When standing before an ancient tablet in a museum or visiting an Egyptian monument, we marvel at this unique writing and puzzle over its meaning. Now, with the help of Egyptologists Mark Collier and Bill Manley, museum-goers, tourists, and armchair travelers alike can gain a basic knowledge of the language and culture of ancient Egypt. Collier and Manley's novel approach is informed by years of experience teaching Egyptian hieroglyphs to non-specialists. Using attractive drawings of actual inscriptions displayed in the British Museum, they concentrate on the kind of hieroglyphs readers might encounter in other collections, especially funerary writings and tomb scenes. Each chapter introduces a new aspect of hieroglyphic script or Middle Egyptian grammar and encourages acquisition of reading skills with practical exercises. The texts offer insights into the daily experiences of their ancient authors and touch on topics ranging from pharaonic administration to family life to the Egyptian way of death. With this book as a guide, one can enjoy a whole new experience in understanding Egyptian art and artifacts around the world.

    In a brilliant piece of reverse engineering based on twenty years of research, Dunn reveals that the Great Pyramid of Giza was actually a large acoustical device! By its size and dimensions, this crystal edifice created a harmonic resonance with the Earth and converted Earth's vibrational energies to microwave radiation. The author shows how the pyramid's numerous chambers and passageways were positioned with the deliberate precision to maximize its acoustical qualities. This may be the same technology discovered by Nikola Tesla and the solution to our own clean energy needs.

    Weeks, an Egyptologist with the American University in Cairo, draws on his own diaries, as well as those of his wife and foreman, to describe the excitement and risks that surrounded the most significant archaeological discovery of our time: the burial site of the Son of Ramesses II.

    His provincial aristocratic family is accustomed to a life of straitened gentility. But when the prince decides to rebel they must risk all, even life itself, to restore Egyptians and their gods to glory. The Hippopotamus Marsh begins a trilogy that brings to vivid life the passions and intrigues that ushered in the great Eighteenth Dynasty.

    The astonishing writings in it reveal that the Ancient Egyptians believed in life after death and in an ultimate destiny to discover the Divine. The elegance and aesthetic beauty of the hieroglyphic text itself has inspired many see it as an art form in and of itself. But is there more to it than that? Did the Ancient Egyptian wisdom contain more than just aphorisms and hopes of eternal life beyond death? In this volume Dr. Muata Ashby, the author of over 25 books on Ancient Egyptian Yoga Philosophy has produced a new translation of the original texts which uncovers a mystical teaching underlying the sayings and rituals instituted by the Ancient Egyptian Sages and Saints. "Once the philosophy of Ancient Egypt is understood as a mystical tradition instead of as a religion or primitive mythology, it reveals its secrets which if practiced today will lead anyone to discover the glory of spiritual self-discovery. The Pert em Heru is in every way comparable to the Indian Upanishads or the Tibetan Book of the Dead."

    The seat of pharaohs and sultans, the prize of conquerors from Alexander to Saladin to Napoleon, Cairo--nicknamed "the Victorious"--has never ceased reinventing herself.With intimate knowlege, humor, and affection, Rodenbeck takes us on an insider's tour of the magnificent city: its backstreets and bazaars, its belly-dance theaters and hashish dens, its crowded slums and fashionable salons, its incomparably rich past and its challenging future. Cairo: The City Victorious is a unique blend of travel and history, an epic, resonant work that brings one of the world's great metropolises to life in all its dusty, chaotic beauty.

    Beneath the red cliffs of Botswanaland a magnificent unknown civilization has remained buried for millennia. But the magic of uncovering a lost culture is harshly interrupted by the violence of terrorists, love, intrigue and the breathtaking secrets of centuries.

    5000 B.C. to the early centuries A.D., the Nile Valley civilization was one of the earliest created by humankind. It remains one of the most fascinating and influential. This handy yet encyclopedic reference work offers a comprehensive overview of ancient Egyptian history, from Predynastic times to the Old and New Kingdoms to the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. Accessible, authoritative, and clearly organized, the Handbook to Life in Ancient Egypt affords an engaging look at a culture whose art, architecture, religion, and medicine came to form the basis of Western Civilization.The thematically arranged chapters allow readers easy access to several key topics, including historical background, geography, government, religion, funerary customs, architecture, literature, the military, the economy, and everyday life. Drawing on written sources dating from c. 3100 B.C. and such widespread archaeological evidence as monuments, artifacts, inscriptions, and preserved human remains, noted Egyptologist Rosalie David covers everything from the Sun Cult and the pyramids to the arrival and dispersal of Christianity. Her useful Handbook also features:* 112 maps, photographs, and original line drawings* suggestions for further reading at the conclusion of each chapter* a chronological table of over five millennia of Egyptian history* an appendix listing museums with Egyptian collections* a timely and extensive overall bibliography as well as a thorough indexCombining archaeological and historical sources, this Handbook provides all the essential data required by anyone interested in Egyptian history, archaeology, religion, or culture.

