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Complete Tutankhamun: The King, the Tomb, the Royal Treasure
Tells the story of the boy-king, and describes his burial at the height of Egyptian civilization, the quest for his tomb, the riches found there, and the Pharaoh's curse
224 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1990
18 people are currently reading
592 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Reeves
30 books18 followersCarl Nicholas Reeves (born 28 September 1956) is an English Egyptologist best known for his archaeological work in and writings on the Valley of the Kings. He is currently Sylvan C. Coleman and Pamela Coleman Memorial Fellow for 2010/11 in the Department of Egyptian Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See other authors with similar names.
Background
A specialist in Egyptian history and material culture, Reeves is a graduate (first class honours) in Ancient History from University College London (1979). He received his Ph.D. in Egyptology (Studies in the Archaeology of the Valley of the Kings, with Particular Reference to Tomb Robbery and the Caching of the Royal Mummies) from Durham University in 1984.
He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1994, and an Honorary Fellow of the Oriental Museum, Durham University in 1996. Between 1998 and 2004 he was Honorary Research Fellow in the Institute of Archaeology, University College London.
Museums
Reeves has been active in various museum and heritage roles, including: Curator in the former Department of Egyptian Antiquities at the British Museum (initiating the Survey of Egyptian Collections in the UK - now an important component of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council Cornucopia database) (1984–1991); Curator to the seventh Earl of Carnarvon at Highclere Castle (1988–1998); Curatorial Consultant on Egyptian antiquities to the Freud Museum, London 1986-2006); Honorary Curator and Director of Collections for the Denys Eyre Bower Bequest at Chiddingstone Castle, Kent (1995–2002 and 2003–2007); and G.A.D. Tait Curator of Egyptian and Classical Art at Eton College (2000–2010).
Archaeology
Between 1998 and 2002 Reeves worked in the field as Director of the Amarna Royal Tombs Project in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, undertaking four seasons of survey and excavation with an international team in search of evidence for the missing burials of the women of Akhenaten's court. The first stratigraphic excavation of the Valley ever attempted, among the features pinpointed (during the project's 2000 radar survey) was KV-63, subsequently excavated by Otto Schaden then working for the University of Memphis.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See other authors with similar names.
Background
A specialist in Egyptian history and material culture, Reeves is a graduate (first class honours) in Ancient History from University College London (1979). He received his Ph.D. in Egyptology (Studies in the Archaeology of the Valley of the Kings, with Particular Reference to Tomb Robbery and the Caching of the Royal Mummies) from Durham University in 1984.
He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1994, and an Honorary Fellow of the Oriental Museum, Durham University in 1996. Between 1998 and 2004 he was Honorary Research Fellow in the Institute of Archaeology, University College London.
Museums
Reeves has been active in various museum and heritage roles, including: Curator in the former Department of Egyptian Antiquities at the British Museum (initiating the Survey of Egyptian Collections in the UK - now an important component of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council Cornucopia database) (1984–1991); Curator to the seventh Earl of Carnarvon at Highclere Castle (1988–1998); Curatorial Consultant on Egyptian antiquities to the Freud Museum, London 1986-2006); Honorary Curator and Director of Collections for the Denys Eyre Bower Bequest at Chiddingstone Castle, Kent (1995–2002 and 2003–2007); and G.A.D. Tait Curator of Egyptian and Classical Art at Eton College (2000–2010).
Archaeology
Between 1998 and 2002 Reeves worked in the field as Director of the Amarna Royal Tombs Project in Egypt's Valley of the Kings, undertaking four seasons of survey and excavation with an international team in search of evidence for the missing burials of the women of Akhenaten's court. The first stratigraphic excavation of the Valley ever attempted, among the features pinpointed (during the project's 2000 radar survey) was KV-63, subsequently excavated by Otto Schaden then working for the University of Memphis.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 15, 2022
I remember taking a trip to Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History to see the traveling exhibit. It was astounding.
Aside from viewing the treasures in person, this book will likely be all 95% of readers will find necessary. As the title states, it covers: The King, The Tomb and The Royal Treasures. In addition, it is also an historical review of the various explorations by Western Civilization expeditions of this Egyptian treasure trove.
