occupations and practices.
Couples were predominantly monogamous. Beer and bread were staples of the diet. To treat the ill there were both general practitioners and specialists—eye doctors, dentists and those trained in treating snake and scorpion bites. Bricks made of mud, water and straw were the common building blocks—easily eroded, few such buildings remain today. What is left are the buildings of stone, buildings for the royalty and the gods. Silver was referred to as the “bones of the gods”, gold as the “flesh of the gods”. Lapis lazuli was highly prized; it had to be taken from distant Afghanistan or as war booty. This is an assortment of the information the book provides.
There are lots of interesting tidbits that I enjoyed reading about. However, the book is not for readers who know a lot about ancient Egypt. It is for novices, for people like me.
Sometimes words were explained with other words I didn’t understand. Then I went to the web.
Fictitious dialogues pepper the text. These I thought were stupid. They just didn’t fit—they were too modern.
John Telfer narrates very well. You hear every word, and the pace is perfect. Four stars for the narration.
Stop and think--what we are reading about are normal people like you and me, some three thousand four hundred years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That they had specialized doctors, drank beer, ate bread, that women danced naked clothed in a few beads to allure men, is mind boggling.
************************
*24 Hours in Ancient Rome: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There by Philip Matyszak 4 stars
*24 Hours in Ancient China: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There by Yijie Zhuang 4 stars
*24 Hours in Ancient Egypt: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There by Donald P. Ryan 3 stars
*24 Hours in Ancient Athens: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There by Philip Matyszak 3 stars
January 21, 2021
Si te gusta el Antiguo Egipto y quieres aprender pero también quieres un libro ameno este es tu libro .
Es entretenido y a la vez aprendes sobre esta antigua cultura .
El pero sería que le faltarían algunas bonitas fotos a color .
Es entretenido y a la vez aprendes sobre esta antigua cultura .
El pero sería que le faltarían algunas bonitas fotos a color .
April 9, 2022
Donald P. Ryan’s 24 Hours in Ancient Egypt offers a short introduction to the daily lives of the ancient Egyptians during the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep II (1426–1400 B.C.E.). The focus is on perspectives, not historical events, and the text is a symbiosis between nonfiction and historical fiction. Each of the book’s 24 chapters has a different protagonist with a different profession.
Figuring out what ancient Egypt was like is not easy. Most extant texts are about rulers, religion, funerals, and the afterlife and are silent on what the majority of the people were doing. This is not surprising since, according to one estimate, only about three percent of the population was literate. Nevertheless, a vast number of constructions, artifacts, and bones have passed the test of time and can be used to obtain a coherent image of this fascinating place.
The ancient Egyptians divided their year into three seasons of four months each: flooding, growing, and harvesting. Each month comprised three ten-day weeks. Five extra days, designated as birthdays of deities, were added annually to mirror the solar year. The days were measured from sunset to sunset and had twelve hours of the day and twelve hours of the night.
Almost all ancient Egyptians lived simple lives and worked a lot. They called their beloved land Kemet (“the Black Land”), which was a reference to the fecund soil along the Nile River. The latter was called itroo (“the river”) or itroo-aa (“the great river”). The name used today comes from the Greek word for “river valley.”
The commoners lucky enough to survive childbirth and childhood could sometimes make it to 35 years of age. Excruciating working hours and conditions, dangerous animals, diseases, very primitive medical care, and food shortages made longer lifespans difficult to attain.
The ancient Egyptians believed that the heart was the core of one’s physical body, intelligence, and emotions, whereas the brain was considered a space filler. This is why the heart was left intact during the 70-day mummification process. All other internal organs were removed, and the human remains were desiccated using a naturally occurring substance called natron, composed of sodium carbonate and bicarbonate. The deceased were placed in coffins inscribed with hints on how to overcome various obstacles in the Underworld. It was crucial to deny any wrongdoings when interrogated by assessor gods, who would determine the fate of one’s ba (soul).
The ancient Egyptians knew how to fish, grow plants, build impressive structures, and collect taxes. They ate mostly bread and drank mostly beer (water was dangerous due to the lack of purification plants). There were professional mourners, dancers, scribes, potters, carpenters, physicians, priests, jewelers, and fan-bearers. A whole host of gods and goddesses had to be propitiated, and the pharaoh had ultimate power.
In conclusion, 24 Hours in Ancient Egypt is a light yet informative read. Donald P. Ryan has created an engaging narrative that whets one’s appetite for more books on the subject matter. And that alone is enough to qualify a book as good.