    It first examines burial rites and tomb development, from the Giza pyramids to the underground chambers in the Valley of the Kings and beyond. Great discoveries are described, from Belzoni's early explorations and the uncovering at Thebes of the royal burial caches to Tutankhamun's magnificent tomb and recent scientific detective-work using X-rays and CAT-scanners. The book then provides the most detailed survey ever of changing burial practices during the pharaonic era. Working from the mummy outwards, Ikram and Dodson reveal the evolution of methods for treating the body, wrapping it, adorning it and sheltering it. In so doing, they give for the first time a comprehensive account of the development of mummy masks, coffins, sarcophagi and canopic equipment. All the latest research is incorporated, some carried out by the authors themselves.

    But despite the multitude of objects and texts that have survived, questions abound, particularly about the true role of women in Egyptian society. This wonderfully illustrated, brilliantly researched book draws on unpublished material from author Zahi Hawass' own excavations as well as new analyses of older evidence to penetrate the silent images and paint an astonishing picture of women's lives.Hawass contrasts the stereotype -- inspired by such symbols of femininity as the queens Nefertiti and Nefertari -- with a more realistic view of the common woman's everyday involvement in matters ranging from family life to dress and adornment to the workplace and the legal system. Lavish photographs of places and objects, many made especially for this book, round out an enthralling, richly textured work.

    Following the chronological layout of the Museum, the book tours the collections held in each hall, with accompanying text by international Egyptologists. Highlights include the 4000-year-old jewels of a princess from Dahshur, shown for the first time to a non-specialist audience, the funerary treasure of Queen Ahhotep, the tombs of the kings and queens at Tanis on the Nile Delta, and statues from the Temple of AmenRe at Karnak.

    A dramatic series that captures, culture by culture, the information that never makes it into the history books: strange stories, mystic rites, angry gods, vision quests.

    Taking into account the full range of witnesses to continuing native piety--from papyri and saints' lives to archaeology and terracotta figurines--and drawing on anthropological studies of folk religion, David Frankfurter argues that the religion of Pharonic Egypt did not die out as early as has been supposed but was instead relegated from political centers to village and home, where it continued a vigorous existence for centuries.In analyzing the fate of the Egyptian oracle and of the priesthoods, the function of magical texts, and the dynamics of domestic cults, Frankfurter describes how an ancient culture maintained itself while also being transformed through influences such as Hellenism, Roman government, and Christian dominance. Recognizing the special characteristics of Egypt, which differentiated it from the other Mediterranean cultures that were undergoing simultaneous social and political changes, he departs from the traditional "decline of paganism/triumph of Christianity" model most often used to describe the Roman period. By revealing late Egyptian religion in its Egyptian historical context, he moves us away from scenarios of Christian triumph and shows us how long and how energetically pagan worship survived.

    This encourages you to reflect on the significance of Moses' life and to consider what we can learn from his story.

    The pyramids themselves were designed as great tombs for the early pharaohs, and every Egyptian wanted to be buried with enough equipment to help him or her in the next life.This book discusses in detail how a mummy was made, what kinds of rituals were carried out by priests, and how people [and animals] were buried. Simply written but authoritative, it provides an excellent introduction for the young enthusiast.

    It is a tale that encompasses universal themes of faith, heroism, deliverance and slavery.

    Now with dramatically intimate photographs Ondaatje brings new evidence and proof of the Nile's true source and the origins of mankind.

    These topics fascinate young people, and the style...makes them all the more engaging. Pictures are clear and plentiful and fill the pages....helpful and entertaining, even if you are unable to visit a museum.”—Book Page. “Conveys a wealth of historical and cultural information.”—Booklist.

    Each has a fold-out page of reusable stickers and detachable picture cards.Boys and girls learn about the pharaohs and the first of Egypt's pyramids, the great pyramid of Khufu, the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen the boy king, and much more.

    The belief in the magic and divine power of gold led the Egyptians to bury their dead among vast storehouses of treasures. Even after centuries of grave robbing, what remains is so overwhelming that Howard Carter, entering the tomb of Tutankhamen, and Pierre Monet, walking into that of the King of Tanis, could not believe their eyes. In addition to reproducing objects at those famous sites, the book showcases the huge caches of gold found in the pyramids of Meroe, in the grave of Cheops's mother, in Queen Ahotep's tomb, in the graves of princesses of the Middle Kingdom and Early Dynasties, in the Serapeum of Saqqara, and elsewhere. Hans Wolfgang Mller not only describes the excavations but also recounts the adventures of the archaeologists who made such momentous discoveries. Featuring hundreds of spectacular color photographs, Gold of the Pharaohs presents the widest range of ancient Egyptian gold objects and jewels ever assembled in a single volume. As well as depicting the most highly prized possessions of a long-vanished civilization in all their opulence, the book serves as a vivid introduction to the life and culture of ancient Egypt. Tracing the development of style and technique in the creation of gold masterpieces during three thousand years of Egyptian civilization, Mller discusses the function and symbolism of jewelry and the ways in which it was worn. He outlines the steps by which the ancients mined, refined, and transformed gold and precious stones into dazzling works of art. Mller tells of the monopoly over gold enjoyed by the Pharaoh (the "God of Gold") and describes the metal's integral role in Egyptian life and culture. Through his reading of the pic-tures and text on the walls of tombs and temples, Mller offers important insights into the making and uses of gold and jewelry. Among the book's other useful features are a pictorial list of common hieroglyphs and their meanings and a chronological table of the rulers of Egypt. Originally published in Germany in 1998, Gold of the Pharaohs is here available in an elegant and clear English-language version. Everyone who cares about the ancient Egyptians will want to own this magnificent tribute to their craftsmanship and culture.

