The Murder of Tutankhamen Review

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(More customer reviews)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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Tomb of Siphtah: With the Tomb of Queen Tiyi (Duckworth Egyptology) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is a reprint of two reports by Davis, who early in the 20th century excavated several tombs in the Valley of the Kings. In particular, one of the tombs is the infamous KV55 which has been a source of much speculation about the mummy, sarcophagus, and other items found there. This tomb was first believed to be the tomb of Tiye, queen of Amenhotep III, mother of Akhenaten and grandmother of Tutankhamen. Wrong. The mummy turned out to be male and much speculation occurred about who it might be. The Discovery Channel program on February 21, 2010, about the DNA of Tutankhamen, disclosed the unknown mummy to be Akhenaten himself, the father of Tutankhamen. The other tombs included in this book are KV47 of Queen Taworset and Pharaoh Sipath; the animal tombs 50, 51, and 52; and 56, the Gold Tomb. This fine edition is published in a large format on glossy paper and has a discussion of the finds, with hieroglyph inscriptions from items in the tombs, translated. There are many black and white photos. While much more is known today about these tombs, this early discussion carries the excitement of discovery, and some details not easily available elsewhere. A forward by Nicholas Reeves refers to his book (with Richard Wilkinson): The Complete Valley of the Kings, Tombs and Treasures of Egypt's Greatest Pharaohs, which is a treasure trove on the subject.

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On January 6, 1907 a mysterious tomb was uncovered in the Valley of the Kings by English archaeologist Edward R. Ayrton, digging on behalf of Theodore M. Davis. Initially identified as the burial of Amenophis III's queen, Tiye (Tîyi), on the basis of a spectacular gilded shrine which formed part of the burial equipment, the body itself was later recognized as that of a man buried in a coffin adapted for the use of an Amarna-period pharaoh. Was this the mummy of Akhenaten himself, as some at the time believed? Or the body of Akhenaten's mysterious co-regent, Smenkhkare? Almost a century later, Tomb 55 (as it is now generally known) continues to baffle archaeologist and Egyptologist alike. The Tomb of Queen Tîyi, which first appeared in 1910, was Davis's official account of the enigmatic Tomb 55 discovery, and remains a crucial source both for the Amarna period and for Valley of the Kings studies generally. It is here republished with Davis's equally fundamental The Tomb of Siphtah, which details the excavator's discoveries of 1905-7 - among them the extraordinary ‘animal tombs' and the ‘Gold Tomb', one of the greatest caches of 19th Dynasty jewelry ever found.

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Nefertiti and Cleopatra: Queen-Monarchs of Ancient Egypt Review

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(More customer reviews)In this clearly written book, the author explains the importance of the two best-known and greatest queen-monarchs of Ancient Egyptian times, Nefertiti and Cleopatra. In the first part of the book, Samson describes the reign of Akhenaten and clarifies the influence of Nefertiti on that particular reign. In the second part, Samson discusses Cleopatra and her association with Caesar and Mark Antony. A very detailed, well-illustrated book, recommended for students, particularly those interested in these two queens.

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A vivid account of two female pharaohs; beautiful Nefertiti (1367-1350 BC) and mysterious Cleopatra (51-30 BC). Both politically adept, they also distinguished themselves in their love for the greatest men of their day: Nefertiti for the sun-worshipping Akhenaten, and Cleopatra for Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. The author has researched museum collections and excavation reports, as well as contemporary writings, to recreate the settings of their domestic lives.

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The Royal Women of Amarna: Images of Beauty from Ancient Egypt Review

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(More customer reviews)"Royal Women of Amarna" portrays not only some of the most beautiful pieces created by any craftsmen of the ancient world with both text and fabulous plates, but also the personalities of the women who inspired such timeless masterpieces. This work is more than a mere collection of museum pieces; it tells the tale of every known Queen and princess of the period, spanning from the reign of Amenhotep III to that of his son Akhenaten, even those princesses who are attested by name only in the historical record. The possible reasons for the prominence of females during this period are examined, as well as the symbolism embedded in the art: a personal fascination for me was the theory that the shape of Nefertiti's blue crown is based on the hairstyle worn by women about to give birth, stressing both her fertility and her link to Tefnut. Whilst examining the women who made up a great part of his life, the book also gives some insight and wonderful, suggestive hints towards the personality of Akhenaten, himself. Again, the plates are the best one could ever hope for, making each piece seem tangible to those who have never seen them first hand(including myself) but plan to (including myself:), and the book would be worth purchasing for them alone if the text were not just as compelling. "The Royal Women of Amarna" is a must for any Amarna bookshelf and works of the late, great Cyril Aldred should find no shame in sharing company with them.

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Surveying the depiction of the female form during Egypt's Amarna period (circa 1353-1336 BC), this is the catalogue of an October 1996 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. During the reign of Amenhotep IV, also known as Akhenaten, Egyptian art saw a brief flowering of expressive, intimate images. This period is especially interesting because many well-preserved pieces exist, including portraits of Queen Nefertiti and her six daughters. The book traces the evolution of the elegant image of Nefertiti during the reign of Akhenaten, as well as the respresentations of her children, which are remarkable for their sensuous and youthful eroticism. Other depictions of royal women from the court at Armana include a delicately carved bust of a princess that shows a close affinity to works of art from the tomb of Tutankhamun. Many of the pieces came from the workshop of Tuthmose, sculptor to the king and one of the few artists of Ancient Egypt whose name is known.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Mistress of the House, Mistress of Heaven: Women in Ancient Egypt Review

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(More customer reviews)Ancient Egyptian art was the star attraction of the Mediterranean world for 3000 years, only for some of it to be transported to various museums across the world. This book examines those scenes in over 25 American museums as well as private collections which serve to shed light on the role of Ancient Egyptian women in their society. Objects such as mummy cases, coffins, statues and other sacred items also hold much information. The book contains essays by Egyptologists Janet H. Johnson, Catherine H. Roehrig and Betsy M. Bryan. A chronological index, map, beautiful photos, bibliography and index have also been included. It is an excellent book, recommended for all serious students and scholars to have in their private libraries.

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