Book Description
Discover the wonders of ancient Egypt through a fascinating journal from a lost expedition — a treasure trove of fact and fantasy featuring a novelty element on every spread.


Who can resist the allure of ancient Egypt — and the thrill of uncovering mysteries that have lain hidden for thousands of years? Not the feisty Miss Emily Sands, who in 1926, four years after the discovery of King Tut's tomb, led an expedition up the Nile in search of the tomb of the god Osiris. Alas, Miss Sands and crew soon vanished into the desert, never to be seen again. But luckily, her keen observations live on in the form of a lovingly kept journal, full of drawings, photographs, booklets, foldout maps, postcards, and many other intriguing samples. Here are just a few of EGYPTOLOGY's special features:

— an extravagantly gilded cover, featuring a raised Horus hawk pendant with three encrusted gems
— a playable game of Senet — ancient Egyptian checkers — including board, pieces, original-style dice, and rules
— a souvenir booklet showing how to read simple hieroglyphs
— a scrap of textured "mummy cloth"
— a facsimile of the gilded mummy mask of King Tut
— a gilded eye-of-Horus amulet with a "jewel" at the end

Rich with information about life in ancient Egypt and peppered with Miss Sands's lively narration, EGYPTOLOGY concludes with a letter from the former Keeper of Antiquities at the British Museum, explaining which parts of this unique tale may be accepted as fact, which are guided by legend, and which reflect the author's delightful sense of fancy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (50)

A beautiful book
My sister loved this book. It is beautifully drawn, illustrated, and written. There are many wonderful pull outs and the budding archaeologist in our family loved it. :D

Great!
I had been looking at this book for about a year and was on the fence about buying it.The main reason was because it was 20-25 dollars everywhere.When I saw it for under 14 on Amazon I knew it was a bargain!It's wrapped up safe under my tree and I know my daughter will love it!

A book to treasure!!
I am a life-long Egyptology buff, and co-author of a novel, Secret of the Sands, that is set in Egypt and I was absolutely thrilled to receive this as a Christmas present one year. It has sat proudly showcased on my main bookshelf ever since. Not only is it a lovely book to look at, the design of its interior is like leafing through the personal notebook of an Egypt-traveller. Its fun design includes all kinds of interesting things to open & unravel. It is a book that children find fascinating, because of all the little hidden items they can discover, plus the book is packed full of great facts about Egypt. This book truly does do justice to Egypt and her magnificent and unrivaled history. My house is decorated throughout with Egyptian art and this book is a wonderful addition to my home. It is a keepsake I will treasure forever...

A great gift for the Egypt-buff in your family!!

Rai Aren, co-author of Secret of the Sands
www.secretofthesands.com

"A deep probing mystery riddled with prophecy and danger, Secret of the Sands uses Egypt and her mythology as a backdrop to delve into the meanings of life and religion."
-McNally Robinson

A stupid pop up book
What a waste of paper.I was very disappointed when my cohort recently purchased this book.She told me it was a pop up book for little kids, but I could see through the lies and deceit.Unlike my friend Maryanne I can see this book for what it really is....a cheap gimmick to exploit the middle class of America.As if we didn't have enough I-Spy books, pop-up books, and Dora the Explora books. Her kids did enjoy the book however, and even learned a bit of Egyptian culture.The ends do not justify the means.I would much rather have my child look up Egyptian history and culture for a fraction of the cost on the internet.Please save your money and invest it in a more productive manner.Children can learn from pop-up books, but poor quality books like these are not worth the money.

Egyptology is not a fantasy adventure
This book is very nice to explore (especially for children). However, as a professional, degree-holding Egyptologist myself, I find it insulting to place my work alongside Dragonology and Pirateology. Egyptology exists in the real world, and it is truly fascinating (which is why I have devoted my life to it). Too often, people ignore the realities of the field, preferring its fantastic versions. In my opinion, this hurts the perception of ancient Egypt as a whole.

That being said, this book is well-made and would be fun for children to explore. Buy your children this book to pique their interest in the field, and maybe eventually gear them towards more accurate representations of the Egyptian past. ... Read more

Book Description
Inside this indispensable and beautifully illustrated workbook is everything you need to know to become an esteemed Egyptologist.

As readers of the fascinating EGYPTOLOGY are all too aware, the feisty explorer Emily Sands mysteriously vanished on an expedition up the Nile in 1927. But in a remarkable turn of fortune for Miss Sands's many fans, detectives have uncovered a second volume penned in her own hand — a course book on ancient Egyptian history and culture intended for the voyager's beloved niece and nephew. Now available to budding Egyptologists everywhere, this comprehensive volume — illustrated by the same artists who lent their talents to EGYPTOLOGY — is brimming with facts on ancient Egyptian culture and history, followed by intriguing assignments and fill-in opportunities on everything from archaeological finds to theories on how the pyramids were built.

