Category:  Monuments, Temples & Tombs

From AEB: This is a wonderfully illustrated history of a particular tomb; that of an 18th Dynasty official in Western Thebes. Nakht was a scribe and astronomer to Thutmose IV, and from the extraordinary richness of his tomb, it seems as if he must have served his master well. There are examples of all the usual features of a wealthy tomb in this book; shabtis, canopic jars, jewelry, papyri and stelae. All are beautifully illustrated in full color. On the elaborate mummy case is a perfectly-preserved painting of the rituals involved in mummification, while around the walls glow scenes of everyday life, from harvesting the wheat to the essential bath after a day's exertions. This gem-like book opens a unique window into the past.

From Library Journal: First published in Germany in 1982 and now in its fifth and first English-text printing, Hornung's study has been revised and updated with an annotated bibliography. It remains one of the most erudite yet accessible tours of the Egyptian royal tombs, a solid record of treasures now in peril from the depredations of tourists and the changing Nile valley climate. Not only does the distinguished Swiss Egyptologist make the tomb paintings real for readers by use of plans and 151 color plates, he also captures the panoply of ancient Egyptian belief and its impact on daily life by explicating the passages from the Books of the Dead which the paintings depict. Producing an English-text edition at this time is especially crucial; it cautions the world to pay heed to jewels it is about to lose. Intended for the lay public, it is also of interest to the scholar for its cogent discussion of ancient Egyptian thought.

Reviewed by Francesca: This wonderful book presents the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, the Tombs of the Nobles and the village of Deir Al Medina. The author discusses mortuary rituals and presents many pharaohs, including those buried in the Valley of the Kings (Ramesses IX, Tuthmosis, Ramesses III, Ramesses I, Sethos I, Ramesses VI, Amenophis II, and Tuthomosis III), the queens buried in the Valley of the Queens (Nefertari, Khaemwaset, Amun-her-Khepshef) and the nobles from tombs TT 52, TT 69, TT 55, TT 96, TT 1 and TT 359. With maps, drawings, a bibliography, a chronological table and more than 150 photographs, this is an extremely worthwhile guide for travelers.