Imhotep Today

by Jean-Marcel Humbert (editor), Clifford Price (Editor)

This book presents and analyses the results of the use and adaptation of ancient Egyptian architecture in modern times. It traces the use of ancient Egyptian motifs and constructions across the world, from Australia, the Americas and Southern Africa to Western Europe. It also inquires into the cultural, economic and social contexts of this practice. Imhotep Today is exceptional not only in its global coverage, but in its analyses of thorny questions such what was it about Ancient Egypt that inspired such Egyptianizing monuments, and was it just one idea, or several different ones which formed the basis of such activities? The book also asks why only certain images, such as obelisks and sphinxes, were incorporated within the movement. The contributors explore how these 'monuments' fitted into the local architecture of the time and, in this context, they investigate whether 'Egyptianizing architecture' is an ongoing movement and, if so, how it differs from earlier, similar activities.

356 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Kelly McLoughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed! All completely new info which is always rad!!

[DAJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the longest book in the Encounters with Ancient Egypt series, by a large margin, but I can't say it's the most interesting. It works as a catalogue of Egyptian Revival architecture around the world; the chapters that focus on particular regions of the world cover St. Petersburg, London, the United States, Australia, Paris, Florence, Brazil, and South Africa. But while the authors frequently try to interpret what the use of Egyptian motifs signifies for the culture that uses them, it doesn't feel like there are that many sharp insights to be found here, unlike the most similar volume in the series, Consuming Ancient Egypt. At times it feels like the authors are missing things. For instance, the chapter on 19th century America overlooks something that the book Obelisk: A History (published a few years later) makes note of: many Americans resisted the use of Egyptian motifs like the obelisk for national monuments, believing that designs so closely connected with the vainglory of monarchs were inappropriate for a society built on the rejection of monarchy.

Probably the most worthwhile chapters are the introduction and two of the thematic studies: Humbert's analysis of the varied uses of pyramids and John Hamill and Pierre Mollier's history of Egyptian Revival architecture in Freemasonry. Also noteworthy is Beverley Butler's discussion of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina—a modern Library of Alexandria meant to substitute for that city's mostly lost ancient monuments—and, more broadly, modern Egyptians' relationship with their country's ancient past.