Ancient Egypt: The Great Discoveries
Most of what we know about ancient Egypt was learned from artifacts blasted out, dug up, meticulously researched, or otherwise retrieved from shadowed obscurity. That information has been presented in a variety of ways over the decades, usually focusing on a particular site, individual, or theme. Reeves (The Complete Tutankhamun, The Complete Valley of the Kings) reverses the approach, presenting a chronological look at the discoveries. Each chapter considers a different event. Some, like the discovery of the Rosetta Stone and of Tutankhamun's tomb, are spectacular. Others, from the Harris Papyri to Kufu's solar boats found buried beside the great pyramid, are less well remembered but still important for the critical information that they reveal. The stories behind the discoveries are as fascinating as the objects uncovered. In the end, Reeves presents a wonderful panorama of the history of Egyptology. Not since Barbara Mertz's Temples, Tombs and Hieroglyphs (1964. o.p.) has the history of Egyptology been so well reported. Unlike Mertz's highly entertaining but informal discussion, Reeves's sets out information on both Egyptologists and their discoveries in a very clear, understandable, and well-illustrated way. Not just a reference bookDalthough its extensive time lines, charts, bibliography, and notes will be very useful for quick reference or as a touchstone for researchDthis is also a delightful book to browse, sample, and return to. Highly recommended.DMary Morgan Smith, Northland P.L., Pittsburgh, PACopyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.