    A discussion of aroma therapy, medicinal purposes, treatments, culinary purposes, exotic uses and other possibilities are presented.

    In Putting Islam to Work, Gregory Starrett focuses on the historical interplay of power and public culture, showing how these new forms of communication and a growing state interest in religious instruction have changed the way the Islamic tradition is reproduced.During the twentieth century new styles of religious education, based not on the recitation of sacred texts but on moral indoctrination, have been harnessed for use in economic, political, and social development programs. More recently they have become part of the Egyptian government's strategy for combating Islamist political opposition. But in the course of this struggle, the western-style educational techniques that were adopted to generate political stability have instead resulted in a rapid Islamization of public space, the undermining of traditional religious authority structures, and a crisis of political legitimacy. Using historical, textual, and ethnographic evidence, Gregory Starrett demonstrates that today's Islamic resurgence is rooted in new ways of thinking about Islam that are based in the market, the media, and the school.

    Ancient temples and ruins long-since demolished for their stones, or lost under the waters of Lake Nasser, were saved for posterity in these pioneering photographs. Historical events such as the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the aftermath of the British bombardment of Alexandria in 1882 are included, as well as orientalist portraits of dancing girls and musicians.The domes and minarets of the Cairo skyline present the image of a city not far from its Mamluke and Ottoman past. Even the pyramids are seen afresh when the figures before them are Arabs in traditional robes or European tourists in nineteenth-century dress. The daily life of Egypt is captured in pictures of officials, water-sellers, shopkeepers, town and country scenes, courtyard interiors and mosques.

    Along with the effects of structural adjustment on agriculture, marketing, and rural life, several chapters address the declining trend of rural Egyptians to emigrate. Other chapters examine changes in consumption patterns and health, various rural social processes and the 'new lands' being reclaimed in Egypt's desert areas, representations of the rural population in the media and in statistics, and their own changing self-image. What emerges is a picture of a rural Egypt that is full of life, dramatically evolving, and treading a delicate line between progress and impoverishment. Although nothing is typical of rural Egypt, these papers provide a revealing account of the struggles and rewards that characterize the Egyptian countryside today. Contributors: Mohamed Hassan Abdel Aal, Lila Abu-Lughod, Soraya Altorki, Kamran Asdar Ali, Kirsten Haugaard Bach, Ray Bush, Donald Cole, Nicholas Hopkins, Francois Ireton, Sohair Mehanna, Gnter Meyer, Timothy Mitchell, Mohamed M. Mohieddin, Detlef Mller-Mahn, Hans-Christian Korsholm Nielsen, Malak Rouchdy, Reem Saad, Hania Sholkamy, James Toth, Kirsten Westergaard, Peter Winch, Ahmed Zayed

    Animals seem to penetrate every aspect of their lives, both wild animals for hunting and domestic animals for food and companionship, and also into their religious lives. The basic purpose of this book is to familiarize the readers with the mammals that were depicted by the Egyptians and the roles of these animals in their lives. Other aspects of the text are the errors and discrepancies in depicting and naming animals by ancient artists, as well as by modern analysts. Summaries are given on present and past distribution of each species and notes on natural history. One chapter is devoted to the gods Anubis, Seth and other fabulous animals.

    Presented here is a full account of these extraordinary finds and of the exciting expeditions that led to their discovery. Located on the northwestern end of the Nile River Delta, Alexandria was the greatest of Hellenistic cities and was a major center of Jewish and Christian culture. Athens' equal and political rival to Rome, Alexandria awed ancient travelers with its wealth, size, and cultural prestige. But unlike Athens and Rome, practically no visible trace of this splendid city remains, and, despite over a hundred years of archaeological efforts, the results have generally been considered meager. Recent excavations, however, have yielded an unexpected wealth of information. Directed by the French archaeologist Jean-Yves Empereur and conducted with the most modern methods, these digs have greatly enriched our knowledge of the art and architecture of Alexandria and of the lives and living conditions of its inhabitants."