Description
Book SynopsisThe ancient Egyptian tomb evolved rapidly over a period of about 2,500 years, from a simple backfilled pit to an enormous stone pyramid with complex security arrangements. Much of this development was arguably driven by the ever-present threat of tomb robbery, which compelled tomb builders to introduce special architectural measures to prevent it. However, until now most scholarly Egyptological discussions of tomb security have tended to be brief and usually included only as part of a larger work, the topic instead being the subject of lurid speculation and fantasy in novels, the popular press, and cinema. In Securing Eternity, Reg Clark traces in detail the development of the Egyptian royal and private tombs from the Predynastic Period to the early Fourth Dynasty. In doing so, he demonstrates that many of the familiar architectural elements of the Egyptian tomb that we take for granted today in fact originated from security features to protect the tomb, rather than from monumental or religious considerations. Richly illustrated with more than 150 photographs and tomb plans, this unique study will be of interest to students, specialists, and general readers alike.
Trade ReviewThe author has assembled an impressive collection of material which reveals the incredible ingenuity and planning which the builders employed ... [This] will fascinate anyone interested in the thought processes of both those responsible for constructing early tombs. * Ancient Egypt *
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface Introduction Abbreviations and Conventions Maps 1. The Purpose and Context of the Egyptian Tomb and the Need for It to Be Secure 2. Securing the Early Tomb: Prehistory to the End of the Predynastic Period 3. Defending the Pit Tomb: From Egypt’s Unification to the Mid First Dynasty 4. Portals, Passages, and Portcullises: The Second Half of the First Dynasty 5. Subterranean Sepulchers: New Security Developments in the Second Dynasty 6. A Parting of the Ways: Step Pyramids and Mastabas in the Third Dynasty 7. Pyramids and Plug-Stones: Security Innovations in the Early Fourth Dynasty 8. Conclusion Chronology Notes Bibliography Index