Figuring out what ancient Egypt was like is not easy. Most extant texts are about rulers, religion, funerals, and the afterlife and are silent on what the majority of the people were doing. This is not surprising since, according to one estimate, only about three percent of the population was literate. Nevertheless, a vast number of constructions, artifacts, and bones have passed the test of time and can be used to obtain a coherent image of this fascinating place.
The ancient Egyptians divided their year into three seasons of four months each: flooding, growing, and harvesting. Each month comprised three ten-day weeks. Five extra days, designated as birthdays of deities, were added annually to mirror the solar year. The days were measured from sunset to sunset and had twelve hours of the day and twelve hours of the night.
Almost all ancient Egyptians lived simple lives and worked a lot. They called their beloved land Kemet (“the Black Land”), which was a reference to the fecund soil along the Nile River. The latter was called itroo (“the river”) or itroo-aa (“the great river”). The name used today comes from the Greek word for “river valley.”
The commoners lucky enough to survive childbirth and childhood could sometimes make it to 35 years of age. Excruciating working hours and conditions, dangerous animals, diseases, very primitive medical care, and food shortages made longer lifespans difficult to attain.
The ancient Egyptians believed that the heart was the core of one’s physical body, intelligence, and emotions, whereas the brain was considered a space filler. This is why the heart was left intact during the 70-day mummification process. All other internal organs were removed, and the human remains were desiccated using a naturally occurring substance called natron, composed of sodium carbonate and bicarbonate. The deceased were placed in coffins inscribed with hints on how to overcome various obstacles in the Underworld. It was crucial to deny any wrongdoings when interrogated by assessor gods, who would determine the fate of one’s ba (soul).
The ancient Egyptians knew how to fish, grow plants, build impressive structures, and collect taxes. They ate mostly bread and drank mostly beer (water was dangerous due to the lack of purification plants). There were professional mourners, dancers, scribes, potters, carpenters, physicians, priests, jewelers, and fan-bearers. A whole host of gods and goddesses had to be propitiated, and the pharaoh had ultimate power.
In conclusion, 24 Hours in Ancient Egypt is a light yet informative read. Donald P. Ryan has created an engaging narrative that whets one’s appetite for more books on the subject matter. And that alone is enough to qualify a book as good.
June 15, 2020
Koncept knjige me je zaista odusevio. Pisac je uspio kroz 24 kratka poglavlja (opis svakog sata) i 24 razlicite osobe tog vremena da nam priblizi zivot u starom Egiptu. Mislim da neke knjige koje imaju mnogo vise stranica nisu uspjele da ispricaju sve ono sto je Donald uspio sa ovom knjigom. Zaista fantasticno djelo koje preporucujem svima koje zanimaju historija i stare civilizacije.
November 28, 2022
Listened to the audio version on walks and it was very enjoyable, as well as interesting. A great conceit, which was well realised - and narrated.
August 15, 2025
24 Hours in Ancient Egypt. by Dr. Donald. P. Ryanis a non-fiction book about the day in the life of the citizens and royalty of Ancient Egypt - from dancing girls to paid mourners for funerals this book does not disappoint.
THERE ARE NO SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Dead bodies, and mummification.
“Ancient Egypt wasn't all pyramids, sphinxes and gold sarcophagi. For your average Egyptian, life was tough, and work was hard, conducted under the burning gaze of the sun god Ra.” — book blurb from the official GoodReads site.
This is a truly interesting way of looking at the past and I'm surprised how much of an easy read it was too. I took my time reading through each chapter as I really wanted to take all the information in and remember it. Ancient Egypt is one of my favourite eras and I've always had an affinity for understanding the hieroglyphic images found all over tombs and tablets.
"During the course of a day in the ancient city of Thebes (modern-day Luxor), Egypt's religious capital, we meet 24 Egyptians from all strata of society - from the king to the bread-maker, the priestess to the fisherman, the soldier to the midwife - and get to know what the real Egypt was like by spending an hour in their company. We encounter a different one of these characters every hour and in every chapter, and through their eyes see what an average day in ancient Egypt was really like." — book blurb from the official GoodReads book site.
I really enjoyed learning about Egypt and the difference in our lives and languages while learning about a different cultures and religion, superstitions of magic in the real world of its people.
Funnily enough, I have often this recurring dream that I've been having since about the age of 12 where I'm a priestess in a temple for Bast/Bastet the Goddess of Protection and cats. Every time I have it I wake up smelling cat pee and poop because it was full of cats and what do cats to in the sand in the desert? They're probably not climbing trees, let me tell you.
I no longer own cats, I'm a dog person now lmao!!!