The photographs are a mix of color and B&W because many are themselves ancient. One may have wished for additional maps and graphics, but there is a very helpful section on further reading.
Aside from viewing the treasures in person, this book will likely be all 95% of readers will find necessary. As the title states, it covers: The King, The Tomb and The Royal Treasures. In addition, it is also an historical review of the various explorations by Western Civilization expeditions of this Egyptian treasure trove.
The photographs are a mix of color and B&W because many are themselves ancient. One may have wished for additional maps and graphics, but there is a very helpful section on further reading.
December 26, 2021
La guía ilustrada más completa a los tesoros de la tumba de Tutanjamón.
Trate de no perder un solo párrafo o un pie de foto y quede impresionado por el nivel de detalle de un libro que, por su formato (profusamente ilustrado con fotografías, diagramas y tablas) aparenta ser, como muchos libros sobre el antiguo Egipto de su tipo, solo un libro decorativo.
Ciertamente, no lo es.
Es más, por apartes el texto se hace demasiado pesado para una lectura de corrido y pasa a convertirse mejor en un libro de referencia para estudios detallados del inventario de la tumba.
El título del libro utiliza la traducción del nomen del rey al castellano más popular (o al menos lo era en el tiempo en el que fue publicado) que usa una 'k' y suena como tal. Sin embargo, es hoy bien conocido que el carácter ☥ - transliterado ˁnḫ - en el nombre del rey se pronuncia como la "j" del español, y es por eso mismo que en inglés se escribe como "kh". De modo que Tut-ankh-amon es, en realidad, Tutanjamón en español y así seguiré usándolo en el resto de la reseña (sin importar las connotaciones gastronómicas que todos reconocemos).
Leyendo "Todo Tutankamon", al fin entendí (a fuerza de la repetición y el riguroso detalle del texto) la organización de la tumba, me hice a una idea más o menos detallada de la organización del ajuar funerario y de los objetos maravillosos que hoy se pueden apreciar en diversos museos del mundo (en especial en el gran museo Egipcio de antigüedades). Leer el libro es una manera excelente de penetrar mentalmente en la tumba.
Pero no solo en la tumba. También en las vicisitudes que vivieron quiénes la prepararon aparentemente con mucho afán, quiénes la protegieron celosamente después de la muerte del faraón, incluso quiénes en dos oportunidades lograron penetrar en ella y robar algunos de sus valiosos secretos y finalmente de quiénes la descubrieron y estudiaron a fondo durante la segunda década del siglo xx.
La historia del descubrimiento y quiénes participaron en él, está descrita al detalle, lo que también sirve como una forma de conocer lo que a veces se cuenta superficialmente en muchos textos de egiptología para entusiastas.
No le pongo 5 estrellas porque creo no es un libro para todo el mundo. Como lo dije antes, la lectura puede ponerse pesada por la gran cantidad de detalles, en especial en las secciones dedicadas a la descripción pormenorizada de los objetos catalogados, donde el autor usa la numeración original con las que se los clasificó (muy bueno saberla, pero para el lector ocasional es una pesadilla de números que no dicen realmente mucho). Pero para quién disfruta incluso de los detalles más pequeños (me incluyo en ese grupo) el libro es un verdadero tesoro.
Tiene un gran defecto: no hay una segunda edición.
Si la hubiera, actualizada con los descubrimientos hechos en las últimas tres décadas (el libro es de 1990) usando los datos provistos por tecnología fotográfica y de ilustración de los últimos años, con planos y reconstrucciones en 3D sofisticadas, no me cabe duda que el libro sería un éxito en ventas.
¡Hay que tenerlo!
Trate de no perder un solo párrafo o un pie de foto y quede impresionado por el nivel de detalle de un libro que, por su formato (profusamente ilustrado con fotografías, diagramas y tablas) aparenta ser, como muchos libros sobre el antiguo Egipto de su tipo, solo un libro decorativo.
Ciertamente, no lo es.
