Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Egyptologist Wilkinson (A World Beneath the Sands) brings ancient Egypt to life with a detailed examination of 100 items from Tutankhamun's tomb. Timed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Howard Carter's excavation of the tomb, which ignited global interest in ancient Egyptian antiquities, art, architecture, and history, the book divides the objects into 10 categories covering life in the Nile Valley, including geography, monarchy, piety, and mortality. Ranging from the mundane to the extraordinary, the items include throw sticks, a weapon associated with ancient Libyans; a piece of jewelry made from natural silica glass found in Egypt's Western Desert; leather and beadwork sandals and shaving equipment; and a painted box depicting Tutankhamun hunting gazelles and fighting against the Syrians and the Nubians. The abundant resources of the rich Nile Valley are prominently displayed, as are exotic items imported from distant lands. Wilkinson's expert discussions touch on each item's significance to Tutankhamun and what they reveal about daily life in ancient Egypt. For example, a pair of ivory clappers--used to ward off evil spirits in birthing pavilions--highlights the dangers of childbirth for elite and ordinary Egyptians. Accentuated with black-and-white and color illustrations, this is an informative and immersive survey of the ancient world. Illus. (Nov.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Following a timeline and three maps, Egyptologist Wilkinson (Univ. of Cambridge; Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt; A World Beneath the Sands) gives a stirring introduction to Howard Carter's 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. From here, Wilkinson proceeds in topical chapters (geography, domesticity, mortality), using artifacts from the tomb to explore Egyptian life and culture. Faience vases show the importance of temple life; a linen glove decorated with feather patterns and with tabs for holding it to the wrist shows sophisticated design elements and attention to craftsmanship. VERDICT Some may wish all 100 objects were included among the color plates, but readers will glean an understanding of ancient Egyptian life, its influences, and its ongoing legacy.
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A fresh history of King Tut and his world, generously illustrated and lucidly written. The ancient Egyptian obsession with burying important people in elaborate tombs has rewarded archaeologists with more Egyptian artifacts than those found for all other ancient civilizations combined. British journalist Wilkinson, author of many books on this subject, including A World Beneath the Sands, builds this expert history on items recovered from Tutankhamun's tomb, which, only lightly looted, contained more than 5,000 well-preserved objects and drawings, making it "the greatest archaeological discovery of all time." Following tradition in the genre, the author includes a history of Egyptology, initially a sophisticated form of looting in which European antiquarians snapped up objects for their collections. By the 19th century, scholars had solidified the study of ancient Egypt, and the establishment of the Antiquities Service (by the British, who ruled Egypt) produced a steady stream of discoveries, capped by the bombshell of Howard Carter's 1922 opening of Tutankhamun's tomb. Wilkinson writes that the early rulers of the Nile Valley were the first humans to exercise authority over a geographically extensive state, beginning around 3000 B.C.E. The pharaonic government endured unchanged--though often challenged--for three millennia until Cleopatra surrendered to Rome in 31 B.C.E. It remains the longest-lived nation in history; as the author notes, "a greater span of time separated the Great Pyramid from Cleopatra than separates her from our own age." Even better, artifacts include innumerable written documents because papyrus preserves better than paper. Uniquely blessed with material, scholars have had no trouble filling multivolume tomes on ancient Egypt, but readers will have no regrets at the end of this one. Beginning not with "prehistoric" but "predynastic" people who settled in the river valley, he moves smoothly through the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms, inevitably emphasizing religion but not ignoring politics and war as well as the surprisingly well-documented daily lives of the people. The book includes 50 black-and-white photos and 16 pages of color. A well-written, beautifully produced piece of ancient history. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