Anyways, as I said this was a good book, one that I would wholly support and recommend. This would make a great addition to any history lovers bookshelves whether it's a school library, home shelves or just here online. It's a good book that opens up eyes to the social development side of life and how everyone lives connect even in the smallest ways.
Read it, I'm sure you'll find something to be interested in. I may even try the other books like this, hopefully they're as much of a joy to read as this one.
THERE ARE NO SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Dead bodies, and mummification.
“Ancient Egypt wasn't all pyramids, sphinxes and gold sarcophagi. For your average Egyptian, life was tough, and work was hard, conducted under the burning gaze of the sun god Ra.” — book blurb from the official GoodReads site.
This is a truly interesting way of looking at the past and I'm surprised how much of an easy read it was too. I took my time reading through each chapter as I really wanted to take all the information in and remember it. Ancient Egypt is one of my favourite eras and I've always had an affinity for understanding the hieroglyphic images found all over tombs and tablets.
"During the course of a day in the ancient city of Thebes (modern-day Luxor), Egypt's religious capital, we meet 24 Egyptians from all strata of society - from the king to the bread-maker, the priestess to the fisherman, the soldier to the midwife - and get to know what the real Egypt was like by spending an hour in their company. We encounter a different one of these characters every hour and in every chapter, and through their eyes see what an average day in ancient Egypt was really like." — book blurb from the official GoodReads book site.
I really enjoyed learning about Egypt and the difference in our lives and languages while learning about a different cultures and religion, superstitions of magic in the real world of its people.
Funnily enough, I have often this recurring dream that I've been having since about the age of 12 where I'm a priestess in a temple for Bast/Bastet the Goddess of Protection and cats. Every time I have it I wake up smelling cat pee and poop because it was full of cats and what do cats to in the sand in the desert? They're probably not climbing trees, let me tell you.
I no longer own cats, I'm a dog person now lmao!!!
Anyways, as I said this was a good book, one that I would wholly support and recommend. This would make a great addition to any history lovers bookshelves whether it's a school library, home shelves or just here online. It's a good book that opens up eyes to the social development side of life and how everyone lives connect even in the smallest ways.
Read it, I'm sure you'll find something to be interested in. I may even try the other books like this, hopefully they're as much of a joy to read as this one.
February 24, 2019
Set in ancient Egypt, during the New Kingdom period, the book replicate the concept of 24 Hours in Ancient Rome: A Day in the Life of the People Who Lived There, each hour of the day we meet various characters from the city of Thebes as they go about their business. Not as good as “ancient Rome” IMO, but still very interesting and entertaining.
The majority of ancient Egypt’s buildings were made from mud-brick and most have not survived the ages. Mud-brick erodes and disintegrates through time, and exposure to water, particularly during the Nile’s annual flooding, is especially disastrous. The end result is that most of the surviving monuments are temples and tombs, stone structures built for eternity. One should be wary, therefore, of gaining the impression that the Egyptians were obsessed with religion and death simply based on the extant buildings.
The majority of ancient Egypt’s buildings were made from mud-brick and most have not survived the ages. Mud-brick erodes and disintegrates through time, and exposure to water, particularly during the Nile’s annual flooding, is especially disastrous. The end result is that most of the surviving monuments are temples and tombs, stone structures built for eternity. One should be wary, therefore, of gaining the impression that the Egyptians were obsessed with religion and death simply based on the extant buildings.
Read
October 22, 20242.5 stars. Nice and well presented introduction to common life in Ancient Egypt around 1414 bce, but doesn't add much. See the review in my general account: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
November 4, 2024
3.0 Stars Well, I was really looking forward to this book. I think the concept is a great idea. 24 people. 24 hours. 24 glimpses into daily life in ancient Egypt. To me, that sounded interesting. I’ve never really been that interested in ancient history, the exceptions to this being Israel and Egypt. Israel for the history of the Jewish people, and Egypt because I’ve always found their gods and goddesses to be fascinating, as well as their funereal practices.
Unfortunately, I learned very little from this book even tho I’ve never read a book about ancient Egypt before. Most of the information in here I already knew from World History in uni. Definitely survey course level stuff.
This would be a great book for a high school student with a budding interest in history. Or maybe an adult who never took any history at all in college and suddenly became interested in ancient Egypt because they were going to travel there.
But I am not that. One of my degrees is in history. So this book scratched no itches for me.
Also, I immersion read this book, since the audiobook was free. If you have to pay for the audiobook, don’t bother The narrator is annoying AF. 😝 The book itself is better anyway because of the pictures.
I also purchased another volume of this set - the one about Athens. I will probably read that sometime next year. I do not plan to purchase the Rome or Ancient China volumes unless Athens is substantially better.