Es más, por apartes el texto se hace demasiado pesado para una lectura de corrido y pasa a convertirse mejor en un libro de referencia para estudios detallados del inventario de la tumba.
El título del libro utiliza la traducción del nomen del rey al castellano más popular (o al menos lo era en el tiempo en el que fue publicado) que usa una 'k' y suena como tal. Sin embargo, es hoy bien conocido que el carácter ☥ - transliterado ˁnḫ - en el nombre del rey se pronuncia como la "j" del español, y es por eso mismo que en inglés se escribe como "kh". De modo que Tut-ankh-amon es, en realidad, Tutanjamón en español y así seguiré usándolo en el resto de la reseña (sin importar las connotaciones gastronómicas que todos reconocemos).
Leyendo "Todo Tutankamon", al fin entendí (a fuerza de la repetición y el riguroso detalle del texto) la organización de la tumba, me hice a una idea más o menos detallada de la organización del ajuar funerario y de los objetos maravillosos que hoy se pueden apreciar en diversos museos del mundo (en especial en el gran museo Egipcio de antigüedades). Leer el libro es una manera excelente de penetrar mentalmente en la tumba.
Pero no solo en la tumba. También en las vicisitudes que vivieron quiénes la prepararon aparentemente con mucho afán, quiénes la protegieron celosamente después de la muerte del faraón, incluso quiénes en dos oportunidades lograron penetrar en ella y robar algunos de sus valiosos secretos y finalmente de quiénes la descubrieron y estudiaron a fondo durante la segunda década del siglo xx.
La historia del descubrimiento y quiénes participaron en él, está descrita al detalle, lo que también sirve como una forma de conocer lo que a veces se cuenta superficialmente en muchos textos de egiptología para entusiastas.
No le pongo 5 estrellas porque creo no es un libro para todo el mundo. Como lo dije antes, la lectura puede ponerse pesada por la gran cantidad de detalles, en especial en las secciones dedicadas a la descripción pormenorizada de los objetos catalogados, donde el autor usa la numeración original con las que se los clasificó (muy bueno saberla, pero para el lector ocasional es una pesadilla de números que no dicen realmente mucho). Pero para quién disfruta incluso de los detalles más pequeños (me incluyo en ese grupo) el libro es un verdadero tesoro.
Tiene un gran defecto: no hay una segunda edición.
Si la hubiera, actualizada con los descubrimientos hechos en las últimas tres décadas (el libro es de 1990) usando los datos provistos por tecnología fotográfica y de ilustración de los últimos años, con planos y reconstrucciones en 3D sofisticadas, no me cabe duda que el libro sería un éxito en ventas.
¡Hay que tenerlo!
March 10, 2009
Excellent reference book. Fantastic images and explanations of the antiquities.
September 4, 2020
This book is one half an engrossing tale of discovery and adventure, replete with eccentric characters whose obsessions and passions pushed them on to unearth the greatest Egyptological find of all time. And another much more draining half, which details in excruciating detail the royal treasure found in the tomb, ponderously describing all manner of not-particularly-interesting pieces and inserting details only the most passionate academic in [insert obscure specialism here] could wish to know about.
The result is a book that really ought not to be read straight through: the opening hundred-odd pages can be read linearly and is much to be recommended. Covering the period leading up to Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon's discovery of the awesome tomb, I was genuinely in suspense and felt compelled to keep reading. Hearing about the frustrations of the failed digs in the Valley of the Kings, rounded out by the arrival at Tutankhamun's final resting place was gripping stuff and could have been fiction I felt such tension. Particularly good is the inclusion of small excerpts from the key actors' diaries throughout that adds to the immediacy of the writing. This is most notable during the description of the first entry into the tomb: there is a sense of wonder throughout this description that is palpable.
The second half of the book - a catalogue of items found in the tomb - should, at best, be used as a reference guide (if, for example, you are walking around the Egyptian Museum in Cairo). It is a pity; there are real gems in this section - such as a discussion of the sound of the trumpets from the tomb that were actually played (and unfortunately destroyed) by BBC musicians - but on the whole there is too much detail to dredge through and too few such nuggets to keep all but the most ardent fan of ancient armour, vases and powder boxes engaged.
