The Private Lives of the Pharaohs (Paperback)

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Review
A very concise, informative addition to the discipline of Egyptology that will be welcomed by both professional and amateur alike. Tyldesley skilfully condenses the presently understood history of the Pharaohs into a fluent narrative which relies on scientific evaluation and discoveries. She goes further to describe the lives of the pyramid and mausoleum construction workers and their families with material gleaned from the same sources. The logic of engineering techniques are placed within a believable, logical context together with the social complexities involved in employing thousands of workers. The reader is taken from these vast building sites to an appreciation of the terrible damage and theft to their fabric, the deceased and their possessions. This has occurred on the grand scale over several millennia and is still prevalent. No doubt pharaohs were responsible for saving their mummified ancestors from grave robbers by moving them en masse to safer sites, but this sits uneasily with recycling their valuables, the grave goods necessary for their comfort. It indicates a cynicism at odds with their professed religious beliefs. Tyldesley makes no comment on this but describing the scientific analysis of Asru, a Temple chantress of the Middle Period, remarks on the idealized illustrations of a pristine, beautiful life on tomb walls in comparison with the evidence of excruciating diseases and parasites found in the vocalist's mummified remains. It is clear what litte we know of the ancient Egyptians is less than half the story. The exquisite photographic plates included are a joy and the text a very superior accompaniment to the television production. (Kirkus UK)

Product Description
Ancient Egypt, land of the pharaohs, bore witness to the rise and fall of the world's greatest civilization. A combination of evidence ranging from the pyramids and rock-cut tombs to papyri and human tissue, now offers modern investigators the chance to reconstruct the lost lives of those who once lived and died along the Nile. Egyptologists read the hieroglyphics, while archeologists recover the material remains of the past, now though, thanks to advances in scientific analytical techniques, it is possible to analyze the mummified bodies of the Egyptians themselves. This work traces three major scientific investigations as they reconsider some of the oldest and most puzzling questions in Egyptology: Who built the Great Pyramid of Giza?; How did they do it?, And why? Evidence from pyramid workers' village and associated cemetry helps to dispel some of the myths perpetuated in fiction and Hollywood movies. Why did the 18th Dynasty die out?; Who was Tutankhamen? DNA analysis and the re-examination of a nameless skeleton help to determine the sequence of events at the end of this turbulent era. Scientific techniques are also used to examine the remains of a female temple singer, and to find traces of a substance made from the blue lotus frequently depicted on tomb walls. These investigations allow egyptologists and others to draw conclusions concerning previously hidden aspects of life and health at the very end of the New kingdom.

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2 Reviews 5 star:    (0) 4 star:  (2) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   6 of 6 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent pragmatic narrative, 25 Jun 2001 By  Dione M. Coumbe - See all my reviews This review is from: Private Lives of the Pharaohs: Unlocking the Secrets of Egyptian Royalty (Hardcover) A very concise, informative addition to the discipline of Egyptology which will be welcomed by both professional and amateur alike. Tyldesley skilfully condenses the presently understood history of the Pharaohs into a fluent narrative which relies on scientific evaluation and discoveries. She goes further to describe the lives of the pyramid and mausoleum construction workers and their families with material gleaned from the same sources. The logic of engineering techniques are placed within a believable, logical context together with the social complexities involved in employing thousands of workers. The reader is taken from these vast building sites to an appreciation of the terrible damage and theft to their fabric, the deceased and their possessions. This has occurred on the grand scale over several millennia and is still prevalent. The author rarely lapses into speculation but when doing so, avoids the consequences. No doubt pharaohs were responsible for saving their mummified ancestors from grave robbers by moving them en masse to safer sites, but this sits uneasily with recycling their valuables, the grave goods necessary for their comfort, through the Royal Treasury. It indicates a cynicism at odds with their professed religious beliefs. Tyldesley makes no comment on this but describing the scientific analysis of Asru, a Temple chantress of the Middle Period, remarks on the idealised illustrations of a pristine, beautiful life on tomb walls in comparison with the evidence of excruciating diseases and parasites found in the vocalist's mummified remains. It is clear what little we know of the ancient Egyptians is less than half the story. The exquisite photographic plates included are a joy and the text a very superior accompaniment to the frequently tiresomely presented television production. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   4 of 5 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting and entralling, 16 Feb 2001 By A Customer This review is from: The Private Lives of the Pharaohs (Hardcover) THis book is perfect for anyone interested in Egyptology. It takes you through the pyramids, the 18th dynasty and the blue lotus flower which was thought to have magical powers. I found the section on the 18th dynasty very interesting. It mainly tells of Akhenaten and Tutankhamen who were the last two Pharoahs of the 18th dynasty. It coveres the concept of inbreeding which was thought why that dynasty died out with Tutankhamen. Just more recently the tombs of the pryamid builders were found and it goes on to explain that the builder were not slaves at all. I found this very easy to read and would recommend it to anyone. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 2 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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