Ancient Egypt (Technology in the Time of) Review

Ancient Egypt (Technology in the Time of)
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This book had too many pictures and not enough information. It jumped from one topic to another too quickly, and it never really went deep into any topic. This book is ideal for people who just want a brief idea of what life was like in ancient Egypt, but is not very useful for projects or lots of info. It was very boring for me to read.

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Describes many of the innovative inventions that the Egyptians incorporated into their daily life, including ground looms, glass pots, and wooden sledges.

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Jesus in the House of the Pharaohs: The Essene Revelations on the Historical Jesus Review

Jesus in the House of the Pharaohs: The Essene Revelations on the Historical Jesus
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The theories put forth in this work are indeed unorthodox, yet not to be dismissed because of that. The author believes the old testament scriptures especially to be deliberately misleading for the sake of covering up the theories put forth in this book.
The author certainly did his archaeological and historical homework, but contrary to his statement in the first chapter, he obviously does not believe the old/new testament scriptures to be reliable historical work. While I appreciated the new twist on these events of the bible, I must criticise this work for the inconsistent way the old/new testament scriptures are treated as reference material for Osman's theories.
For some aspects of Osman's theories, scriptures are treated as deliberate cover-ups of the truth, while other times they are treated as supportive of Osman's theories and to be taken at face value. The author's criteria for interpreting the old/new testament passages one way or the other is unclear all the way through the book.
I respect that Osman didn't ignore the scriptural passages that conflict with his theories and made an honest attempt to deal with those inconsistencies one by one. I am only saying that some of the explanations he gives are not convincing, while many of them are very convincing.
One minor note: those looking for a thorough examination of the Essenes, their views on Jesus and the Teacher of Righteousness (as I was), this book deals only briefly with the Essenes and focuses mainly on Jewish and Egytian history.

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A provocative thesis that the historical Jesus was connected to the royal 18th dynasty of Egypt
' Contends that Jesus, Joshua, and Tutankhamun were the same person

' Provides evidence from church documentation, the Koran, the Talmud, and archaeology that the Messiah came more than a millennium before the first century C.E.

' Shows that Christianity evolved from Essene teachings

Although it is commonly believed that Jesus lived during the first century C.E., there is no concrete evidence to support this fact from the Roman and Jewish historians who would have been his contemporaries. The Gospel writers themselves were of a later generation, and many accounts recorded in the Old Testament and Talmudic commentary refer to the coming of the Messiah as an event that had already occurred.Using the evidence available from archaeology, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Koran, the Talmud, and biblical sources, Ahmed Osman provides a compelling case that both Jesus and Joshua were one and the same--a belief echoed by the early Church Fathers--and that this person was likewise the pharaoh Tutankhamun, who ruled Egypt between 1361 and 1352 B.C.E. and was regarded as the spiritual son of God. Osman contends that the Essene Christians--who followed Jesus' teachings in secret after his murder--only came into the open following the execution of their prophet John the Baptist by Herod, many centuries later. Yet it was also the Essenes who, following the death of Tutankhamun and his father Akhenaten (Moses), secretly kept the monotheistic religion of Egypt alive. The Essenes believed themselves to be the people of the New Covenant established between their Lord and themselves by the Teacher of Righteousness, who was murdered by a wicked priest. The Dead Sea Scrolls support Osman's contention that this Teacher of Righteousness was in fact Jesus.


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Abydos: Egypt's First Pharaohs and the Cult of Osiris (New Aspects of Antiquity) Review