The dichotomous nature of the book - narrative first half / catalogue second half - is not the only issue this work has. There is an overly academic tone used throughout, with technical words like "adze" (type of axe), "uraeus" (stylised Egyptian serpent) or "apotropaic" (power to avert evil influences) liberally sprinkled throughout. A second quibble is the constant referencing of the archaeological numbers of objects. No doubt of use to the expert, the effect is to break up paragraphs - often to the extent that it's hard to see where the text-proper resumes - and could have been solved with the use of footnotes. A greater discussion of the political dimension to this dig (given a double pager) would also have been appreciated to understand the perhaps contentious aspect of non-native archaeologists uncovering, and dictating the announcements of, such a magnificent find.
Overall this book is worth reading for the first half alone, but it is a shame that the same narrative verve demonstrated in the beginning couldn't have been put to use to explore perhaps fewer of the objects but in a more engaging manner. A good read for someone with an interest or who is visiting Cairo or Luxor; yet I strongly imagine there are better introductions to the tomb - targeted more at the lay reader - than this.
The result is a book that really ought not to be read straight through: the opening hundred-odd pages can be read linearly and is much to be recommended. Covering the period leading up to Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon's discovery of the awesome tomb, I was genuinely in suspense and felt compelled to keep reading. Hearing about the frustrations of the failed digs in the Valley of the Kings, rounded out by the arrival at Tutankhamun's final resting place was gripping stuff and could have been fiction I felt such tension. Particularly good is the inclusion of small excerpts from the key actors' diaries throughout that adds to the immediacy of the writing. This is most notable during the description of the first entry into the tomb: there is a sense of wonder throughout this description that is palpable.
The second half of the book - a catalogue of items found in the tomb - should, at best, be used as a reference guide (if, for example, you are walking around the Egyptian Museum in Cairo). It is a pity; there are real gems in this section - such as a discussion of the sound of the trumpets from the tomb that were actually played (and unfortunately destroyed) by BBC musicians - but on the whole there is too much detail to dredge through and too few such nuggets to keep all but the most ardent fan of ancient armour, vases and powder boxes engaged.
The dichotomous nature of the book - narrative first half / catalogue second half - is not the only issue this work has. There is an overly academic tone used throughout, with technical words like "adze" (type of axe), "uraeus" (stylised Egyptian serpent) or "apotropaic" (power to avert evil influences) liberally sprinkled throughout. A second quibble is the constant referencing of the archaeological numbers of objects. No doubt of use to the expert, the effect is to break up paragraphs - often to the extent that it's hard to see where the text-proper resumes - and could have been solved with the use of footnotes. A greater discussion of the political dimension to this dig (given a double pager) would also have been appreciated to understand the perhaps contentious aspect of non-native archaeologists uncovering, and dictating the announcements of, such a magnificent find.
Overall this book is worth reading for the first half alone, but it is a shame that the same narrative verve demonstrated in the beginning couldn't have been put to use to explore perhaps fewer of the objects but in a more engaging manner. A good read for someone with an interest or who is visiting Cairo or Luxor; yet I strongly imagine there are better introductions to the tomb - targeted more at the lay reader - than this.
January 21, 2024
As is often the case with Thames & Hudson's "Complete X of Ancient Egypt" books, of which this is the earliest example, The Complete Tutankhamun tries to cover every angle on the topic but is more successful at some angles than others.
There is a section on what little is known of Tutankhamun's life and reign, but there Reeves falls into his habit of making melodramatic suppositions, some of which are outdated now. Nefertiti did reign as a pharaoh but is generally thought to be a distinct figure from Smenkhkare; the letter to Suppiluliumas may not be hers; and the damage to Tutankhamun's skull that Reeves interprets as a sign of murder seems to have been inflicted post-mortem. The section on the discovery of the tomb is more substantial, though naturally it can't compete with books that focus on that story, such as the biographies of Carter by T. G. H. James and H.V.F. Winstone.
