The Traveller S Key To Ancient Egypt

Information to the art and architecture of the sacred sites of ancient Egypt and of items in the Cairo and Luxor museums also provides coverage of modern Egyptology

First published in 2008. This encyclopaedic work on ancient Egypt was specially commissioned by Thomas Cook for their Egyptian tours. Today, it is unrivalled as a reliable general source for those interested in any aspect of Egypt, including early excavations, the Nile, Egyptian writing, ancient buildings, cities and kings.

Ancient Egypt has gripped the popular imagination like no other country and the lure of its pyramids and the Nile are a magnet for visitors from all over the world. This book provides a concise and fascinating journey from the country’s earliest beginnings right up to the present day. A Traveller’s History of Egypt communicates the magic of the pharaohs alongside a level-headed discussion of Islam for the benefit of modern travellers. The book will span the entire history of Egypt, from the murkiest origins of prehistory right up to the latest developments – all in a style that is as entertaining as it is well-informed. There are few books on the country that attempt this feat, but to do so is perhaps more important today than it has ever been, at a time when an understanding of contemporary Egypt is not merely an advantage for travel there, but a necessity. It will make sense of the major controversies and guide the reader carefully where Egyptologists cannot agree – whether it is the dates of certain kings or the positioning of whole dynasties. A full chronology of major events, a cross-reference historical gazetteer, a list of pharaohs, rulers and presidents, a bibliography, index and historical maps, will add to its accessibility, and afford it the most useful elements of a reference book.

Excerpt from The Nile: Notes for Travellers in Egypt The short descriptions of the principal Egyptian monuments on each side of the Nile between Cairo and Khartflm, printed in the following pages, are not in any way intended to form a Guide to Egypt. They are drawn up for the use of those travellers who have a very few weeks to spend in Egypt, and who wish to carry away from that country some of the more important facts connected with the fast-perishing remains of one of the most interesting and ancient civilizations that has been developed on the face of the earth. The existing guide books are too full, and they contain too many details for such travellers. Experience has shown that the greater number of travellers in Egypt are more interested in the remains and civilization of the ancient Egyptians than in the history of Egypt under the rule of the Persians, Ptolemies, Romans, Arabs, and Turks. It is for this reason that no attempt has been made to describe, otherwise than in the briefest manner possible, its history under these foreign rulers, and only such facts connected with them as are absolutely necessary for a right understanding of its monuments have been inserted. In addition to such descriptions, a few chapters have been added on the history of the country during the rule of the Pharaohs, and on its people, and their buildings, their religion, and their methods of writing. The lists of hieroglyphic characters and their phonetic values, printed on pp. 133 - 139, will, it is hoped, be useful to those who may wish to spell out the royal names on tombs, and temples, and the commoner words which occur in the inscriptions. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

This unique approach to Egyptian mythology takes readers on a tour up the Nile, stopping at the most famous monuments and vividly retelling the myths connected to each site. Join Egyptologist Garry J. Shaw on an entertaining tour up the Nile, through a beautiful and fascinating landscape populated with a rich mythology: the stories of Horus, Isis, Osiris, and their enemies and allies in tales of vengeance, tragedy, and fantastic metamorphoses. Shaw retells these stories with his characteristic wit, and reconnects them to the temples and monuments that still stand today, offering a fresh look at the most visited sites of Egypt. The myths of ancient Egypt have survived in fragments of ancient hymns and paintings on the walls of tombs and temples, spells inked across coffins, and stories scrawled upon scrolls. Illustrations throughout bring to life the creation of the world and the nebulous netherworld; the complicated relationships between fickle gods, powerful magicians, and pharaohs; and eternal battles on a cosmic scale. Shaw’s evocative descriptions of the ancient ruins will transport readers to another landscape—including the magnificent sites of Dendera, Tell el-Amarna, Edfu, and Thebes. At each site, they will discover which gods or goddesses were worshipped there, as well as the myths and stories that formed the backdrop to the rituals and customs of everyday life. Each chapter ends with a potted history of the site, as well as tips for visiting the ruins today. Egyptian Mythology is the perfect companion to the myths of Egypt and the gods and goddesses that shaped its ancient landscape.

Beautifully designed, the book interweaves text with lavish colour illustrations, many being the exquisitely detailed drawings and paintings made by artists and travellers recording their journey. Here, on a scale unmatched by any other modern publication and including many unfamiliar images, are hieroglyphics, wall paintings and mummies, portraits of both the explorers and the Egyptian people and scenes highlighting the magnificence of the great temples and the pyramids. Cairo had seen European soldiers and merchants since the Middle Ages, but of the great achievements of the ancient Egyptians only the pyramids were known. Gradually over the next 300 years, travellers ventured further, but the most exciting discoveries were made by Napoleon and his soldiers whilst on a military campaign. It was then that the marvels of ancient Egyptian civilization were truly rediscovered. Napoleon’s scientists documented all the great monuments in the Nile Valley, transforming what had been a military defeat into an extraordinary cultural triumph that greatly influenced European art, architecture and culture.