Abydos: Egypt's First Pharaohs and the Cult of Osiris (New Aspects of Antiquity)
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David O'Connor has been excavating at Abydos since 1967 -- probably his most famous find is the series of boats near the enclosures of Khasekhemwy (Shunet el Zebib) and the Western Mastaba -- and so is well-qualified to author this valuable and comprehensive work on the site. O'Connor pulls together the history of the development of the site and its excavation, as well as discussing the significance of various discoveries. It is an excellent, and well thought out compendium. The book is easy to read and well written, but intended for those with at least some knowledge of the subject matter, not absolute beginners.
Especially valuable, and sometimes difficult to find elsewhere, is the information on more recent discoveries and theories. To provide a few examples: he discusses the excavations by Stephen Harvey at the Ahmose complex, Janet Richards at the North and Middle Cemeteries, Josef Wegner at the Senwosret III complex, Mary-Ann Pouls Wegner's survey of the cultic landscape, the Akhenaten talatat found at the Ramesses II temple, and the theories of Gunter Dreyer regarding the early hieroglyphic signs from Tomb U-j. This is almost priceless information - much of it is only available in more expensive, subscription or foreign language publications. The discussions here are, of course, often much briefer than are available elsewhere, and O'Connor does supply a bibliography for further reading (and I've added a few links at the end of this review).
O'Connor deals with many theories (tomb development, the meaning of various symbolic elements such as mounds and pyramids, etc.), and he is one of the few Egyptologists who seems willing to say that in many cases the limited data available is sometimes open to more than one interpretation. He fairly treats competing theories, but this is also quite a personal work by him, and he is not hesitant to offer his opinion. He also points out that excavations are ongoing and there is still much work to do, and so it is only proper to expect new information to change many ideas.
The subtitle of the book refers to "Egypt's First Pharaohs and the Cult of Osiris." O'Connor deals extensively with those topics, but makes it clear to the reader how the later history of the site adds to our understanding of the earlier history. In fact, much of the information on the first kings comes later in the book, after the groundwork is laid. That may sound confusing, but it makes perfect sense in the context of the book.
Below is a list of the chapters and, in parentheses, my notes on some topics discussed in each.
1.The Discovery of Abydos (early excavations).
2.Osiris - Eternal Lord Who Presides in Abydos (the Osiris mythology).
3.The Temple of Seti I (the history of the beautiful temple and the Osireion).
4.The Rediscovery of Abydos (the second wave of excavations, including those of O'Connor himself).
5.The Evolution of a Sacred Landscape (the Old Kingdom and the First Intermediate Period).
6.The Expanding Landscape of the Middle Kingdom (Abydos in the Middle Kingdom, including the Senwosret III complex and the memorial chapels).
7.The Landscape Completed: Abydos in the New Kingdom (the Ahmose complex, Thutmose III, Akhenaten (who may have had a structure at Abydos), the "Portal" Temple of Ramesses II).
8.The Climax of the Osiris Cult (the Late Period).
9.The Royal Tombs of Abydos (The Dynasty 0 and Early Dynastic tombs at Umm el Qa'ab).
10.The Mysterious Enclosures of Abydos (a fascinating chapter on the Shunet el Zebib and other enclosures - with some equally fascinating theories).
11.Boat Graves and Pyramid Origins (how the finds at Abydos relate).
12.Abydos: Summing-Up.
O'Connor ends with useful and current information on visiting Abydos.
Let me finish by thanking the publisher, Thames & Hudson, for another excellent work at a reasonable price. I have an extensive Egyptology library (over 700 books) and I am shocked at how many recent Egyptology books cost $100-$500, and so many are out of my price range. Of course, I understand that more people will buy a book like this than a specialized report, but still, the price tags on many other new books, and some reprints, are beyond explanation.
By the way, some other current publications referenced, available at Amazon, include Janet Richards' Society and Death in Ancient Egypt: Mortuary Landscapes of the Middle Kingdom and Josef Wegner's The Mortuary Temple of Senwosret III at Abydos (Publications of the Pennsylvania-Yale Expedition to Egypt). Also invaluable is The Archaeology and Art of Ancient Egypt: Essays in Honor of David B. O'Connor (Cahier).