Where the book really excels is in the archaeology of the tomb itself and the artifacts found within. The third chapter describes the dimensions and features of each chamber, the seal impressions on the plaster partitions, and the reconstruction of the two ancient robberies of the tomb in great detail. The next chapter is dedicated to Tutankhamun's mummy, the coffins and shrines that enclosed it, the canopic chest and its contents, and the mummified remains of his stillborn daughters. The last and longest chapter is about the burial goods—not just the spectacular artifacts such as the jewelry and gilded furniture, but every type of burial good, down to objects as mundane as tools, jars, baskets, and food. Some objects are described in surprising detail. The book's end matter includes timelines of events related to the tomb and of exhibitions of the artifacts, as well as a table of which types of artifact were found in which chambers of the tomb. A formal archaeological report on Tutankhamun's tomb has never been written, but this book may actually be the closest thing in existence.
Another good all-round treatment of Tutankhamun's tomb, which balances out some of this one's weaknesses, is Tutankhamen: The Search for an Egyptian King by Joyce Tyldesley. The Shadow Kingby Jo Marchant contains much more about Tutankhamun's mummy.
There is a section on what little is known of Tutankhamun's life and reign, but there Reeves falls into his habit of making melodramatic suppositions, some of which are outdated now. Nefertiti did reign as a pharaoh but is generally thought to be a distinct figure from Smenkhkare; the letter to Suppiluliumas may not be hers; and the damage to Tutankhamun's skull that Reeves interprets as a sign of murder seems to have been inflicted post-mortem. The section on the discovery of the tomb is more substantial, though naturally it can't compete with books that focus on that story, such as the biographies of Carter by T. G. H. James and H.V.F. Winstone.
Where the book really excels is in the archaeology of the tomb itself and the artifacts found within. The third chapter describes the dimensions and features of each chamber, the seal impressions on the plaster partitions, and the reconstruction of the two ancient robberies of the tomb in great detail. The next chapter is dedicated to Tutankhamun's mummy, the coffins and shrines that enclosed it, the canopic chest and its contents, and the mummified remains of his stillborn daughters. The last and longest chapter is about the burial goods—not just the spectacular artifacts such as the jewelry and gilded furniture, but every type of burial good, down to objects as mundane as tools, jars, baskets, and food. Some objects are described in surprising detail. The book's end matter includes timelines of events related to the tomb and of exhibitions of the artifacts, as well as a table of which types of artifact were found in which chambers of the tomb. A formal archaeological report on Tutankhamun's tomb has never been written, but this book may actually be the closest thing in existence.
Another good all-round treatment of Tutankhamun's tomb, which balances out some of this one's weaknesses, is Tutankhamen: The Search for an Egyptian King by Joyce Tyldesley. The Shadow Kingby Jo Marchant contains much more about Tutankhamun's mummy.
June 23, 2024
More of a 3.5*
Really interesting to read this very easily accessible account of how the tomb was found and the subsequent treasures that were discovered. Written in the 90s, it is quite extraordinary to read what was considered acceptable both then and at the time of the event. It really provoked my thinking into how history is "discovered" and the credit taken and the finds taken by those in power. The subsequent tours of thw treasures focused mostly on the western world, predominantly America, and although a lot is now back in Egypt, there was no tour for the source of these amazing artefacts.
Really interesting to read this very easily accessible account of how the tomb was found and the subsequent treasures that were discovered. Written in the 90s, it is quite extraordinary to read what was considered acceptable both then and at the time of the event. It really provoked my thinking into how history is "discovered" and the credit taken and the finds taken by those in power. The subsequent tours of thw treasures focused mostly on the western world, predominantly America, and although a lot is now back in Egypt, there was no tour for the source of these amazing artefacts.
May 31, 2023
Although its simple presentation now appears rather dated, this book nonetheless effectively documents the contents of Tutankhamun’s tomb of treasures, and tells some interesting stories about their discovery and extraction.
