AUTHOR LISTING

From School Library Journal: Quoting extensively from 19th-and 20th-century Egyptologists, as well as from available ancient sources, Nardo presents a great deal of information in a smooth narrative, accompanied by archival photographs and reproductions of artifacts, illustrations from the past century or so, and even scenes taken from films and documentaries.

From the book cover: From Abu Gurab to Zawiyet el-Aryan, Akhenaten to the X Group, the British Museum Dictionary of Ancient Egypt is a mine of information on all aspects of the ancient Egyptian world. How and why did the Egyptians go to such pains to preserve their dead ? What would the great temple complex at Karnak have looked like ? How did they brew their beer and furnish their houses ? What games did their children play ? More than six hundred extensively cross-referenced and comprehensively indexed entries provide clear explanations and descriptions of the major ideas, events and personalities that shaped four thousand years of civilization in the Nile valley, whilst entries on the archaeologists who revealed Egypt's legacy bring the story right up to date. Each entry is followed by a short bibliography to enable readers to pursue topics in greater detail. Lavishly illustrated throughout with photographs, line drawings, site plans and maps, [this dictionary] is an invaluable tool for every general reader, student and researcher.

Reviewed by Francesca: A much awaited book, this is the latest comprehensive study of Ancient Egyptian materials, offering essays on subjects such as stone, metals, faience, glass, papyrus, textiles, leather, ivory, wood, oil, resins and food, and covering from the Predynastic to the Ptolemaic periods. Every chapter, which includes extensive bibliographical references, was written either by an Egyptologist or by a specialist of the subject; contributors include Janine Bourriau, Rosalie David, Joann Fletcher, Nigel Hepper, Salima Ikram, Barry Kemp, Geoffrey Killen, Paul T. Nicholson, Stephen Quirke, Ian Shaw and John Tait. Fully illustrated, it also clearly explains the techniques used in the identification of materials. This is an excellent reference for every student and scholar of Egyptology.

Reviewed by Francesca: Ancient Egyptian faience is a marvel to look at, leading to the question of how they were made such a beauty. This book answers it brilliantly, and also details the history of the vitreous materials from the Predynastic onwards. Items made included amulets and large vessels: why were they made ? How was glass manufactured ? The perceived mysteries behind the Ancient Egyptian masterpieces are themselves explained in this masterful book. Required reading for laypeople and scholars.