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The Murder of Tutankhamen Review

The Murder of Tutankhamen
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Granted the evidence presented by this book is by no means conclusive, I've got to say that if more history books were written with this much verve, fewer kids would graduate school convinced that "history is boring." Brier loves what he does, and he's very well-read in it, and it shows. You get a real feel for the political intrigue of the time right after the heresies of Amarna, and he presents the information in such a way that you never forget that there are actually human personalities associated with these events. The book does a great job getting across the flavor of life in that time, and certainly it does convince me at least that something fishy was going on at the end of Tut's reign.
However, that said, I didn't find any of the medical/forensic evidence presented even slightly convincing (and the opening chapter with its dramatic film noir reenactment of the "murder" was a bit much). Tutankhamen's death itself at a young age isn't even suspicious given that there is a good chance he inherited Marfan Syndrome from his father, a disability which has an excellent track record of killing young. And given that the skull and body were grossly damaged by the funerary practices of the time, I don't feel that any solid conclusions can be drawn from the state of either. The political evidence that something fishy was happening is a lot more compelling than the physical evidence -- and Brier knows his Egyptian politics.
Brier clearly knows Egypt well, and loves it, and that intellect and enthusiasm shines through every word, making this book a more than worthwhile read as long as you have your critical filters in place. I look forward to more work from Brier. Even if you don't agree with his conclusions, you've got to admit -- if more historians were this engaging and presented history with this much texture and life, history'd be a whole lot more fun in school, wouldn't it?

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Gifts of the Nile: Faience from Ancient Egypt Review

Gifts of the Nile: Faience from Ancient Egypt
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A well illustrated book , numerous examples of what is known in pottery as " Egyptian Paste ". Ornaments , tiles ,cups, figurines and the ever present ,beads. More than enough colour photographs to satisfy the thirst . The 3 different processes of manufacturing Egyptian Paste objects are explained technically. Plus ,the many variations in the paste through the centuries. My only reason for not giving another star , not enough goblets .

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Created from common materials, but possessing the majesty of gold and semi-precious gems, the ceramic now known as faience was used by the ancient Egyptians for a variety of luxury objects. Dolls were fashioned from it, as were baby feeders docorated to magically protect mother and child. Faience could be shaped into mummy masks, amulets, chalices, bowls, inkwells, jewelry, tiles and inlays for furniture. Its great popularity could have been due to one particular characteristic: radiance and brilliance, to the Egyptians a perfect metaphor for life, death and rebirth. This work analyzes the significance of faience, and presents illustrations of nearly 200 pieces drawn from public and private collections in Europe and America. It shows how faience was used and produced, as well as its symbolic values and meanings.

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Mummy (DK/Google E.guides) Review

Mummy (DK/Google E.guides)
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Our family is a big fan of these Eyewitness books and this is an excellent overview of all types of mummies.
As a warning however, there are quite a few gruesome photographs which might scare kids younger than 6 or 7 so a parent might want to check it out in a bookstore before buying sight unseen.

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The Eastern Mediterranean in the Age of Ramesses II Review

The Eastern Mediterranean in the Age of Ramesses II
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This was the required reading for an adult enrichment course in ancient history. For students familiar with Egyptian history, this book opens up the Mediterranean world, and deals with the interrelationships with other "states" or "empires". Many of the names, such as: Elam, Hatti, Ugarit, Hurrians, and Hittites, will be unfamiliar to a casual reader, but the author builds an interesting story of trade, shared literature, and cultures interacting in ways other than warfare.

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Cleopatra: Last Queen of Egypt Review

Cleopatra: Last Queen of Egypt
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Joyce Ann Tyldesley is a lecturer of Egyptology at Liverpool University and the author of several books on ancient Egypt. She writes that most authors have written about Cleopatra either from a Roman perspective or from a popular culture perspective. She claims that most Egyptologists consider Cleopatra part of the 300 year Ptolemaic Empire, an Empire that is something of a footnote to true Egyptian history. Of course, Cleopatra VII is best known for her role in the Roman political battles between Julius Caesar and Pompey, and later between Octavian and Mark Antony.
Tyldesley is a terrific story teller and as Shakespeare and Elizabeth Taylor and a host of others have proven, Cleopatra's story is full of twists and turns and many wonders. Tyldesley fills her book with interesting Egyptian details, putting her a bit more firmly into ancient traditions. She argues against suicide by asp bite, for example, based on an ancient tradition of death by poisonous ointments.
By the end of the book, though, I didn't really see a Cleopatra very different from the one I found in Cleopatra by Michael Grant, a book I greatly admire. After all, almost all we know about Cleopatra was written by Roman authors, focused on the great battles over Egyptian riches and Imperial power. Moreover, Egypt itself had been ruled from time to time over 700 years by Libyans, Nubians and Persians before the arrival of Alexander the Great in 332 BCE. Finally, as Helen Brown points out in her review quoted in full in the first Comment: "After defeating the last queen of Egypt, Julius Caesar's adopted son was determined to destroy her reputation. He smashed the images made to glorify her and ensured his pocket historians cast her as a greedy, incestuous, adulterous whore who used her foreign, feminine wiles to emasculate the Roman Empire."
This is a terrific story, very well told by an excellent historian. But don't look for any new and ground breaking insights into Cleopatra's fascinating life.
Robert C. Ross 2008