There certainly are many fine objects of great or unusual beauty to see here, however, too many are featured at a small size, and/or are only printed in mono, which is a little disappointing. A good book to read completely, or simply to browse through, learning about particular interests.
There certainly are many fine objects of great or unusual beauty to see here, however, too many are featured at a small size, and/or are only printed in mono, which is a little disappointing. A good book to read completely, or simply to browse through, learning about particular interests.
July 23, 2021
I am not entirely certain this is the book I checked out too many times to count in my youth. I honestly don't think I ever read the whole thing, but likely picked through and read what caught my attention most. My infatuation was strong, but guided not unlike the average antiquity interest - treasure.
March 1, 2023
This looks to be a fine, beautifully illustrated, well researched cocktail table book one might read through bit-by-bit if one owned it, however, (for me, at least) it just simply didn’t “work” as a read-in-28-days library book.
July 21, 2018
It's a bit boring but very educational
October 30, 2018
Breathtaking book of the treasures of Tutankhamun's tomb. The narrative thoroughly explains each piece showcased. An invaluable source prior to the internet.
April 20, 2021
Excellent and thorough
June 21, 2024
Beautiful coffee table book. Tomb was originally intended for a queen. Read to find out why.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2019
An easy, simple, pleasant read.
June 25, 2016
When they say 'complete' they mean complete. Wow. So much information and detail. Full review to come.
+++++++++++
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Rating: 5 Stars
I don't even know where to begin with this one. when they say complete, they mean complete. Every last inch of this book is crammed with texts, photos, sidebars, captions, diagrams; you name it, this book has it. It is almost overwhelming, to be honest. There is so much information and detail, I could see it scaring off someone who only has a passing interest. On the other hand, it is a great place to start if you are just learning of Tutankhamun, beyond him being 'the boy king who died mysteriously'.
As I said, there is an insane amount of detail here. The book starts by laying the scene, giving a history of Tut, his father, the religious upheaval, and such. Then it moves toward who Howard Carter was and his work prior to discovering Tut's tomb. The author then moves step by step, from the discovery, to the death of Lord Carnarvon, the politics of the time that impacted their work, then eventually moves room by room within the tomb and details the discoveries in each space. After that, the author also provides ample information about the kinds of objects discovered that accompanied Tut to the Afterlife: ritual couches, games, chariots and necessary equipment, weaponry, wine jars, pottery, tools, lamps, and so on. There are even charts describing specific statues and figures. I don't think I can stress enough how much detail is here. I feel like I've said it a lot, but it's so very true.
I kind of have this love/hate relationship with the field of archaeology - particularly these, who explore these tombs and remove the treasures to put on display for the world. These are tombs, final resting places of real people who lived and died thousands of years before us. But they still deserve respect and the opportunity to rest in peace. I love seeing the treasures but this is still a kind of state-sanctioned grave robbing. In our never-ending quest to know everything about these people, we've raided their tombs and robbed their graves of anything of value. Sure, it is now done in the name of academia, but it truthfully is no different then those who did this thousands of years ago when the tombs were new and easier to access of the burial.
So, rant aside, I still enjoyed this book for the wealth of knowledge it provides. I do wish there were more color photos. I also found Carter's notes an interesting read and the author uses excerpts of them throughout the book. He took copious amounts of notes, recording what they saw from room to room and these insights are intriguing. The author also includes drawings that Carter's made, though his notes were never published as a volume. It is interesting to see from his perspective as the discoverer, though his methods seem terrible today. The treatment of the mummies never ceases to infuriate me. The fact that Tut (and who knows how many others, by other archaeologists throughout the centuries) had to be dismembered to be removed from his sarcophagus make me so angry. Archaeology is an important field, but so destructive at the same time. It is a field that has to destroy in order to discover, and this is uncomfortable for me.
Side note: the photos of the mummified remains of what are thought to be Tut's two little daughters are absolutely heart-breaking. They're just so tiny (duh).
Overall, this is about as complete a book as you can find about the tomb of King Tut. While there is some history of his reign and the suspicions surrounding his death, as well as information about his father before him, it is more focus on the tomb itself and the treasures it held and what they tell us about burials of the time. Highly recommended.
