Egipt: Cum a fost descoperită o civilizație pierdută

by Joyce A. Tyldesley

Vreme de mii de ani, omenirea a fost facinată - şi, în egală măsură, modelată - de civilizaţia egipteană. Marile realizări ale Egiptului antic au început să fie tot mai bine înţelese odată cu descifrarea, de catre Champollion, a scrierii hieroglifice şi cu descoperirea epocală a mormântului intact al faraonului Tutankhamon - cu siguranţă, cel mai palpitant moment din istoria arheologiei, legat indisolubil de numele lui Howard Carter. În această carte, concisă, dar extrem de bine doc umentată şi de o claritate cristalină, Joyce Tyldesley, egiptolog reputat, cercetătoare la Universitatea din Liverpool, autoare a mai multor cărţi în domeniu, ne invită să trăim emoţia şi fascinaţia aventurii unice către găsirea secretelor unei civilizaţii de o factură cu totul aparte. Autoarea optează pentru o abordare diferită de cea tradiţională, şcolărească, povestea acestei cărţi fiind călăuzită de figurile grandioase care au dominat începuturile unei noi ştiinte - egiptologia. Această carte a fost scrisă pentru a însoţi seria de documentare de televiziune Egipt, difuzate iniţial de BBC în 2005.

by M

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

280 pages, Hardcover

First published August 28, 2005

About the author

Joyce Tyldesley is a British archaeologist and Egyptologist, academic, writer and broadcaster.

Tyldesley was born in Bolton, Lancashire and attended Bolton School. In 1981, she earned a first-class honours degree in archaeology from Liverpool University, and a doctorate in Prehistoric Archaeology from Oxford in 1986. She is a Teaching Fellow at Manchester University where she is tutor and course organiser of the three-year distance learning (internet based) Certificate in Egyptology programme run from the KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology.

She is an Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Archaeology, Classics, and Egyptology at Liverpool University, an ex-trustee of the Egypt Exploration Society, Chairperson of Bolton Archaeology and Egyptology Society, and a trustee of Chowbent Chapel.

In 2004 she established, with Steven Snape of Rutherford Press Limited, a publishing firm dedicated to publishing serious but accessible books on ancient Egypt while raising money for Egyptology field work. Donations from RPL have been made to Manchester Museum and the Egypt Exploration Society: currently all profits are donated to the ongoing fieldwork at Zawiyet umm el-Rakham.

She is married with two children to Egyptologist Steven Snape and lives in Lancashire.

Reviews

[Michele]

Egypt: How a Lost Civilization Was Rediscovered provides a 101 to the explorers and their discoveries in Egypt, with a majority of the focus on individuals after Napoleon's Campaign in the late 18th century. For readers with some familiarity with the subject, this book will hit on all of the major archaeologists, but Tyldesley does discuss some lesser known individuals.

The author also highlights how nationalism influenced the handling of artifacts in addition to personalty dynamics to helped and hindered the explorers and more importantly, the archaeological sites. It was tragic to read about early explorer techniques at digs; thankfully, experts have learned from those who came before them.

Those new to this subject or have some knowledge already will find this book a launching point for further research those individuals and time periods that intrigue the reader. Additionally, for more advanced readings, Tyldesley does have several books. Her narrative voice is engaging and her writing is clear and concise. I'll definitely be looking to read more of her writing in the future.

[Kate]

Egypt is easy to read an understand. Tyldesley does not assume any prior knowledge and outlines a brief history of Egypt in the introduction. The book is by no means a definitive study of archaeology in Egypt - the author just picks a few of the more interesting and European archaeologists. Despite this, it is a fascinating read.

[Sandra]

Joyce Tyldesley tiene dos características muy buenas. Una, su intención didáctica, lo que implica ser fiel a la historia y olvidarse de verdades paralelas, también conocidas como mentiras. La otra, su sencilla forma de escribir. Da gusto leer sus libros.

[James F]

A popular account of the history of Egyptology. Written to accompany a BBC program, it concentrates on a few "great names": Champollion, Belzoni, Petrie, Carter. A last chapter gives a brief account of developments since the 1920's. I'm still looking for a more complete survey, with more on the modern period.

[Shishira]

I saw this book in a second-hand bookstore, and I bought it because it was cheap, and it had pretty pictures. I didn't know what to expect when I went in, but I'm happy to say that I've enjoyed this book thoroughly.