Among the book's delightful novelty elements are:

— An envelope containing Miss Emily Sands's Top Ten Things to See in Egypt
— Flaps to lift, revealing hidden treasure in desert sands
— A four-page foldout section full of stickers featuring treasures from King Tut's tomb and other ancient Egyptian artifacts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Fun trip to an ancient find
I purchased this book to help with research I'm doing on my next tween book that happens to deal with ancient Egypt.I found this book fun and interesting.Sure, it doesn't have true Egyptology stuff but is more geared toward a younger audience.

Very Nice
I enjoyed this book and am sure that my grandchildren will as well. I was surprised that it was smaller and less interactive then the companion book. "Egyptology, Search for the Tomb of Osiris" which everyone in my family loves. But this one is fun and full of understandable information.

Fantastic Book
My 10 year old daughter first checked this out of the library twice & still wanted to check it out again.
I logged on to Amazon & found it, bought it as a surprise & she looks at it & reads it at least weekly.

If you want a GREAT kids book on egyptology this is it!

Good companion to Egyptology.
There are more maps and flaps to explore. I thought it went very well together with "Egyptology" ... Read more

Book Description
Egyptology Today examines how modern scholars examine all aspects of ancient Egypt, one of the greatest of all ancient civilizations.In essays by a team of archaeologists, curators, scholars and conservators who are actively involved in research or applied aspects of Egyptology, this book looks at the techniques and methods that are used to increase our understanding of a distant culture that was as old to the Greeks and Romans as these cultures are to us. ... Read more

Book Description
The perfect hands-on gift for ’Ologists! Learn the keys to cracking secret codes — and use cool stationery to send missives to your friends.

If your aim is to master hieroglyphics, this ornate writing kit includes everything you’ll need. Inside are simple instructions as well as writing paper, envelopes, postcards, and sticker sheets, all in a handsomely designed slipcase.

Each kit contains:
- Code-making instructions
- 16 sheets of notepaper
- 16 envelopes
- 6 postcards
- 2 sheets of stickers ... Read more

Book Description
Conflicted Antiquities is a rich cultural history of European and Egyptian interest in ancient Egypt and its material culture, from the early nineteenth century until the mid-twentieth. Consulting the relevant Arabic archives, Elliott Colla demonstrates that the emergence of Egyptology—the study of ancient Egypt and its material legacy—was as consequential for modern Egyptians as it was for Europeans. The values and practices introduced by the new science of archaeology played a key role in the formation of a new colonial regime in Egypt. This fact was not lost on Egyptian nationalists, who challenged colonial archaeologists with the claim that they were the direct heirs of the Pharaohs, and therefore the rightful owners and administrators of ancient Egypt’s material remains. As this dispute developed, nationalists invented the political and expressive culture of “Pharaonism”—Egypt’s response to Europe’s Egyptomania. In the process, a significant body of modern, Pharaonist poetry, sculpture, architecture, and film was created by artists and authors who looked to the ancient past for inspiration.

Colla draws on medieval and modern Arabic poetry, novels, and travel accounts; British and French travel writing; the history of archaeology; and the history of European and Egyptian museums and exhibits. The struggle over the ownership of Pharaonic Egypt did not simply pit Egyptian nationalists against European colonial administrators. Egyptian elites found arguments about the appreciation and preservation of ancient objects useful for exerting new forms of control over rural populations and for mobilizing new political parties. Finally, just as the political and expressive culture of Pharaonism proved critical to the formation of new concepts of nationalist identity, it also fueled Islamist opposition to the Egyptian state. ... Read more