+++++++++++
http://allthebookblognamesaretaken.bl...
www.facebook.com/AllTheBookBlogNamesA...
www.twitter.com/SarahsBookNook
Rating: 5 Stars
I don't even know where to begin with this one. when they say complete, they mean complete. Every last inch of this book is crammed with texts, photos, sidebars, captions, diagrams; you name it, this book has it. It is almost overwhelming, to be honest. There is so much information and detail, I could see it scaring off someone who only has a passing interest. On the other hand, it is a great place to start if you are just learning of Tutankhamun, beyond him being 'the boy king who died mysteriously'.
As I said, there is an insane amount of detail here. The book starts by laying the scene, giving a history of Tut, his father, the religious upheaval, and such. Then it moves toward who Howard Carter was and his work prior to discovering Tut's tomb. The author then moves step by step, from the discovery, to the death of Lord Carnarvon, the politics of the time that impacted their work, then eventually moves room by room within the tomb and details the discoveries in each space. After that, the author also provides ample information about the kinds of objects discovered that accompanied Tut to the Afterlife: ritual couches, games, chariots and necessary equipment, weaponry, wine jars, pottery, tools, lamps, and so on. There are even charts describing specific statues and figures. I don't think I can stress enough how much detail is here. I feel like I've said it a lot, but it's so very true.
I kind of have this love/hate relationship with the field of archaeology - particularly these, who explore these tombs and remove the treasures to put on display for the world. These are tombs, final resting places of real people who lived and died thousands of years before us. But they still deserve respect and the opportunity to rest in peace. I love seeing the treasures but this is still a kind of state-sanctioned grave robbing. In our never-ending quest to know everything about these people, we've raided their tombs and robbed their graves of anything of value. Sure, it is now done in the name of academia, but it truthfully is no different then those who did this thousands of years ago when the tombs were new and easier to access of the burial.
So, rant aside, I still enjoyed this book for the wealth of knowledge it provides. I do wish there were more color photos. I also found Carter's notes an interesting read and the author uses excerpts of them throughout the book. He took copious amounts of notes, recording what they saw from room to room and these insights are intriguing. The author also includes drawings that Carter's made, though his notes were never published as a volume. It is interesting to see from his perspective as the discoverer, though his methods seem terrible today. The treatment of the mummies never ceases to infuriate me. The fact that Tut (and who knows how many others, by other archaeologists throughout the centuries) had to be dismembered to be removed from his sarcophagus make me so angry. Archaeology is an important field, but so destructive at the same time. It is a field that has to destroy in order to discover, and this is uncomfortable for me.
Side note: the photos of the mummified remains of what are thought to be Tut's two little daughters are absolutely heart-breaking. They're just so tiny (duh).
Overall, this is about as complete a book as you can find about the tomb of King Tut. While there is some history of his reign and the suspicions surrounding his death, as well as information about his father before him, it is more focus on the tomb itself and the treasures it held and what they tell us about burials of the time. Highly recommended.
March 21, 2016
Very good read for everyone interested in Ancient Egypt...and how it might feel to discover a 3000 old tomb, still full with treasure. The facts and events are outlined without being a boring tell. An extensive description of the objects found in the tomb with a lot of pictures so it is really easy to imagine how it looked like when it was first seen by the excavators.
January 23, 2008
this is a really great book to read for any essay! This book is full of information and facts! It is really cool.
P.S Did u know that King tut had 2 little daughters?
P.S Did u know that King tut had 2 little daughters?
August 10, 2011
A nice follow-up of the Brussels exposition.
February 4, 2014
Anything you ever wanted to know about the young pharaoh.if your not at a college reading level buy a dictionary
February 10, 2013
Nice one for the coffee table. And very informative, too. Could have gained a lot with more colour photgraphy of the treasures and less black-and-white.
February 6, 2016
This book is awesome - anything you could possibly want to know about the tomb and expedition.
April 19, 2021
This is fullest account ever published of the world’s greatest archeological discovery. Can be read again and again, almost a thriller !
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