Unfortunately, I learned very little from this book even tho I’ve never read a book about ancient Egypt before. Most of the information in here I already knew from World History in uni. Definitely survey course level stuff.
This would be a great book for a high school student with a budding interest in history. Or maybe an adult who never took any history at all in college and suddenly became interested in ancient Egypt because they were going to travel there.
But I am not that. One of my degrees is in history. So this book scratched no itches for me.
Also, I immersion read this book, since the audiobook was free. If you have to pay for the audiobook, don’t bother The narrator is annoying AF. 😝 The book itself is better anyway because of the pictures.
I also purchased another volume of this set - the one about Athens. I will probably read that sometime next year. I do not plan to purchase the Rome or Ancient China volumes unless Athens is substantially better.
September 22, 2020
Moram da priznam da mi se prethodnih 10ak dana želja za čitanjem nalazila na izdisaju. Ipak, na kraju su se stvari promenile. U minulom periodu čitao sam o Starom Egiptu. Moram da priznam da me je na početku knjiga odbijala i razmišljao sam da odustanem od nje, pa da joj se vratim nekada.
🇪🇬
Od trećeg poglavlja su se stvari promenile i postalo je zanimljivije. Sad, to ne znači da su prva dva dosadna i teška (možda je bilo do mene), možda je samo trebalo vremena da se uđe u priču. Na kraju sam shvatio da je ovo bio predobar način da se opiše svakodnevni život nekadašnjeg naroda. Osim opisa samih poslova i šta su sve radili, priča je protkana imaginarnim likovima koji su zanimljivi i kako koje poglavlje dolazi, pojavljuje se bar neki dobro znani lik.
🇪🇬
Ova knjiga može biti uistinu zanimljiva i može se čitati uporedo sa nekom knjigom, tipa jedno poglavlje dnevno. Laka je, ne opterećuje i prija. A na kraju ćete biti bogatiji za neka znanja o Starom Egiptu za koja sigurno niste znali.
🇪🇬
#bookstagram #bookish #bookstagrammer #readnow #whatyouread #Currentlyreading #AmReading #bookworm #delfikutak #Bibliophile #BookAddict #booknerd #balkanbookstagram #lagunaknjige #books #bookreview #booklover #bookaholic #5rovsvet #laguna #24hours
🇪🇬
Od trećeg poglavlja su se stvari promenile i postalo je zanimljivije. Sad, to ne znači da su prva dva dosadna i teška (možda je bilo do mene), možda je samo trebalo vremena da se uđe u priču. Na kraju sam shvatio da je ovo bio predobar način da se opiše svakodnevni život nekadašnjeg naroda. Osim opisa samih poslova i šta su sve radili, priča je protkana imaginarnim likovima koji su zanimljivi i kako koje poglavlje dolazi, pojavljuje se bar neki dobro znani lik.
🇪🇬
Ova knjiga može biti uistinu zanimljiva i može se čitati uporedo sa nekom knjigom, tipa jedno poglavlje dnevno. Laka je, ne opterećuje i prija. A na kraju ćete biti bogatiji za neka znanja o Starom Egiptu za koja sigurno niste znali.
🇪🇬
#bookstagram #bookish #bookstagrammer #readnow #whatyouread #Currentlyreading #AmReading #bookworm #delfikutak #Bibliophile #BookAddict #booknerd #balkanbookstagram #lagunaknjige #books #bookreview #booklover #bookaholic #5rovsvet #laguna #24hours
July 27, 2024
"Let's take a trip back in time to Kemet and spend a day with the people who lived there."
24 Hours in Ancient Egypt follows the lives of a wide range of people - from the Pharaoh to housewives, fan-bearers to brick-makers, tomb-robbers to priests – and uses their experiences to give the reader a basic idea of what life was like in Ancient Egypt. The book is set in Thebes, during the 18th dynasty, around 1414 BC when Amenhotep II ruled.
This was a very fun and informative book to read, perfect for people who want an accessible, easy-to-understand nonfiction about the regular life of Egyptians of this time. While reading this book, you get to know what people ate and drank (I didn't know beer was the staple drink in Egypt), what the daily life of a priest was, what it would be like to be a rich wife throwing a fancy banquet and what the profession of a mourner was like. My knowledge of Egyptian culture is very limited - I know basic history, I know art and mythology – so reading this book was a joy. I like getting to know what life was like for people who had no power and no special position in life, I am fascinated by "history from below". Yes, there was a lot of stuff I already knew, especially in the chapters regarding the Pharaoh, mummification and the importance of the Nihil for agriculture, but I still learned quite a bit and underlined many interesting passages.
