Category:  Monuments, Temples & Tombs

Reviewed by Francesca: The title of this book is quite incomplete, since the book covers not only the Valley of the Kings but also the Valley of the Queens and the tombs of the nobles. The author provides individual descriptions of particular tombs from the afore mentioned sites, including those of Merneptah, Sethos I and Nefertari. Beautifully illustrated, this guide belongs in every student's library.

From AEB: A colourful and attractively presented book which includes some of the most beautiful Pharaonic treasures found to date, which belonged to the favourite consort of Ramesses II. Contextual information is added on the Valley of the Queens, the workmen's village at Deir el-Medineh and the ritualistic voyage to eternity as it is displayed in the royal tomb. The text concludes by describing the work of the Getty Conservation Institute, which undertook a programme of meticulous management and monitoring to preserve the fragile paintings.

This book was published on the occasion of an exhibition at the John Paul Getty Museum, in Malibu. Work on the tomb is described along with an explanation for the origins of the joint project of the Egyptian Antiquities Organization and the Getty Conservation Institute to rehabilitate the tomb, and the techniques employed in the rehabilitation itself.

Reviewed by Francesca: In this little book, the origins of Cairo as a city, its art, its architecture, its museums and monuments are presented. The history of the Fatimids, Mamluks and Ottomans is examined. Mosques, sabils, madrasas and the monuments of al-Ghuri, Khan al-Khalili, the citadel and the nilometer are discussed. Offering a bibliography, a chronological table, wonderful photographs, drawings and maps, this is a useful overview of ancient and modern Cairo; a practical guide for everyone.

From Amazon.com: This book is the first comprehensive technical publication on the work of the Theban Mapping Project in KV5. It includes detailed archaeological and architectural studies, epigraphic surveys, discussions of conversation work and extensive reports on the sites of geology, hydrology, mineralogy, and geotechnical engineering. 11 x 8 1/2, 90 line drawings, 90 halftone illustrations.

Reviewed by Massimo Bombana: This book is not meant for the experts, but addresses the general public interested in archaeology and Egyptology. It describes with autobiographical details the long and wide amount of work devoted to the discovery and excavation of KV5, the tomb in the Valley of Kings where some of the sons of Ramses II were buried. The different steps in the discovery are described, underlying the enormous problems encountered and the archaeological techniques that had to be used when excavating such a precious relic from the past. Even the smallest part of ceramic or tissue must be collected, studied and catalogued, because it can provide important hints about the history of the tomb and of the men buried there. Historical facts are put into perspective in one of the last chapters with a summary of the life history of Ramses II, of his sons and of the main known historical facts, including the famous battle of Qadesh. Through the entire book the author gives relevance also the human aspects involved in the archaeological work. Many pages are devoted to the relationship of friendship and co-operation established by the team with the local workers, whose personal life, opinions, and interests in the digging are put in foreground. The book ends in fact with such a remark, the toast for the birth of the daughter of one of the workers. That is why, after reading the last lines and closing the book, images of the sunny river bank of Nile remain in the memory of the reader, peopled by real Egyptians, not only of the past but also of the present.