Product Description
The tomb of Tutankhamun (Tut.ankh.Amen), uncovered by the fifth Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter in November 1922, was the greatest archaeological find the world has ever seen. Though superficially plundered by thieves in antiquity, the burial remained intact, surrounded by a mass of funerary equipment arranged in three peripheral chambers. "The Tomb of Tut.ankh.Amen: The Burial Chamber" was originally published in 1927 as the second volume of Carter's trilogy. It records the work of the second and third seasons at the tomb: the opening of the four protective shrines; the discovery within of Tutankhamun's quartz-sandstone sarcophagus; the extraction of the king's three anthropoid coffins (the innermost of solid gold); and the final examination of the pharaoh's mummy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Tomb of Tut.Ankh.Amen: The Burial Chamber
If your a serious fan of King Tut and Egyptology, this book is a must.Part II of Howard Carter's three part series, it gives execellent detail on the excavation of the tomb and everything that goes on around it.It will give you a greater appreciation of just what went into the original discovery and it's preservation.Learn more about what we now take for granted. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Hyksos-Egypt's dark Age
Shire Egyptology books has put out a series of books on many aspects of Ancient Egypt. This book,THE HYKSOS PERIOD IN EGYPT is a very useful book for an amateur Egyptologist as there are very few books on this period of time. It is short, concise and full of beautiful illustrations. It is definitely on the must have list for those who love Egypt. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A Good Starting Point
A childhood fascination with things Egyptian has never left me, and my library is dotted with texts and picture books.It has occurred to me that, it would be fun if a bit of this enthusiasm leaked into my woodwork, but the truth is that Egyptian furniture grown fragile over time is poorly represented in collections, and information on the actual crafting and joinery is next to nonexistent.So when I saw Geoffrey Killen's little volume I picked it up.

Killen is about as thorough as it is possible to be on what is, unfortunately, a low budget publication.Sixty pages, mostly black and white illustrations and photos, this certainly isn't a picture book.But I do have a much clearer idea of how woodcraft was done a few millennia ago.I would have liked a bit more attention paid to Egyptian aesthetics.Looking at the boxes and chairs I have the feeling that the Egyptian sense of proportion is different from out Western tastes.

This lack isn't surprising.Nowhere does Killen pretend that this is a 'how to be an ancient Egyptian' book.It is a good start on the history of the subject, and provides a long list of museums where I can pursue more, and more colorful information.

great survey
This work is a good attempt to condense the topic of ancient Egyptian woodworking into a comprehensive whole.Hats off to Dr. Killian!

contains much detailed information on Egyptian furniture
This is a typical Shire book, in that its length is 64 pages but packed with interesting and informative details. This popularly focused volume deals with woodworking materials; woodworking techniques and fittings;Predynastic and Early Dynastic periods through to the Roman Period. Itgives a brief survey of collections in museums and provides a goodglossary. All in all, it is a good refresher course for scholars and anexcellent reference for beginners. ... Read more

Product Description
Peter Hodges rejects the long-held view that ramps were used to build the pyramids; his alternative is that it could all have been done with levers. This book explains how and why.

Contents: List of tables and maps; Foreword; 1. A new look at the pyramids; 2. Previous building theories; 3. Raising the stones at Giza; 4. The craftsmen and their skills; 5. Setting out a pyramid; 6. The anatomy of the pyramids; 7. Building stepped pyramids; 8. Building the Great Pyramid; 9. Casing the pyramids; 10 Further aspects; Appendix; Ramps; Levers; References; Index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A no nonsense look at pyramid building
I picked this one up on a recommendation from one of the more esoteric pyramid texts, a recommendation that noted the author's credentials behind his simple theory that human powered levers alone could be used to elevate even the largest stones found in Egyptian pyramids.

The text is not as comprehensive as I'd hoped.The third pyramid at Giza is barely explored, nor does the text address placing the large granite stones found in the "King's Chamber" and elsewhere.Nevertheless author Peter Hodges does a convincing job (and I needed to be convinced!) that indeed four guys and some jacks could muster the effort and, given enough time and teams, could construct these giant monuments.

As a bonus the book is full of diagrams and pictures demonstrating the author's ideas in many stages, all the way from table top model to lifting a car using his principles.I'm not sure this theory explains every bit of pyramid construction but it does a credible job in defending that portion of it far better than the often proposed ramps.(Ramp theories are effectively reduced to rubble both in the text and in additional material included by editor Julian Keable.)

Somewhat dated in language and tone, the material is still accessible and worthwhile for any seriously study of these magnificent human accomplishments. ... Read more

Product Description
For the ancient Egyptians, the Middle Kingdom (c. 2000-1700 BC) was a classical period of art, history and literature. The Twelfth Dynasty was one of the strongest ever to rule on the banks of the Nile: some of its kings were later worshipped as local gods, and were made famous by classical Greek authors. Yet Egyptologists tend not to look beyond the extraordinary royal sculpture and literary masterpieces of the time. Although the picture is fragmentary, as with any archaeological record, the last two hundred years of exploration and excavation have revealed much of the splendor of the period. This book examines the evidence for the culture, history and society of both central and provincial Egypt at the time, revealing the wealth of the entire country. Too often overshadowed by the better-preserved architecture of other periods, Middle Kingdom Egypt emerges for the reader as a fascinating age in its own right. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Middle Kingdom - Unappreciated Glory