What made reading this book extra fun was how every chapter was like its own little short story featuring characters, dialogue and all that. The stories were also all interconnected. The physician treats the brick-maker we met before, the housewife is married to the dude from the farmer chapter, we see a hated man named Ipi be buried in the chapter following the mourners and later, in the chapter following a coffin-maker, we get to learn more about Ipi and how his coffin was made. It is through Ipi that we also get to learn about different price-ranges for different kinds of embalming. I didn't expect this going into the book and I was so happy to realise there were recurring characters and little plotlines. It made the book feel very engaging and made all the stuff talked about feel more alive.
I would happily read more books in this series. I am especially intrigued by the one set in Ancient China, as I have absolutely no understanding of that culture. I think a book like this could be a good, easy place to start getting to know that country's history better.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants a crash course on Egyptian life in this time period and wants a fun, quick nonfiction read about this vibrant, fascinating ancient culture. If you already have a relatively strong knowledge of this era, this book might not be necessary, as it is very much a beginner's guide.
24 Hours in Ancient Egypt follows the lives of a wide range of people - from the Pharaoh to housewives, fan-bearers to brick-makers, tomb-robbers to priests – and uses their experiences to give the reader a basic idea of what life was like in Ancient Egypt. The book is set in Thebes, during the 18th dynasty, around 1414 BC when Amenhotep II ruled.
This was a very fun and informative book to read, perfect for people who want an accessible, easy-to-understand nonfiction about the regular life of Egyptians of this time. While reading this book, you get to know what people ate and drank (I didn't know beer was the staple drink in Egypt), what the daily life of a priest was, what it would be like to be a rich wife throwing a fancy banquet and what the profession of a mourner was like. My knowledge of Egyptian culture is very limited - I know basic history, I know art and mythology – so reading this book was a joy. I like getting to know what life was like for people who had no power and no special position in life, I am fascinated by "history from below". Yes, there was a lot of stuff I already knew, especially in the chapters regarding the Pharaoh, mummification and the importance of the Nihil for agriculture, but I still learned quite a bit and underlined many interesting passages.
What made reading this book extra fun was how every chapter was like its own little short story featuring characters, dialogue and all that. The stories were also all interconnected. The physician treats the brick-maker we met before, the housewife is married to the dude from the farmer chapter, we see a hated man named Ipi be buried in the chapter following the mourners and later, in the chapter following a coffin-maker, we get to learn more about Ipi and how his coffin was made. It is through Ipi that we also get to learn about different price-ranges for different kinds of embalming. I didn't expect this going into the book and I was so happy to realise there were recurring characters and little plotlines. It made the book feel very engaging and made all the stuff talked about feel more alive.
I would happily read more books in this series. I am especially intrigued by the one set in Ancient China, as I have absolutely no understanding of that culture. I think a book like this could be a good, easy place to start getting to know that country's history better.
I would recommend this to anyone who wants a crash course on Egyptian life in this time period and wants a fun, quick nonfiction read about this vibrant, fascinating ancient culture. If you already have a relatively strong knowledge of this era, this book might not be necessary, as it is very much a beginner's guide.
July 16, 2021
Pred nama je još jedna knjiga u ediciji 24 sata u starom svetu. Uz ovu knjigu putujemo u civilizaciju starog Egipta. Civilizacija koja je trajala hiljadama godina, o kojoj se danas piše, govori i koju i danas poštuju.
Stil Donalda P. Rajana se razlikuje od Metizaka, što sam uspeo da primetim i osetim u toku čitanja. Ipak, uprkos tome što je u pitanju drugi autor, to neće uticati na iskustvo prilikom čitanja. Ako volite stare civilizacije, onda ćete svakako uživati. Ova knjiga se pokazala nijansu slabijom u odnosu na stari Rim (moj utisak, nekome se dopala više), ali je sve u svemu odlično i vrlo zanimljivo delo. Knjiga se može pročitati za dan-dva, jer radnja zaista teče brzo, a vi nećete primetiti sate i stranice koje ste prešli. To vam govori o tome koliko su ove knjige zanimljive i koliko vas vežu za radnju.
Upoznajte Egipat kroz jedan sat života njegova 24 stanovnika. Od babice, arhitekte, ciglara, pa sve do sveštenika boga Amona i samog faraona. Upoznajte se sa božanstvima o kojima možda niste puno znali, jer se u knjizi pominju mnogi bogovi, njihove moći i verovanja u vezi sa njima. Uplovite u senke i tajne ove civilizacije, dok istražujete o piramidama, palatama, grobnicama i spomenicima drevnog naroda. Saznajte kako su Egipćani balzamovali tela, kojim su se božanstvima molili prilikom trudnoće i porodjaja i kako su to odredjivali pol nerodjenog deteta. Naučite kako su obradjivali zlato i kako su zabavljali svoje goste. Upoznajte se sa starim običajima naroda i sa kulturom ove velike civilizacije.
