This absorbing reference covers everyday life in ancient Egypt, spanning a period of more than 5,000 years—from the Stone Age to the advent of Christianity.
The mysteries surrounding ancient Egypt continue to pique interest and prompt study thousands of years later. Intriguing questions—such as "Why were certain Egyptians mummified after death, while others were not?", "How were the pyramids constructed?", and "Were sexuality and courtship accurately portrayed in movies about the period?"—incite curiosity and inspire the imagination in the modern world. This comprehensive encyclopedia addresses these questions and more, revealing fascinating facts about all aspects of daily life in ancient Egypt.
Starting with the beginning of the First Dynasty to the death of Cleopatra, this compendium explores the family life, politics, religion, and culture of the Nile Valley from Aswan to the Delta, as well as the peripheral areas of Nubia, the Oases, the Sinai, and the southern Levant. Each topical section opens with an introductory essay, followed by A–Z entries on such topics as food, fashion, housing, politics, and community. The book features a timeline of events, an extensive bibliography of print and digital resources, and numerous photographs and illustrations throughout.
Table of Contents:
Preface xv
Acknowledgments xix
Introduction xxi
Chronology of Ancient Egyptian Dynasties and Key Events xxvii
VOLUME 1
Arts 1
Introduction 1
Architecture 2
Basketry 5
Cult Temples 7
Domestic Architecture 11
Faience and Glass 15
Funerary Architecture 18
Great Sphinx 21
Jewelry 24
Metals and Alloys 27
Mortuary Temples 30
Organic Materials, Working of: Ivory, Shells, Leather, Feathers, Amber 32
Painting and Pigments 34
Palaces 36
Papyrus 39
Pottery 41
Pyramids 44
Sculpture and Stone Carving 47
Statuary 50
Stone Vessels 55
Textiles and Weaving 57
Tomb Painting 59
Woodworking 62
Writing and Literature 65
Economics and Work 69
Introduction 69
Army 70
Currency 73
Deir el-Medina 76
Education 79
Farmers 81
Great Harris Papyrus 83
Land and Water Management 85
Mining and Quarrying 86
Pastoralism 89
Police 91
Priesthood 92
Royal Estates 95
Royal Treasury 97
"The Satire on the Trades," 99
Scribes 100
Slaves and Servants 103
Surveying 105
Taxes and Taxation 107
Trade Routes and International Exchange 108
"The Report of Wenamun," 111
Women's Occupations 113
Family and Gender 117
Introduction 117
Adoption 118
Ancestor Worship 120
Beautiful Feast of the Valley 123
Childbirth 125
Coming of Age 127
Courtship 128
Divorce and Remarriage 130
Family Structure 131
Incest 133
Infancy and Childhood 135
Kinship and Genealogy 138
Marriage 140
Nurses and Tutors 143
Old Age 144
Personal Names 146
Pets 148
Pregnancy and Fertility 151
Sexuality 153
Social Structure 155
"The Tale of the Two Brothers," 158
Wives and Husbands 160
Fashion and Appearance 163
Introduction 163
Amulets 164
Clothing 167
Cosmetics 169
Footwear 172
Foreign Costume 173
Hygiene 176
Laundry 177
Mirrors 178
Ornaments and Jewelry 180
Priestly Costume 183
Royal Costume 184
Scarabs and Seals 187
Shaving and Care of the Body 189
Status Symbols 191
Tattoos 193
Weapons and Armor 194
Wigs and Hair 198
Food and Drink 203
Introduction 203
Agriculture 204
Animal Husbandry 206
Beer 209
Bread 212
Cooking and Food Preparation 215
Diet 217
Dining and Drinking 220
Drinking Festivals 223
Fishing 225
Food Containers 228
Food Offerings 231
Food Storage 234
Horticulture 237
Hunting and Fowling 239
Rations 241
Water and Nonalcoholic Beverages 243
Wine 245
Housing and Community 249
Introduction 249
Administrative and Support Buildings 250