This book covers the history of Egyptology from the time of Napoleon's expeditions to present. It assumes no background knowledge and tells you everything you need to know. It also covers a brief history of Egypt in the introduction to familiarize the reader with the topic.

The book talks about the race to crack the hieroglyphics and its profound effect on Egyptology. What was once considered abandoned relics of a long-gone people began to be seen as a window into the past. Egyptology went from brainless treasure hunting to a serious study of archaeology and history.

It also has three sections with beautiful pictures. Some of my favourites are the stone cut statues outside the Abu Simbel temple complex and the colourful wall paintings inside the tomb of Nefertari.

The layout of the tombs was difficult to understand from the text alone, and I wish there had been accompanying pictures to help visualize them.

I really liked how the author lets the explorers speak for themselves at important moments. These firsthand accounts made me feel like I was with them in the tomb peering at artifacts and sarcophagi under a dim candlelight.

I would rate it 9/10, but Goodreads forces me to round it up to 5/5.

[pężyrka]

Trochę zastanawiająca jest początkowa ilość przypisów tłumacza jawnie oznajmująca, że autorka się myli w kwestii historii starożytnego Egiptu. Może to być nieco zniechęcające.
Sam temat książki ciekawy, świetnie jest prześledzić losy egiptologii i zmian w kwestii motywacji, pracy odkrywców, archeologów oraz naukowców. Od starożytnych działań faraonów, po odszyfrowywanie hieroglifów, kończąc na odkryciu Tutanchamona i dzisiejszych działaniach archeologów. Ciarki przechodziły mnie, gdy czytałam o przełomowej chwili zrozumienia hieroglifów, jak i tego, jak traktowali mumie i działali na terenie wykopalisk (moje serce przyszłej niedoszłej archeolożki zamierało za każdym razem).
Dobrze poznać tych, którzy robili kroki milowe w tej fascynującej dziedzinie.

[Elysia]

I bought this book a few months ago from a charity shop in Devon. Growing up I was fascinated by the ancient Egyptians and I`m always keen to learn more about them. Non-Fiction books always take me a bit longer to read, so I was surprised when it only took me around a week to finish the book. It was nicely paced and took a different lane than I expected. From reading the blurb in the store I (daftly) presumed that this would be more about actual Egyptian history.
Read the rest of my review on my bookish blog: www.lightofthebookworm.com

[Ben Holmes]

A very enjoyable read that tells the story of Egyptology from antiquity to the present day. Tyldesley's book is populated with exotic locales, eccentric explorers and ancient Pharaohs but never becomes difficult to follow or sensationalist. Instead we have a fascinating story, briskly told, with enough context to keep the reader informed but not overwhelmed.

[Dawne L]

An enjoyable book that follows various Egyptologists and the lead up to their famous findings. Found that the chronological structure and the flow from chapter to chapter was easy to follow and that made it for a smooth read.

[Carlos Santiago]

Este es uno de esos pocos libros que consiguen teletransportarte a la época y lugar que describe la escritora. Una maravilla poder descubrir mínimamente lo que pudieron sentir los descubridores del antiguo Egipto. La historia de una docena de auténticos Indiana jones.

[R.J. Southworth]

A very interesting and readable summary of the re-discovery of ancient Egypt.

[Doug Adamson]

This is a well-written account of the history of Egyptology by a well-informed writer. I found her work on Tutankhamen more readable but that may be a matter of taste.

[Tommy S.]

Książkę przeczytałem z niesłabnącym zainteresowaniem, aczkolwiek wiele przedstawionych w niej faktów, jest już niejako nieaktualnych...Mimo to dobra to lektura do popołudniowej kawy...

[Teddy Swift]

Prettay good

[Daniel]

The only book about Ancient Egypt I was able to read from start to finish and in a short period of time, a week more or less, as history books are not my cup of tea. Very entertaining journey.
3,5 stars.

[Russell Hall]

As I have read the Amelia Peabody books, I have only a brief and at that fictional account of modern Egyptian and archeological history of Egypt. This little book by one of my favorite Egyptian Historical authors has been just enough to whet the appetite for more...

[Carmen Tudor]

Clear and informative text on the early and recent exploration of Egypt's most significant cultural gems. Of note are the fascinating (if cringeworthy) accounts of antiquated and often devastating methods used by the wily European treasure hunters.

[Donna]

Interesting overview of the treasure hunters and explorers who plundered and rediscovered the ancient Egyptian civilization.

[Niza]

Egypts Pharaoh

[Leah Taylor]

Great read. Very enjoyable.

[Heidi]

entertaining overview.