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Egyptians
This beautiful volume reveals an era in ancient Egypt known as the New Kingdom, a restless and aggressive time when Egypt became a Bronze Age superpower.
The Egyptians presents this era's energy and splendor, illustrated with remarkable achievements in art and architecture. Each page displays the Egyptian's brilliant creations--magic amulets, tombs and temples, wall paintings and jewelry -- and the author weaves a true tale of the daily life, beliefs, and ceremonies of this people. Read about Hatshepsut, the queen who became pharaoh, and her mysterious disappearance; discover Egyptian fashion, in which men wore kilts, and women wore tight dresses; unravel the secrets of mummification and see what ancient Egyptians looked like; and hear the stories of the great pharaohs and deities who gave the kingdom power.
With full-color photographs and the talent of a storyteller, the author paints a portrait of ancient Egypt that is accessible to students, fascinating for adult readers, and provides an ideal introduction to this magnificent culture. This beautiful volume reveals an era in ancient Egypt known as the New Kingdom, a restless and aggressive time when Egypt became a Bronze Age superpower.
The Egyptians presents this era's energy and splendor, illustrated with remarkable achievements in art and architecture. Each page displays the Egyptian's brilliant creations--magic amulets, tombs and temples, wall paintings and jewelry -- and the author weaves a true tale of the daily life, beliefs, and ceremonies of this people. Read about Hatshepsut, the queen who became pharaoh, and her mysterious disappearance; discover Egyptian fashion, in which men wore kilts, and women wore tight dresses; unravel the secrets of mummification and see what ancient Egyptians looked like; and hear the stories of the great pharaohs and deities who gave the kingdom power.
With full-color photographs and the talent of a storyteller, the author paints a portrait of ancient Egypt that is accessible to students, fascinating for adult readers, and provides an ideal introduction to this magnificent culture.
The Egyptians presents this era's energy and splendor, illustrated with remarkable achievements in art and architecture. Each page displays the Egyptian's brilliant creations--magic amulets, tombs and temples, wall paintings and jewelry -- and the author weaves a true tale of the daily life, beliefs, and ceremonies of this people. Read about Hatshepsut, the queen who became pharaoh, and her mysterious disappearance; discover Egyptian fashion, in which men wore kilts, and women wore tight dresses; unravel the secrets of mummification and see what ancient Egyptians looked like; and hear the stories of the great pharaohs and deities who gave the kingdom power.
With full-color photographs and the talent of a storyteller, the author paints a portrait of ancient Egypt that is accessible to students, fascinating for adult readers, and provides an ideal introduction to this magnificent culture. This beautiful volume reveals an era in ancient Egypt known as the New Kingdom, a restless and aggressive time when Egypt became a Bronze Age superpower.
The Egyptians presents this era's energy and splendor, illustrated with remarkable achievements in art and architecture. Each page displays the Egyptian's brilliant creations--magic amulets, tombs and temples, wall paintings and jewelry -- and the author weaves a true tale of the daily life, beliefs, and ceremonies of this people. Read about Hatshepsut, the queen who became pharaoh, and her mysterious disappearance; discover Egyptian fashion, in which men wore kilts, and women wore tight dresses; unravel the secrets of mummification and see what ancient Egyptians looked like; and hear the stories of the great pharaohs and deities who gave the kingdom power.
With full-color photographs and the talent of a storyteller, the author paints a portrait of ancient Egypt that is accessible to students, fascinating for adult readers, and provides an ideal introduction to this magnificent culture.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 21, 2023
A great general overview of Egyptian beliefs and traditions (with an emphasis on New Kingdom pharaohs, art, and architecture). Very readable, well organized, and easy to understand, with lots of pictures illustrating concepts, gods, etc.
As someone with a general knowledge already, this is a great review to help me remember, plus some new gods and customs to learn about. Reading this would help beginners get an overview and be ready to delve into whichever topics interest them in more detail.
Some dates and dynasties are included, but beginners can just ignore them for now.
As someone with a general knowledge already, this is a great review to help me remember, plus some new gods and customs to learn about. Reading this would help beginners get an overview and be ready to delve into whichever topics interest them in more detail.
Some dates and dynasties are included, but beginners can just ignore them for now.
April 23, 2018
Some spoilers/not a positive review:
I don't think this book knew what it wanted to be. It wasn't a overview/flyby book, because it went into depth/description oddly at places. But it also wasn't long enough to give that same depth to all of the topics presented(maybe due to lack of info on the subject?). It would fuss between history and daily life descriptions, and switch between dates and dynasties with no logical sequence to follow. There was also an astounding repetition of phrases, or at least one phrase. The phrase "primeval mound" was there about 10 times too many.
The pictures with their adjacent explanations included were absolutely wonderful. It made the book stand out to me in the first place.
The chapter focusing on Hatshepsut was well done, I could have read a whole book this length about her only. A connection I made (that was not even mentioned in chapter 5) after reaching the last chapter: How devastating removing her name actually was in this culture! "...her name and images were systematically destroyed by other kings. Her name was omitted from later king lists." (pg. 109) "If a person's name is forgotten or destroyed, she or he can be denied immortal inheritance, rights or powers. The name ren opens one to identity, to existence, to eternity." Those latter kings who chipped her name from lists were, per their own sacred view of names, essentially committing (afterlife?) murder. This is shocking. And what's even more shocking is that it wasn't even alluded to in the fifth chapter.
I don't think this book knew what it wanted to be. It wasn't a overview/flyby book, because it went into depth/description oddly at places. But it also wasn't long enough to give that same depth to all of the topics presented(maybe due to lack of info on the subject?). It would fuss between history and daily life descriptions, and switch between dates and dynasties with no logical sequence to follow. There was also an astounding repetition of phrases, or at least one phrase. The phrase "primeval mound" was there about 10 times too many.
The pictures with their adjacent explanations included were absolutely wonderful. It made the book stand out to me in the first place.
The chapter focusing on Hatshepsut was well done, I could have read a whole book this length about her only. A connection I made (that was not even mentioned in chapter 5) after reaching the last chapter: How devastating removing her name actually was in this culture! "...her name and images were systematically destroyed by other kings. Her name was omitted from later king lists." (pg. 109) "If a person's name is forgotten or destroyed, she or he can be denied immortal inheritance, rights or powers. The name ren opens one to identity, to existence, to eternity." Those latter kings who chipped her name from lists were, per their own sacred view of names, essentially committing (afterlife?) murder. This is shocking. And what's even more shocking is that it wasn't even alluded to in the fifth chapter.
July 29, 2025
Not BAD but not good. Loved the art inside but the text was odd.
"Seth was worshiped by Aapethi" what is that? The terrible glossary doesn't help.
Male-centric writing got old, "He would use, he would allow-" etc.
"Seth was worshiped by Aapethi" what is that? The terrible glossary doesn't help.
Male-centric writing got old, "He would use, he would allow-" etc.
September 3, 2021
Similar to what other reviewers have said, the book is exceedingly superficial in some parts with jolting deep dives on narrow topics in other parts. A quick and easy read with lots of archaeological photographs. Not bad for what it was. I wouldn’t rate it as one of the best books on Egyptology. I may be a little generous giving it 4 stars.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews