Exploring Ancient Egypt

This latest volume in Oxford University Press's Places in Time series covers the range and scope of ancient Egypt by examining 19 monumental remains. Among them are Hierakompolis, the earliest Egyptian city; the rock-tombs of Beni Hasan; the turquoise and copper mines of South Sinai; and the Valley of the Kings. Shaw, a lecturer in Egyptian archeology at the University of Liverpool and author of the Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, explores the history of each site and explains what archeological studies revealed about its ancient life and culture. For example, the chapter on Abydos, the""most sacred place of all,"" considers its role as the center of the cult of Osiris, documents its excavations back to the 1850s, offers a visual reconstruction of the original tombs, and gives a sidebar about the origins of Egyptian hieroglyphics. This handsomely illustrated volume makes an excellent gift for readers interested in ancient Egypt. Color photos and illus.