Iz vrelog letnjeg dana današnjice, preselite se u sunčanu dolinu Nila, pod suncem boga Ra. Verujte mi, ne greje jače od sunca iznad nas. Zavalite se, opustite i otputujte u stari Egipat
Stil Donalda P. Rajana se razlikuje od Metizaka, što sam uspeo da primetim i osetim u toku čitanja. Ipak, uprkos tome što je u pitanju drugi autor, to neće uticati na iskustvo prilikom čitanja. Ako volite stare civilizacije, onda ćete svakako uživati. Ova knjiga se pokazala nijansu slabijom u odnosu na stari Rim (moj utisak, nekome se dopala više), ali je sve u svemu odlično i vrlo zanimljivo delo. Knjiga se može pročitati za dan-dva, jer radnja zaista teče brzo, a vi nećete primetiti sate i stranice koje ste prešli. To vam govori o tome koliko su ove knjige zanimljive i koliko vas vežu za radnju.
Upoznajte Egipat kroz jedan sat života njegova 24 stanovnika. Od babice, arhitekte, ciglara, pa sve do sveštenika boga Amona i samog faraona. Upoznajte se sa božanstvima o kojima možda niste puno znali, jer se u knjizi pominju mnogi bogovi, njihove moći i verovanja u vezi sa njima. Uplovite u senke i tajne ove civilizacije, dok istražujete o piramidama, palatama, grobnicama i spomenicima drevnog naroda. Saznajte kako su Egipćani balzamovali tela, kojim su se božanstvima molili prilikom trudnoće i porodjaja i kako su to odredjivali pol nerodjenog deteta. Naučite kako su obradjivali zlato i kako su zabavljali svoje goste. Upoznajte se sa starim običajima naroda i sa kulturom ove velike civilizacije.
Iz vrelog letnjeg dana današnjice, preselite se u sunčanu dolinu Nila, pod suncem boga Ra. Verujte mi, ne greje jače od sunca iznad nas. Zavalite se, opustite i otputujte u stari Egipat
April 6, 2020
DNF at just over half way.
As so little is known about daily life in ancient Egypt compared with more recent ancient cultures this format didn't work particularly well.
I also found the tenses the author used to be very jarring as they jumped around often, sometimes even within the same paragraph.
I look forward to continuing this series with 24 hours in Ancient Greece as I enjoyed the Rome installment so much. Sadly this one just didn't work for me.
As so little is known about daily life in ancient Egypt compared with more recent ancient cultures this format didn't work particularly well.
I also found the tenses the author used to be very jarring as they jumped around often, sometimes even within the same paragraph.
I look forward to continuing this series with 24 hours in Ancient Greece as I enjoyed the Rome installment so much. Sadly this one just didn't work for me.
April 17, 2019
Very readable and fun introduction to the various lived and professions of ancient Egyptians. I very much appreciated that it didn't just focus on royalty and religion, as most texts seem to do.
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Trigger warnings:
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Trigger warnings:
June 14, 2020
The content itself is interesting, but the writing is so low-quality that I couldn't look past it. Tenses change, the dialogue was pedestrian, and the author often reused phrases in the same paragraph.
April 17, 2021
Absolutely love this series, such a great insight into the day to day of the normal folks in ancient times.
January 25, 2021
4.5 stars, for what it was. This book was exactly what I wanted - a superficial, but broad look into the daily lives of the people of Egypt, not just those living in the palace. I enjoyed how some stories melded into subsequent stories. You won't find much characterization here, but that's definitely not the author's objective. My only complaint is that I would have enjoyed it being more comprehensive or detailed, but I think this is a perfect work for anyone with an interest in Ancient Egypt at all.
June 24, 2021
Antik Mısır'ın gündelik hayatını saatlik dilimlere bölerek o dönemde yaşamış kurgusal karakterlerle anlatan eğlenceli bir kitap. Her bölümde küçük metinler halinde bilgilerle de desteklenmiş. Akademik bir çalışma bekleyenleri üzer. Tarihe meraklı olup başlangıç düzeyinde ilginç bir metin okumak isteyenler için birebir.
March 31, 2025
Ancient Egypt has always fascinated me. This was such a fun and unique way to “explore” Egypt, through different people and jobs they had.