Alexandria 253
Elephantine 256
House and Home 258
Memphis 262
Mining Encampments 264
Nomes 266
Nubian Forts and Fortified Settlements 267
Palaces 270
Priestly Communities 275
Royal Cities 277
Rural Life and Farming Communities 279
Sanitation 282
Tanis 284
Tell el-Amarna 285
Thebes 288
Towns and Cities 290
Workmen's Villages 294
VOLUME 2
Politics and Warfare
Introduction
Ahmose, Son of Ebana
Army and Warfare
Colonialism
Harem Conspiracies
Horses and Chariots
Hyksos
International Relations
Justice and Punishment
Kadesh, Battle of
Kamose Stelae
Navy
Nomarchs
Persian Empire and Egypt
Pharaoh
Royal Administration
Royal Harem
Temple Administration
Tomb Robbery
Viceroy of Kush
Viziers
Weapons of War
Recreation and Social Customs
Introduction
Coming of Age
Corvée Labor
Dance
Etiquette
Holidays and Festivals
Jubilee Festival
Migration
Music
Phyles
Pilgrimage
Sports and Games
Theater
Religion and Beliefs
Introduction
Amarna Heresy
Animal Mummies
Canopic Equipment
Coffins and Sarcophagi
Cosmology
Funerary Figurines and Shabtis
Funerary Furniture
Funerary Literature
Funerary Ritual
Gods and Goddesses
Magic
Mummification
Oracles
Philosophy
Popular Religion
Sacred Spaces
Temple Ritual
Tomb Cults
Votive Gifts
Science and Technology
Introduction
Astronomy
Ceramic Technology
Construction Management
Faience and Vitreous Material Production Techniques
Geography
Glass Manufacture
Ironworking
Irrigation
Khufu Boat
Mathematics
Measurement
Medicine
Mining and Metallurgy: Gold, Silver, and Copper
Obelisks, Engineering of
Shipbuilding and Sailing
Smelting and Refining: Copper and Bronze
Primary Documents
Arts
Excerpt from The Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor
The Contendings of Horus and Seth: The Battle between Good and Evil
Sacred Architecture: An Inscription from the Stela of Amenhotep III from His Mortuary Temple in Western Thebes
Economics and Work
The Hekanakhte Letters
"The Report of Wenamun,"
The Great Harris Papyrus
"The Satire on the Trades,"
Family and Gender
Fatherly Advice in the Papyrus Insinger
Household Hints: The Instruction of Any from Papyrus Boulaq 4
Love Songs
A Spell for the Protection of a Child
A Marriage Contract
The Tale of the Two Brothers
A Letter to the Dead
A Forbidden Encounter: The Tale of General Sasenet and King Pepi II
Fashion and Appearance
"A Hymn to the Red Crown,"
Food and Drink
The Dangers of Drinking
Provisions for a Feast
An Offering List
Housing and Community
How You Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm?
A Royal Palace
The Lay of the Land
Politics and Warfare
The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant
Armageddon
Propaganda War
The Israel Stela
Empire Builder
A Trusted Official
A Soldier's Life for Me
From Father to Son
A Letter to the Vizier
Recreation and Social Customs
Footloose Pharaoh
This Sporting Life
Religion and Beliefs
Set in Stone
Let the Sun Shine In
It's Magic
Making a Mummy
Judgment Day
Stairway to Heaven
To Be or Not to Be
Science and Technology
A Cure for What Ails You
By the Numbers
Crop Failure
Get the Point
A Star in the Sky
Appendix 1: Nomes of Ancient Egypt
Appendix 2: An Outline of the History of Archaeology in Egypt
Appendix 3: Major Museum Collections of Ancient Egyptian Art
Appendix 4: Egyptian King List
Glossary
Selected Bibliography
Index
About the Author :
Peter Lacovara, PhD, is director of the Ancient Egyptian Heritage and Archaeology Fund.
Review :
Aimed at students as well as general readers, this is a sound addition to most general collections.
Summing Up: Recommended. High school through undergraduate students; general readers.
