Ancient Egypt: A beginner's guide
Architecture and arts & crafts
Websites
Pyramids: The inside story
www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pyramid/
You can wander through the chambers and passageways of the Great Pyramid,
and learn about the pharaohs for whom these monumental tombs were built.
You can also follow the 1997 field season of a team of archaeologists
as they excavated the bakery that fed the pyramid builders. Lots of great
illustrations.
Egyptian Royal Tombs of the New Kingdom
www.friesian.com/tombs.htm
Great article that starts off as a book review but then goes much
further, with many tomb diagrams.
The Virtual Egyptian Museum
www.virtual-egyptian-museum.org/About/Story/About.Story-FR.html
An online version of the Senusret Collection (locked in bank vaults) comprising hundreds of objects originating in ancient Egypt, which were gathered from European collections and brought to California.
Ancient Egyptian Furniture and Woodworking
www.geocities.com/gpkillen/
The history and development of ancient Egyptian furniture and the
materials, tools and techniques used by Egyptian carpenters. An interesting
site on an unusual subject.
Books
The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt by Richard H Wilkinson (Thames
& Hudson, 2000) £24.95
A comprehensive survey of all of Egypt's temples, from Luxor and Karnak
to those in the delta, oases and Nubia. It traces the processes of building
and decorating, how they functioned, and what happened when they were
robbed and desecrated. It also discusses the Egyptian pantheon, rites
and festivals.
The Art of Ancient Egypt by Gay Robins (Harvard University Press,
1997). Out of print; may be available from second-hand bookshops.
Historical, religious and social changes spanning 3,000 years are related
to changes in Egyptian art, and the significance of the image in Egyptian
belief and life is examined.
Symbol & Magic in Egyptian Art by Richard H Wilkinson (Thames
& Hudson, 1999) £9.95
There is scarcely an Egyptian temple, pyramid, obelisk, wall painting
or sculpture that does not possess some hidden meaning that can only be
understood by reference to the symbolic code used by the ancient Egyptians.
This book reveals the language of this code, including hieroglyphic signs,
colour symbolism, the magical meaning of numbers, gestures of the body,
the significance of size and shape and of location.
Ancient Egyptian Jewellery by Carol Andrews (British Museum Press,
1996) £18.99
This illustrated survey of ancient Egyptian jewellery draws on pieces
from the world's greatest collections, including those in Cairo, London,
New York and Munich, to examine the wealth, taste and craftsmanship of
the Egyptian kings and their people.
Sacred Luxuries: Fragrance, aromatherapy and cosmetics in ancient
Egypt by Lise Manniche (Opus, 1999) £24.95
Scented matter was highly valued throughout the history of Egypt, the
surviving ancient perfume flasks and jars bearing witness to the artistry
and skill of ancient craftsmen. This book, written by a professor of Egyptology
at the University of Copenhagen, documents the treasures and ancient arts
of pharaonic Egypt, with many of the underlying principles of past aromatherapy
techniques still striking a chord today.