I had no idea there was such a job as a professional wailer (mourner). The more you know! 😅
I had no idea there was such a job as a professional wailer (mourner). The more you know! 😅
March 20, 2019
From Pharohs to brick layers,each chapter is an hour in the life of an Ancient Egyptian. I did not want this book to end, it was so well written. Engaging read...highly recommended.
November 20, 2024
Had a blast reading this
April 3, 2025
Very good, well written, learned a lot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2019
Ancient Egypt has ever since the 19th century been a source of fascination for both academics as the big public; with perhaps the exception of the Roman empire and WW2, no historic subject has achieved the same amount of interest, research funds, museum space, documentaries, books, comics, toys and video games. Why that is, is a bit perplexing for me, it surely must have something to do with the discovery of Tutanchamun tomb, the problem Egypt posed for those who claimed Africa made no contributions to world history and off course the pyramids who stand long after the other supposed wonders of the world have crumbled back tot the dirt.
24 hours in ancient Egypt takes readers back to the 18th dynasty, the reign of farao Amenhotep II and that in itself is peculiar choice. For he is definitively not one of the "famous" faroa's so something of a bold choice when selecting the time period for this 24 hours glimpse of Egyptian life. In fact one of the recurring aspects of the book is how many compare him to his predecessors Hapsjetsut and Thutmoses III and note how he falls short. So why him? I must say I am not sure but I do like anything that refuses to confirm to expectations. Not that it matters that much though; The book as said presents us with 24 hours starting at midnight we get one hour in the life of both historical figures but even more fictional characters like a farmer, a mourner, dancing girl, a brickmaker and so on whose lives changed off course but unlike the court officials were not as linked to the Farao as to the extent that their lives changed dramatically when he was replaced.
But I know what you are thinking; is this a book for mass entertainment? Yes but in the best kind of way. The book is in its ow way a bundle of 24 short stories who all take place in the same location (Thebes) same day (in 1414 BC) and adhere to the six degrees of separation hypothesis. It truly brings ancient Egypt back to live if but for one day. Every story tells and shows one more aspect of the lives of ancient Egypt ranging from the amount of dental problems Egyptians had due to the amount of grit in their bread to the knowledge available to their doctors. Even if at times the tension of the story got a but overwhelmed by the wishes of the author to share information, it never did got the point that it became a text book. Unless one takes into account the information boxes; every chapters has like 5 of them where the author added some extra information that could not be written into the story because it would not make narratively sense for the characters to discuss them or because it is from modern times. At times we get like a jump to the future for example in the hour of the Farao's wife, she is annoyed by Amenhotep's collection of pet baboons, added to that is mention of a tomb found near Amenhotep's filled with mummified baboons and the question where they perhaps beloved pets or ritual animals?
I would say this to be essential reading for anyone who is interested in ancient Egypt in particular the new kingdom and a great example of how to make historic information more accessible to the wider audience. I can't help but be reminded of the great thing Ubisoft did with their game set in Ptolemaic Egypt, the discovery mode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yMDd...
24 hours in ancient Egypt takes readers back to the 18th dynasty, the reign of farao Amenhotep II and that in itself is peculiar choice. For he is definitively not one of the "famous" faroa's so something of a bold choice when selecting the time period for this 24 hours glimpse of Egyptian life. In fact one of the recurring aspects of the book is how many compare him to his predecessors Hapsjetsut and Thutmoses III and note how he falls short. So why him? I must say I am not sure but I do like anything that refuses to confirm to expectations. Not that it matters that much though; The book as said presents us with 24 hours starting at midnight we get one hour in the life of both historical figures but even more fictional characters like a farmer, a mourner, dancing girl, a brickmaker and so on whose lives changed off course but unlike the court officials were not as linked to the Farao as to the extent that their lives changed dramatically when he was replaced.
But I know what you are thinking; is this a book for mass entertainment? Yes but in the best kind of way. The book is in its ow way a bundle of 24 short stories who all take place in the same location (Thebes) same day (in 1414 BC) and adhere to the six degrees of separation hypothesis. It truly brings ancient Egypt back to live if but for one day. Every story tells and shows one more aspect of the lives of ancient Egypt ranging from the amount of dental problems Egyptians had due to the amount of grit in their bread to the knowledge available to their doctors. Even if at times the tension of the story got a but overwhelmed by the wishes of the author to share information, it never did got the point that it became a text book. Unless one takes into account the information boxes; every chapters has like 5 of them where the author added some extra information that could not be written into the story because it would not make narratively sense for the characters to discuss them or because it is from modern times. At times we get like a jump to the future for example in the hour of the Farao's wife, she is annoyed by Amenhotep's collection of pet baboons, added to that is mention of a tomb found near Amenhotep's filled with mummified baboons and the question where they perhaps beloved pets or ritual animals?