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The Second Coming of the Star Gods Review

The Second Coming of the Star Gods
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Through almost 500 pages, the author skillfully interweaves the stories of 5 groups of characters from 4th-Dynasty Egypt: Pharaoh and his family, his advisors to the throne, several powerful magician-priests and priestesses, Pharaoh's half-brother - himself a powerful magician-priest, and 2 young apprentice priestesses. The lives of these characters become enmeshed as ancient prophecies begin to play out during a pivotal period just prior to the return of the star gods to ancient Egypt.
Second Coming of the Star Gods will hold the attention of many different kinds of readers. For some, it will be a rousing, Egyptian-themed sci/fi adventure book in the traditions of Zelazny or Leiber, where the "gods" commune with humans, imparting advanced knowledge. Others will look at it as historical fiction - a magical version of Mary Stewart or Taylor Caldwell or even Joan Grant, where daily life in Ancient Egypt really comes alive. Those who enjoy political intrigue will find the sibling rivalry that turns Pharaoh's half-brother into a usurper to the throne reminiscent of the power struggles of Cain and Able or Joseph and his brothers. For readers who are more metaphysically inclined, this book is full of the ethical dilemmas of black vs. white magic, and serious information about how to work shamanically with various types of star energies.
I understand that this is Page Bryant's first work of fiction. If this is any indication of her storytelling abilities, I hope it's not her last!

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Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley Civilization Review

Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley Civilization
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Mark Kenoyer is one of the leading experts on the ancient Indus Valley. As Director of the current excavations at the ancient Indus site of Harappa, he has made a number of new discoveries which are greatly expanding our knowledge of this civilization. The books is thorough, well-illustrated, and free of the ideological biases that have so long tainted ancient Indus studies. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the facts. Kenoyer is also one of the few archaeologists who has worked in both Pakistan and India and is able to cover the ancient culture and its relationships to people today in both modern countries.

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This lavishly illustrated book presents a coherent and fascinating account of the Indus Valley civilization that will appeal to specialists and non-specialists alike. Kenoyer draws on the latest archaeological information from Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Dholavira, and other major sites as well as on his considerable knowledge of South Asian societies and ancient technologies. He addresses such enduring topics as the nature and role of the Indus writing system, the Indus religino as evidenced through sculpture and architecture, the political organization of Indus city-states, long-distance trade and the importance of merchants in Indus society, and the daily life of the diverse inhabitants of the cities, towns, and villages of the region.

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The Great Belzoni: The Circus Strongman Who Discovered Egypt's Ancient Treasures, Second Edition (International Library of Historical Studies) Review

The Great Belzoni: The Circus Strongman Who Discovered Egypt's Ancient Treasures, Second Edition (International Library of Historical Studies)
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This is a great book about a lesser known figure in the history of Egyptian Archaeology. It des a great job of telling about his life and placing him in a proper historical context. It doesn't try to hold him to modern archaeological standards, and explains that in the 19th century archaeology was kind of a race to loot. Despite this he made a bunch of discoveries including opening the second pyramid of Giza.
The only way this book could be improved would be to include maps and a few more images of his discoveries. The maps are needed as most of the places were renamed or in a few cases he incorrectly named them. Arabic names also tend to be spelled several different ways adding to the confusion.

