Pharaoh: Life and Afterlife of a God

Kennett, David

ISBN 10: 0802795684 ISBN 13: 9780802795687

Publisher: Walker Childrens, 2008

Synopsis

In Ancient Egypt, the pharaoh is the supreme ruler and overseer of every aspect of life―a living god. From the moment of his coronation, he is busy with the construction of elaborate temples, the conquering of foreign lands, and the creation of beautiful jewelry and art, all of which are done to worship the great Egyptian gods and to expand the pharaoh's eternal legacy.
Yet Pharaoh is ever mindful of his eventual journey into the afterlife and his final transformation into a complete god. Through such funerary rites as embalming and organ removal, the pharaoh's soul will move on to paradise, while his body remains on earth in one of his ornately decorated temples.
Full of fascinating, little-known details about Ancient Egypt all brought to life by David Kennett's stunning graphic novel-style artwork, Pharaoh shines a jewel-toned light on the lives and afterlives of Seti I and Ramesses II―and the powerful civilizations they built.

About this title

About the Author

David Kennett has worked as a freelance artist, a designer, and an art director. His previous books include The Roman Army: The Legendary Soldiers Who Created an Empire and Olympia: Warrior Athletes of Ancient Greece. He lives in Glenside, Australia.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* There are many books about ancient Egypt, but this extraordinarily handsome one delves deeply into the various roles of the pharaoh, and, in the process, gives readers a much fuller understanding of Egyptian life. The book begins by introducing, Seti I, the living god and the father of Ramesses II. A brief history about the Old Kingdom melds into an explanation of the craftsmanship involved in building and decorating tombs, which flows naturally into a description of the beliefs and ceremonies surrounding death. In fact, one of the best things about this is the way the narrative moves simply and logically from topics such as flooding to farming and trading. But as fine as the text is, it more than meets its match in the masterful artwork. In a note, Kennett explains that the illustrations represent only about half the paintings he completed over three years, with inspiration coming from many sources, including photographs, film, and the works of other artists. An innovative design presents the art in a variety of ways. In one spread, readers are led inside a tomb. In another, a series of postage-stamp-size pictures (recreations of tomb paintings) take readers on a trip through the underworld. There’s much to see here, and children will want to look at the book again and again. A quality offering. Grades 4-7. --Ilene Cooper

Edition details

• Publisher: Walker Childrens
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0802795684
• ISBN 13: 9780802795687
• Binding: Library Binding
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 48
• Illustrator: Kennett David