Ancient Egypt. A Very Short Introduction

Ian Shaw

ISBN 10: 0192854194 / ISBN 13: 9780192854193

Published by Oxford University Press, 2004

About this Item

The ancient Egyptians are an enduring source of fascination - mummies and pyramids, curses and rituals have captured the imagination of generations. We all have a mental picture of ancient Egypt, but is it the right one? How much do we really know about this great civilization? In this absorbing introduction, Ian Shaw describes how our current ideas about Egypt are based not only on the thrilling discoveries made by early Egyptologists but also on fascinating new kinds of evidence produced by modern scientific and linguistic analyses. He also explores the changing influences on our responses to these finds, through such media as literature, cinema and contemporary art. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of ancient Egypt, from despotic pharaohs to dismembered bodies, and from hieroglyphs to animal-headed gods. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.; Vouwspoor voorkant.

Seller Inventory # 945675

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Ancient Egypt. A Very Short Introduction
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication Date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0192854194
• ISBN 13: 9780192854193
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: First Edition.
• Condition: Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • History: general

About this title

Synopsis

The ancient Egyptians are an enduring source of fascination--mummies and pyramids, curses and rituals have captured our imaginations for generations. We all have a mental picture of ancient Egypt, but is it the right one? How much do we really know about this once great civilization?

In this absorbing introduction, Ian Shaw, one of the foremost authorities on Ancient Egypt, describes how our current ideas about Egypt are based not only on the thrilling discoveries made by early Egyptologists but also on fascinating new kinds of evidence produced by modern scientific and linguistic analyses. He also explores the changing influences on our responses to these finds, by examining the impact of Egyptology on various aspects of popular culture such as literature, cinema, opera, and contemporary art. He considers all aspects of ancient Egyptian culture, from tombs and mummies to the discovery of artifacts and the decipherment of hieroglyphs, and from despotic pharaohs to animal-headed gods. From the general reader interested in Ancient Egypt, to students and teachers of ancient history and archaeology, to museum-goers, this Very Short Introduction will not disappoint.

About the Author

Ian Shaw is Lecturer in Egyptian Archaeology at the University of Liverpool. He is currently involved in fieldwork at the Gebel el-Asr gneiss quarrying region in Upper Egypt. His books include The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, Ancient Egyptian Materials and Technology, and Exploring Ancient Egypt.