Gold of the Pharaohs - Hardcover

Muller, Hans Wolfgang; Thiem, Eberhard

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0801437253 ISBN 13: 9780801437250

Publisher: Cornell University Press, 1999

Synopsis

The fire-and-ice shimmer of carnelian and turquoise in a falcon-shaped necklace, the obsidian gaze of a lapis-encrusted mummy mask, the sheen of pearls and amethyst in a princess's belt, and above all, the dazzling, liquid splendor of gold--representing the quintessence of godliness and encasing the divine Pharaoh's mummy to safeguard his immortality--all of these and more are to be found in the feast for the eyes that is Gold of the Pharaohs. The belief in the magic and divine power of gold led the Egyptians to bury their dead among vast storehouses of treasures. Even after centuries of grave robbing, what remains is so overwhelming that Howard Carter, entering the tomb of Tutankhamen, and Pierre Monet, walking into that of the King of Tanis, could not believe their eyes. In addition to reproducing objects at those famous sites, the book showcases the huge caches of gold found in the pyramids of Meroe, in the grave of Cheops's mother, in Queen Ahotep's tomb, in the graves of princesses of the Middle Kingdom and Early Dynasties, in the Serapeum of Saqqara, and elsewhere. Hans Wolfgang Mller not only describes the excavations but also recounts the adventures of the archaeologists who made such momentous discoveries. Featuring hundreds of spectacular color photographs, Gold of the Pharaohs presents the widest range of ancient Egyptian gold objects and jewels ever assembled in a single volume. As well as depicting the most highly prized possessions of a long-vanished civilization in all their opulence, the book serves as a vivid introduction to the life and culture of ancient Egypt. Tracing the development of style and technique in the creation of gold masterpieces during three thousand years of Egyptian civilization, Mller discusses the function and symbolism of jewelry and the ways in which it was worn. He outlines the steps by which the ancients mined, refined, and transformed gold and precious stones into dazzling works of art. Mller tells of the monopoly over gold enjoyed by the Pharaoh (the "God of Gold") and describes the metal's integral role in Egyptian life and culture. Through his reading of the pic-tures and text on the walls of tombs and temples, Mller offers important insights into the making and uses of gold and jewelry. Among the book's other useful features are a pictorial list of common hieroglyphs and their meanings and a chronological table of the rulers of Egypt. Originally published in Germany in 1998, Gold of the Pharaohs is here available in an elegant and clear English-language version. Everyone who cares about the ancient Egyptians will want to own this magnificent tribute to their craftsmanship and culture.

About this title

Language Notes:

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

From Library Journal:

Two unique new titles examine aspects of the culture of ancient Egypt. Paintings of people wearing incense cones on their wigs, sniffing flowers, and anointing just about anything; palettes for preparing cosmetics; and quantities of both romantic and religious literature all show the major role played by scent in Egyptian culture. Perfume was so important a part of ancient Egyptian life that it is remarkable that there are no other monographs on the subject. Noted author Manniche (Egyptology, Univ. of Copenhagen) studies the role of perfume and scent in Egyptian society as medicine, aphrodisiac, incense, and cosmetic. For the adventurous, Manniche even includes recipes from a variety of classical sources as well as Egyptian manuscripts. Recommended for large collections on the history of perfumes, aromatherapy, and folk medicine as well as general collections seeking scholarly but readable material on ancient Egyptian lifestyles. ~ Unlike other ancient civilizations, the Egyptians had large gold deposits within the boundaries of their lands. Esteemed late professor M?ller (Egyptology, Univ. of Munich) examines the place of gold in Egyptian life in all its aspects from mining to the creation of vessels and jewelry. Thiem's photographs are dramatic and sumptuous, exuding the sensuous quality of the artifacts; full- and double-page illustrations allow detailed examination of the workmanship for many items. Standard addenda such as a dynastic chronology are supplemented by an unusual but very helpful glossary of "Colored Stones and Their Sources" and a pictorial list of three dozen of the most common hieroglyphs. An excellent table of contents helps to make up for the regrettable lack of an index. Recommended for all libraries with an interest in Egyptian art history.
-Mary Morgan Smith, Northland P.L., Pittsburgh
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cornell University Press
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0801437253
• ISBN 13: 9780801437250
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256