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The truly extraordinary life story of Giovanni Belzoni - engineer, barber, monk, actor and circus strongman (where he earned his title, 'The Great Belzoni'), who became one of the giants of 19th century Egyptian archaeology. Sometimes maligned as a tomb robber, Giovanni Battista Belzoni is perhaps the most important and yet least remembered explorer and archaeologist of the last two hundred years. Giovanni Belzoni was the first person to penetrate the heart of the second pyramid at Giza and the first European to visit the oasis of Siwah and discover the ruined city of Berenice on the Red Sea. In 1823, at the age of forty-five, Belzoni died of fever trying to reach the mysterious city of Timbuktu. There has never been a character quite like him in the history of exploration.

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The Complete History of Costume & Fashion: From Ancient Egypt to the Present Day Review

The Complete History of Costume and Fashion: From Ancient Egypt to the Present Day
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Always on the lookout for any new costume reference, I was
eager to leaf through this one. Unfortunately, it was nearly
a waste of time.
I say "nearly", because Cosgrave provides quite a few helpful
illustrations, though the objects depicted are often mislabelled and period paintings are seldom fully cited.
In general, I found this volume to be shallow and badly researched. It's full of bad generalizations and misused terminology. Cosgrave makes numerous statements which are at odds with everything I've come to know about historical costume. Seldom are these bald statements backed by sources discussed in the text. She also has a 'thing' about Byzantine costume. Everything worn in any other place or time suffers in her constant comparisons.
One of my favorite absurdities is that her entire discussion of medieval jewelry is a dismissal of the same as "crude". (Though she does allow that the Irish did some nice work. And, of course, it suffers by comparison to Byzantine jewelry.)
Another example: The caption regarding a painting of people in Burgundian Court Dress urges the reader to "Note the Byzantine influences". Huh?!!
In general I'd recommend that the re-enactor or Costume History
student look at the pictures and ignore the text.

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The Complete History of Costume and Fashion is a comprehensive illustrated guide to the history of clothing and fashion. At different times in history, fashionable dress has taken very different forms. From the first fashion style of the Egyptians to the extravagant clothes of the Romans, from the birth of the Dandy to haute couture in the twentieth century, this book chronicles the evolution of style for both males and females from a social, cultural, and historical perspective.Organized by specific time periods, coverage includes:The Ancient Egyptians: Noble garments, wigs and hairpieces, eye make-up, jewelryGreece and Rome: Classical elegance, the Etruscan wardrobe, bright colors, the togaMiddle Ages: Medieval Europe and Byzantine fashion, age of chivalry, trains and sleevesEarly Renaissance: Damask, taffeta, velvet, tight-fitting bodicesSixteenth Century: Flowering of the arts, science and fashion, doublets and ruffs, bodicesSeventeenth Century: Influence of the Baroque, ribbons and embroidery, wigs for menEighteenth Century: Extravagance and excess, masks, buckled shoes, three-cornered hats, hoop skirtsNineteenth Century: Victorian values, crinolines and bustles, artificial hair color, double-breasted jacketsTwentieth Century: The age of diversity, global style, mini-skirts, supermodels, street fashion, new fabrics.

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Israel: Ancient Kingdom or Late Invention? Review