I would say this to be essential reading for anyone who is interested in ancient Egypt in particular the new kingdom and a great example of how to make historic information more accessible to the wider audience. I can't help but be reminded of the great thing Ubisoft did with their game set in Ptolemaic Egypt, the discovery mode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yMDd...
January 15, 2021
I really like these books. I've read one similar before. Lots of chapters about individuals living in Ancient Egypt, each with different roles/jobs/lives. Carpenter, embalmer, wife, builder, dancer etc etc. Short chapters, just a snippet of what a person would be doing for an hour of their day. It did make me think about things. Embalmers you think would have been a fab job as we see the examples still available today. What we forget is what that really would have been like - heat, mutilated bodies and having to embalm those bodies. Not a particularly pleasant job probably having to piece things back together (often literally). We think that buildings were all amazing and made of stone. Now, they're they ones that are surviving. What about the people who had to make the mud bricks and make huts/homes for the every day people? I wonder if 'serious' historians may find it a bit superficial but it has interested me in ancient Egypt again and maybe I should start reading more and in more detail.
December 5, 2020
This was a book that, as far as loving and disliking it goes, was quite divisive. One the one hand, we have the same great format as we did in the '24 Hours in Ancient Rome' book. Each chapter focuses around the job/role/daily life of one individual in Ancient Egypt and, by the time the full 24 hours are up, you have a good understanding of how life may have been all those thousands of years ago.
And then, on the negative side of things, you have the combined failings of author and editor as the writing switches between past/present tense far too often. Sometimes it does this in the same paragraph and you're just left scratching your head at how such dreadful use of the English language managed to get through into a finished copy that I have paid for.
The tense switching didn't totally ruin it for me, as I just put it out of my mind as best I could. I found that my love of the subject, and the good, in-depth knowledge that was being showcased was enough to keep me engaged. If you are the sort of person who would find the constant switches from past/present tense infuriating, then it could well ruin the book for you. Despite the ancient goodness on offer.
I think the final nail in the coffin of embarrassment comes during the acknowledgments where the editor is thanked ... I mean, it would have just been just disappointing if the editor hadn't been thanked, but it went from disappointing to embarrassing given the poor editing that went on.
As a whole I really enjoyed this book but did feel incredibly let down by the writing, hence why this didn't score as highly as the Rome book did for me. I very much look forward to getting to the 24 Hours in Ancient Athens book as, Classical Greece, is perhaps my favourite time period.
And then, on the negative side of things, you have the combined failings of author and editor as the writing switches between past/present tense far too often. Sometimes it does this in the same paragraph and you're just left scratching your head at how such dreadful use of the English language managed to get through into a finished copy that I have paid for.
The tense switching didn't totally ruin it for me, as I just put it out of my mind as best I could. I found that my love of the subject, and the good, in-depth knowledge that was being showcased was enough to keep me engaged. If you are the sort of person who would find the constant switches from past/present tense infuriating, then it could well ruin the book for you. Despite the ancient goodness on offer.
I think the final nail in the coffin of embarrassment comes during the acknowledgments where the editor is thanked ... I mean, it would have just been just disappointing if the editor hadn't been thanked, but it went from disappointing to embarrassing given the poor editing that went on.
As a whole I really enjoyed this book but did feel incredibly let down by the writing, hence why this didn't score as highly as the Rome book did for me. I very much look forward to getting to the 24 Hours in Ancient Athens book as, Classical Greece, is perhaps my favourite time period.
May 20, 2019
Still liked it, but less than the Rome volume. The stories revolved much more around the super-high class than the everyday people, and while I can understand the challenges of documenting the lives of ordinary ancient Egyptians (largely illiterate society, houses made of degradable materials as opposed to the lasting stone used for tombs and temples), I think I would have preferred that the author give me his best guess with a footnote saying "we're not sure on this one", instead of being treated to not-super-interesting looks into the lives of the pharaoh, his wife, his vizier, and his high priest. Still fun, though.
November 26, 2020
Not in the same league as the Roman book but enjoyable enough. I wasn't sure if this was because there's a lack of sources covering life beyond the gilded halls of the elites in Egypt. Or if the author simply failed to create characters with enough depth for us to follow in the 24 hours.
Either way, while the series is certainly flawed, it's still a novel idea that I hope keeps having entries added to it.
Either way, while the series is certainly flawed, it's still a novel idea that I hope keeps having entries added to it.
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