Description
Book SynopsisThe ancient Egyptians are an enduring source of fascination, from mummies and pyramids, to curses and rituals. In this second edition of his Very Short Introduction, Ian Shaw explores the history and culture of pharaonic Egypt, and examines the latest research on Ancient Egyptian ideas of death, kingship, religion, race, sex, and gender.
Trade ReviewThe author is on top of every aspect of their topics, and fully up to date... The entirely new chapter on the 'Arab Spring', new museums, and cultural heritage in modern Egypt is very welcome and thought provoking. * John Tait, Emeritus Professor of Egyptology, UCL *
Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements List of illustrations 1: Introduction: the story so far 2: Discovering and inventing: constructing ancient Egypt 3: History: building chronologies and writing histories 4: Writing: the origins and implications of hieroglyphs 5: Kingship: stereotyping and the 'oriental despot' 6: Identity: issues of ethnicity, race, and gender 7: Death: mummification, dismemberment, and the cult of Osiris 8: Religion: Egyptian gods and temples 9: Egyptomania: the recycling and reinventing of Egypt>'s icons and images 10: The 'Arab Spring', new museums, and cultural heritage in modern Egypt References Further reading Useful websites Glossary Timeline Index