The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt

by Helen Strudwick (Editor)

Six thousand years ago ancient Egypt was the cradle of modern civilisation. Powerful pharaohs built great cities on the fertile banks of the Nile, and employed thousands of labourers to create lavish tombs and temples such as Thebes and the pyramids of the Giza plateau. The exceptional beauty and scale of ancient Egypt s antiquities still draws millions of visitors to Egypt s museums and monuments each year. The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt is a celebration of these wonders, from Tutankhamun s tomb to Cleopatra s obelisks, from ancient papyrus scrolls covered with hieroglyphs to golden amulets in the form of ankhs and scarabs. The book also uncovers ancient Egyptian life from the role of women and the form of an Egyptian wedding banquet, to the weights, measures and currencies used in everyday trading and explores the modern archaelogy taking place on the ancient sites revealing the Egyptians artefacts and tools. With a combination of modern, specially commissioned colour illustrations and images of Egyptian antiquities and treasures alongside a detailed history of the civilisation to put it all into context, the world of the pharaohs is brought to life in vivid detail. For intrigued adults or fascinated children alike, The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt provides a wealth of information about the riches of the ancient world."

Genres: History, Egypt, Nonfiction, Reference, Egyptology, Ancient History, Textbooks

512 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Stephen Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly good book for the sort of coffee table book you typically see on Barnes & Noble's discount shelves (which is where I found it).

It's definitely not an academic book, and the text discussions are somewhat limited, but the content coverage was very broad and solid. The photographs were excellent, although the book had the annoying habit of spreading books across the center and with the binding, it made some of the details impossible to see (unless you're willing to destroy the binding).

It's not high enough quality for scholars, but could be a good resource/gift for somebody (particularly a preteen/teenager) interested in the subject.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great general history book to introduce anyone to Ancient Egypt.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Egyptian mythology is the best kind of history lesson I could every hope for and this book is no disappointment. With all the little extras to show you the decades of pharaoh dynasties makes it a wonderful read for any age and it gives you tidbits you never hear about in an Egyptian documentary or anything you every hear in class and i wouldn't have it any other way for I believe that books give us an unbiased report of what goes on in the world for there are too many people who enjoy one pharaoh in its entirety or one god in such a horrible light. I was glad i read this book im all the better for it.

[Katka Olajcová · Rating 4 out of 5]

Krásna knižka plná aj pre mňa úplne nových informácií. Obrázky sú krásky a detailné, niekedy k nim len tie šípky nejdú najpresnejšie, ale to sa dá prežiť. Pri chronológií dynastií mi chýbal súhrnný prehľad novej ríše, neskorej ríše a ptolemaiovskej dynastie, na ktorý sa tu nejako zabudlo. Inak je kniha veľmi prehľadná a zaujímavá.

[Heather L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and very well researched. I enjoy going back to it because it's very well formatted and easy to pick up.

[Nate Silver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this book! It's full of well researched information, paired with beautiful photographs.

[Muhammad Haris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing read. Very accessible and filled with pictures and maps. Lots of repetition and written in clear lucid language. Must read

[Andressa Da Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super informative!!

[Amanda Sherrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely fascinating and only whetted my appetite to learn more.

[Dennis Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well illustrated and organized.

[Hussein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful comprehensive book about ancient Egypt.
Can serve as a coffee table book, although it is a heavy read!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extremely interesting volume that is filled with pictures--all full color--and explanations. I learned a lot of new things, and I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Ancient Egypt, young or old!

[Diana Cristeti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed every page of this book. As an ancient Egypt's history enthusiast this is one of the key books to own. Gorgeous pictures, well structured and so many detailed information about all aspects of life in that period. Loved it from the first to the last page.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a wonderful reference book on Egypt! I love the pictures and the timelines. I love how the book is organized.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book. Coffee table size (IMO), with amazing images and good information. It's a great collection of images from all throughout Egyptian history.

[Briana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great reference book for Ancient Egypt. It has a bit of everything and well organized.

[Belle Meade School]

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