Israel: Ancient Kingdom or Late Invention
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Let me say at the outset that this is a book for the academically inclined, seminary students, scholarly pastors, and members of academic teaching departments. It is a collection of speeches presented at an evangelical semianr on archaeology and the nation of Israel.
The best essay in my opinion was the last one, by John Walton. He shows how an understanding of Ancient Near Eastern studies helps us toward a more nuanced and vibrant reading of the first four commandments from Exodus 20.
Alan Millard's opening essay reminds us of the need to be careful that we don't overinterpret or misinterpret the archaeological data. Some people do this with Daniel 2:46, supposing that King Nebuchadnezzar is following the practice of an ancient Hellenistic cult by offering incense to Daniel, and some even say that he was worshipping Daniel.
But Millard shows how prostrating yourself before someone and offering up incense was an ancient Babylonian practice that conveyed great respect toward royalty or prophetic personages (like Daniel) that wasn't always construed as the worship of a deity.
James Hoffmeier has an interesting essay about the geographical issues found in the Exodus narrative, particularly with regard to Rameses and Pithom. Hoffmeier shows that there is nothing in archaeology that would dispute what the text says about these cities. But I must confess that I wish Hoffmeier would have dealt in greater detail with the wilderness wanderings prior to crossing the Red Sea. He acknowledges that it is a major challenge, but that there is nothing that clearly contradicts what we find in his limited discussion of Exodus 14.
Edwin Yamauchi goes on to say in his essay that there is not enough hard evidence to show a Zoroastrian influence on the theology of the Hebrew Bible, though he does not rule it out.
In one of the more important essays, Simon Sherwin concludes that it is unlikely that the Israelites learned their monotheism in Babylonian captivity, and that the available evidence suggests that some in Israel were returning to their roots by devoting themselves exclusively to Yahweh.
Generally speaking, the writers are cautious about approaches that value archaeological evidence over textual evidence. They are also wary of arguments from silence, or people who cite the lack of archaeological evidence as absolute proof that the Hebrew texts cannot be trusted.
A previous reviewer felt that the book was too biased and slanted toward the evangelical viewpoint. I would say "Of course! The book is a collection of essays from an evangelical conference! It says so right on page 1!
I would also want to add that having theological predilections doesn't automatically make a person's work invalid, otherwise, no one would read the work of liberals, either. Variety makes life interesting.
I appreciate the evenhanded approach to the issues. In my judgment, it would be a mistake to assume that this book is a naive and close-minded approach. The scholars in this book have made a good case for Israel as an ancient kingdom without ignoring the voices who say otherwise.


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Cairo Diary Review

Cairo Diary
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Cairo Dairy merges the past and present in this modern day story of intrigue. Through an accident of fate, Justine, the heroine, finds herself with an ancient text that chronicles the life of a woman named Mary, the mother of Jesus. The diary portrays Mary as a thoughtful, caring, and literate woman juxtaposed against the backdrop of Jesus' life in Egypt. Lambert deftly weaves ancient and modern Egypt into a travel diary of intrigue, love, and adventure. I highly recommend this as a must read for any one who loves Egypt and historical fiction.

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Cairo Diary is a riveting historical narrative filled with ancient texts, romance and political intrigue. Best-selling author, Dr. Linda Lambert, recounts the journeys of two women separated by two millennia who are each seeking personal freedom: the Virgin Mary, living with her family in Old Cairo; and Dr. Justine Jenner, a modern-day anthropologist, whose mother is Egyptian and whose father is American. Mary is a reflective, insightful woman who imparts her wisdom to her eight-year old son, Jesus, and chronicles the historic challenges Jews faced in a Roman-Egyptian world. Two thousand years later, Justine arrives in Cairo to take up the work of UNICEF Community Schools for Girls. During a violent earthquake, she becomes trapped in the crypt under St. Sergius Church in Old Cairo, originally the cave that served as the Egyptian home to the Holy Family. When the shaking stops, an ancient book lies at her feet. With the help of a team of Egyptian and French investigators, Justine explores the profound secrets of the codex, which turns out to be the personal diary of the Virgin Mary. What is recorded in this diary threatens the foundation of religious beliefs, beliefs that are revealed to be a finely textured mythology. Dr. Linda Lambert became enthralled with Egypt as a young girl, when her mother enchanted her with tales of her own alleged reincarnation from Egyptian royalty. In 1989, Linda moved to Egypt and began two decades of passionate exploration of this fascinating culture. During a visit to the ancient crypt that is believed to have housed the Holy Family, Linda experienced an epiphany that inspired her to write Cairo Diary, her first historical novel. Linda has written several internationally-recognized books in the field of educational leadership. Her seventh book, Women's Ways of Leading, was released in 2009, integrating her global work in leadership with feminine and historical themes that take center

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The Mycenaeans (Peoples of the Ancient World) Review