Many books have been written about Ancient Egypt. However, most of them cover either the Old Kingdom - that is the Pyramid Age, or the New Kingdom- the great Pharoahs like Thutmose III, Hatshepsut, Amenhotep III, Akhnaton and Rameses the Great.
This book is a comprehensive history of this underappreciated period in Egyptian history - the 11, 12th&13th dynasties.
The book starts with brief, concise summaries of the reign of each of the Pharoahs of the period, such as Montuhotep, and Amenemhet and Senusret, as well as summaries of the mysterious 13th dynasty, which is usually completely ignored in the history books.
Then the book starts in the South of Egypt, and works its way north, region ( called Nomes in Egyptian history) by region, summarizing all of the remains that can be found in this region which date to the Middle Kingdom.
Then the books concludes with a section on Egyptian society, including material on the King and his court, and some of the towns like Lahun.
This is a comprehensive, welcome addition to an armchair Egyptologists library.

A detailed and scholarly textual analysis that paints a vivid picture of a noble nation-state's vibrant past
The Middle Kingdom of Ancient Egypt by Wolfram Grajetzki explores the era of the Middle Kingdom (2000-1700 BC), including its art, history, literature, the political achievements of the powerful Twelfth Dynasty, and the evidence modern archaeology has revealed about the culture, history, and society of provincial Egypt. A detailed and scholarly textual analysis that paints a vivid picture of a noble nation-state's vibrant past. ... Read more

Book Description
Using new genetic research and the material from excavations, 'Anubis to Cerberus' first examines the archaeological evidence for the origins of the dog and the process of domestication in prehistory. In historic times numerous tomb-paintings and artifacts from Egypt and the Middle East depict dogs hunting, herding, guarding and simply as pets. Dogs represented gods in Egypt, Mesopotamia and Greece, and their archaeological remains have been recovered in cult centers. These records show the development of specialized breeds during the first great civilizations. In the Graeco-Roman period a new dimension to the story is added: technical literature about rearing, training and special uses of the dog.

Lavishly illustrated, this book combines the latest scientific material with a cultural history to tell the developing story of the inter-relationship between man and dog from its origin in remote antiquity to that which we know today. It will be invaluable for archaeologists wishing to identify dogs and canid remains, for zoologists tracing the history of the species and fascinating for anyone who has a serious interest in the history of the dog and the origins of modern breeds. ... Read more

Book Description
On January 6, 1907 a mysterious tomb was uncovered in the Valley of the Kings by English archaeologist Edward R. Ayrton, digging on behalf of Theodore M. Davis. Initially identified as the burial of Amenophis III's queen, Tiye (Tîyi), on the basis of a spectacular gilded shrine which formed part of the burial equipment, the body itself was later recognized as that of a man buried in a coffin adapted for the use of an Amarna-period pharaoh. Was this the mummy of Akhenaten himself, as some at the time believed? Or the body of Akhenaten's mysterious co-regent, Smenkhkare? Almost a century later, Tomb 55 (as it is now generally known) continues to baffle archaeologist and Egyptologist alike. The Tomb of Queen Tîyi, which first appeared in 1910, was Davis's official account of the enigmatic Tomb 55 discovery, and remains a crucial source both for the Amarna period and for Valley of the Kings studies generally. It is here republished with Davis's equally fundamental The Tomb of Siphtah, which details the excavator's discoveries of 1905-7 - among them the extraordinary animal tombs and the Gold Tomb, one of the greatest caches of 19th Dynasty jewelry ever found. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

An excellent introduction
Whether you're an aspiring collector or a reader with an penchant for ancient Egyptian funerary art, this book fills an inexpensive much desired niche making a superb preliminary introduction before investing in the CD Rom accompanied publication, Glenn Janes, Shabtis a Private View, or more comprehensive difficult to obtain out of print volumes such as Hans D. Schneider's, Shabtis; (or Flinders Petrie, Shabtis; Aubert, J.F, Egyptiennes, chaouabtis, ouchebtis; Luis Manuel de Araujo, Estatuetas Funerarias Egipcias da XXI Dinastia; Percy E Newberry, etc etc).All these volumes are more than worth their weight however what makes this book so very surprising is it's diminutive size. At only 64 pages it contains useful information that years after purchase, I admit I still refer to.The background text is basic yet comprehensive. The chronology of shabti features according to material (wood, stone, faience, pottery, clay, glass, copper/bronze), form (daily dress, overseer, back pillar), headdress (duplex wig, seshed headband), equipment (hoes, pick & hoe, bags front, bag at back, bag over shoulder, yoke with pots, brick mould), and symbol, with accompanying illustrations are invaluable in dating, both for new collectors wanting to discern tourist souvenirs from genuine antiquities or those expanding their shabti collection into a different dynastic period.Of particular interest also are the variants on the shabti spell in hieroglyphs.

I'd give this book 4 stars when compared to the abovementioned publications however at 64 pages acknowledge it would be wholly unreasonable to compare a mammoth hi-tech lavishly illustrated volume with a condensed booklet and for it's size I'd be hard-pressed to conceive how any more information could be compressed into this small succinct Shire Publication without considerable loss to existing information or consistency.Yes there are better books out there and yes, this information is available elsewhere but not as a focused introduction, and not at this modest price.If you're intrigued by shabtis, worth noting is the Shire Publication by Paul T.Nicholson, Egyptian Faience & Glass, in this same series which makes an inexpensive, ideal complementary volume with regards the basic methods of manufacture.

The book every shabti owner should buy
Anyone considering buying shabtis needs to have some guidance due to the large amount of forgeries on the market. This book discussesmaterials and visual characteristics that can help place the dynastic period of the shabti. Unfortunately, this is far from a comprehensive book. It includes too many ilustrations, and too few actual pictures. I have seen many of the photos that the illustrations are drawn from so I can only assume reprint permission could not be obtained. This does hurt the overall quality of this book. This is however the best book I have read on the subject, so until there is a revision or a better book published, this is the shabti book to buy.

very informative and useful reference
This short book provides much information about the Egyptian shabtis,figurines created to act for the deceased in the afterlife. The authorexplains their manufacture in wood, stone, Egyptian faience and othermaterials; he also traces their evolution from the Middle Kingdom to thePtolemaic Period. Inscriptions and spells are briefly discussed. This is avery useful reference for students, Egyptologists and art historians.

An excellent refernce; a must-have for the collector
This book is a short but very comprehensive presentation of Egyptian ushabtis, and contains much information not readily found elsewhere. It discusses the nature and uses of the ushabti, their evolution from theirinitial appearances through to the end of the Ptolemaic Period.Perhapsthe most valuable section is a chart and discussion showing by dynasty theuse of the various materials used in making ushabtis, the form of dress,the headdress and equipment held by the ushabti.While most of theavailable ushabtis are from the Late Period, the chart will help date thosethat are not.For example, wood was generally not used after the 20thdynasty, while the back pillar was not introduced until about the 22nddynasty.The book contains a few photos, all of which are monochrome, anda number of sketches showing, for example, the different types ofheaddresses used for ushabtis.This book is highly recommended,particularly at its very modest price. ... Read more

Book Description
The pyramids at Gizeh and the tomb of Tutankhamun are two spectacular examples of the legendary energy that the Ancient Egyptians devoted to their tombs. Contrary to popular belief, this energy was not confined to the highest classes of society. This is the first book to use the tens of thousands of tombs excavated across Egypt to build up a broad picture of burial as practiced throughout society over the millennia, from 5000 BC to AD 200.

In the course of his investigation Wolfram Grajetski removes some popular misconceptions. Many imagine that there are few undisturbed tombs, but this is not the case. In addition to the richest finds, there are numerous other tombs which, lacking gold, never caught the attention of ancient robbers or, till now, that of modern readers. Many also argue that we can only know the richer classes in ancient society because the burials of ordinary farmers or poor people do not survive. As this book shows, this is not true of Ancient Egypt, where such graves are key sources for reconstructing burial customs and Egyptian culture as a whole. ... Read more

Book Description
This group of tombs was cleared by the Egyptian Antiquities Organisation in the early 1980s, but, with the exception of the tomb of Shepsipuptah which appeared although briefly in earlier publications, remained totally unpublished. The tombs provide interesting information on Teti's reign, with Shepsipuptah being married to the king's daughter, Mereri's tomb being reused by a woman called Merinebti and Hefi's tomb showing all the architectural and artistic features characteristic of the very beginning of the reign. All the tombs contained the skeletal remains of their owners. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

informative little book for everyone
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 Predynasticonwards. Items made included amulets and large vessels : Why were they made? How was glass manufactured ? The perceived mysteries behind the AncientEgyptian masterpieces are themselves explained in this masterful book.Required reading for laypeople and scholars.

Back to origins
This is a book full on knowledge, that tempts you into a thirst for more. You can almost feel the peices described and imagine the surroundings of ancient times. After reading the book I had a strong earge to go back tobasics' and follow the ancient ways with new enllightement. Many thanks toPaul. ... Read more