The Mycenaeans (Peoples of the Ancient World)
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Castleden has done a very good job synthesizing the archeological evidence and presenting a look at Mycenean society, the people and their interactions with their neighbors while comparing it with the traditional legends that had come from that time. The book is well written with easy to follow text and discourse, and is filled with illustrations and annotations of artifacts, maps, floorplans of extant buildings, and pen & ink representations of wall paintings and artifacts.
Since Castleden is well versed in Minoan studies he is quick to point up just how much the Myceneans had appropriated from this island culture: Their art, their dress, and eventually their trade routes and craftsmen. However, he also points up the Mycenean accomplishments as well, expanding out of the Polyponese where most other books focus, and into the northern territories dominated by Orchomenos and Thebes. He looks at their engineering feats and discusses how they might've been influenced by Hittite and Egyptian cultures as well.
These people were bureaucratic, they were not afraid to attempt to change the landscape to suit their needs, diverting rivers, and draining shallow lakes, and they were militaristic. The author addresses the various other interpretations put forth and comes forward with his own take on the material. By and large, presenting a well-reasoned and supporting argument for his interpretations. He discusses the daily life of the common people, and puts forth a hypothetical reconstruction of the trade routes of the various Mycenean cities with their overseas trading partners, and presents the various hypotheses of what happened to bring this age crashing down. The biggest issue brought forth by him is the reinterpretation of the citidels which were argued to be the Palaces of the Kings to actually be the temple centers of the kingdom, akin to the acropolis in classical athens, but temples that took a more active role in administering to the material being of the kingdoms.
All in all, I found this volume very enjoyable and informative.

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Following on from Rodney Castleden's best-selling study Minoans, this major contribution to our understanding of the crucial Mycenaean period clearly and effectively brings together research and knowledge we have accumulated since the discovery of the remains of the civilization of Mycenae in the 1870s.In lively prose, informed by the latest research and using afull bibliography and over 100 illustrations, this vivid study delivers the fundamentals of theMycenaean civilization including its culture, hierarchy, economy and religion. Castleden introduces controversial views of the Mycenaean palaces as temples, and studies their impressive sea empire and their crucial interaction with the outside Bronze Age world before discussing the causes of the end of their civilization. Providing clear, easy information and understanding, this is a perfect starting point for the study of the Greek Bronze Age.

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Astronomy and Mathematics in Ancient China: The 'Zhou Bi Suan Jing' (Needham Research Institute Studies) Review

Astronomy and Mathematics in Ancient China: The 'Zhou Bi Suan Jing' (Needham Research Institute Studies)
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Don't let the title fool you. This is not just about China, this is about the human condition. Someone with an imagination should have worked on the title and given it a bit more excitement. I almost skipped reading the book because the title seemed so dry.
I read this book twice and will probably read it, again. The author's presentation is simply masterful. Step by step, he recreates the setting and background for the book's creation and utilization. In fact, he walks the reader through about 2000 years of 'uses' that people found for the book. According to Cullen, this classic was probably a gift to a Chinese emperor and then dumped in a back room for 200 years. It was only when political circumstances changed and an 'old' book might be valuable that it was 'rediscovered' and rendered useful.
For anyone interested in the practice of ancient astronomy, Cullen goes into great detail on the tools and practice of Chinese astronomers from about 3000 BC to the arrival of Jesuits in 1600. For anyone interested in Chinese political history, Cullen explores imperial Chinese history in a way that simply makes one want to read much, much more. For anyone interested in ancient Chinese record keeping, Cullen offers practical advice on what to make of the 'documents' we moderns discover.
I hope they make this a paperback so that it can get wider circulation. What is commonly called 'the history of math' is often embarrassingly western (ethno-centric). This book offers a means of correcting that unfortunate state of affairs.

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Ahmose: Liberator of Egypt (Leaders of Ancient Egypt) Review

Ahmose: Liberator of Egypt (Leaders of Ancient Egypt)
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I saw a review of this author's series of books by an Egyptology professor which said that they were highly informative and full of accurate information, so I bought them and found that I agreed. There are lots of quotes from the ancient Egyptians themselves which give a real flavor of the times, and the life stories of each pharaoh are described in an exiting and easy to follow way. A really good read for both me and my 13 year old son!

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