Egypt.

Egypt. MIROSLAV VERNER. The pyramids: their archaeology and history (tr.Steven Rendall). xiii+495 pages, figures, 22 colour photographs. 2001.London: Atlantic; 1-903809-45-2 hardback 25 [pounds sterling]. MARTIN ISLER Sticks, stones and shadows: building the Egyptianpyramids, xiv+352 pages, 321 figures, 11 tables. 2001. Norman (OK):University of Oklahoma Press The University of Oklahoma Press is the publishing arm of the University of Oklahoma. It has been in operation for over seventy-five years, and was the first university press established in the American Southwest. ; 0-8061-3342-2 hardback $29.95. Think of Egypt and the chances are that you will think of pyramids.For more than half a century, I.E.S. Edwards' Pyramids of Egypt hasremained the principal publication in English on the subject, Thecomplete pyramids by Lehner being a rather different type of book.VERNER has at last provided scholars and laymen alike with a moreup-to-date alternative to Edwards. The material is presented in a clearway, with ample discussion of the background to these monuments.Unfortunately, the translation is a little stilted at times. There aremany good illustrations, although some of the colour plates aredisappointing. The lack of chapter headings in the running headers oneach page is rather annoying, as is the use of end-notes. It isrefreshing to find that VERNER includes in the final chapter adiscussion of pyramidology and related astronomical theories, subjectsgenerally avoided like the plague by Egyptologists. There is also aninteresting chapter discussing the possible methods of constructingpyramids, including a section of conclusions based on the work of theCzech mission who have been examining the pyramids at Abusir. The ruinedpyramid `Lepsius no. 24' at that site reveals much clear evidenceof its construction. However, VERNER's overall conclusion is thatthe methods used are still unclear and that it is likely that acombination of ramps and lifting devices was involved. The illustrationon p. 85 is drawn from the work of MARTIN ISLER, whose Sticks, stones,and shadows focuses on their construction. Like VERNER, ISLER includesan exposition about the development of the pyramid over time; unlike Thepyramids, the astronomical aspects of pyramids form the first chapter ofthis book. That ISLER's understanding of Egyptology is limitedbecomes clear when one is faced with juxtapositions such as that wherethe heading is `Predynastic cultures' and Figure 2.2(a) on the samepage shows a scene from a 19th Dynasty tomb at Deir el-Medina.Similarly, he reports briefly on experiments using sweet potatoes andbanana skins to reduce friction when moving stone blocks; here it wouldhave been wise to indicate that he was aware that neither means wouldhave been available to the ancient Egyptians This is a list of ancient Egyptian people who have articles on Wikipedia. AAhhotep, queen (17th dynasty) Ahmose, princess (17th dynasty) Ahmose, queen (18th dynasty) Ahmose, prince and high priest (18th dynasty) . Furthermore, the evidencecited for the use of wooden tracks is greatly undermined by the factthat the translation of the word for `track' is not at all certain.The strength of this book lies in the clarity of the descriptions ofpossible construction methods, ISLER being ultimately more certain aboutthe methods used than VERNER. MICHEL CHAUVEAU. Cleopatra: beyond the myth (tr. David Lorton).ix+104 pages, 8 figures. 2002. Ithaca (NY): Cornell University Cornell University,mainly at Ithaca, N.Y.; with land-grant, state, and private support; coeducational; chartered 1865, opened 1868. It was named for Ezra Cornell, who donated $500,000 and a tract of land. With the help of state senator Andrew D. Press;0-8014-3867-5 hardback. ERIK HORNUNG. The secret lore 1. Lore - Object-oriented language for knowledge representation. "Etude et Realisation d'un Language Objet: LORE", Y. Caseau, These, Paris-Sud, Nov 1987.2. Lore - CGE, Marcoussis, France. Set-based language E-mail: Christophe Dony of Egypt: its impact on the West (tr.David Lorton). viii.229 pages, 37 figures. Ithaca (NY): CornellUniversity Press; 0-8014-3847-0 hardback 19.95 [pounds sterling]. Two translations by D. Lorton are included here. The first, byCHAUVEAU, is an account of another ancient Egyptian staple, Cleopatra.This small book is a good read by a good scholar, and the translationreads so well that one frequently forgets the text was originallyFrench. There is plenty here for the non-specialist in Graeco-RomanEgypt. HORNUNG's secret lore is also enjoyable, dealing with whathe calls Egyptosophy, the notion that ancient Egypt Editing of this page by unregistered or newly registered users is currently disabled due to vandalism. is the source of allwisdom and that conventional Egyptology has misunderstood many aspectsof this culture. Here we are again faced with subjects usuallystrenuously avoided by Egyptologists; however, this is a book that theycould profitably read, if only because it is wise to have someunderstanding of a subject before arguing against it. HORNUNG'scareful work presents the theories and their background, such as theyare, together with current Egyptological understanding of the actualevidence. The translation is perhaps slightly less flowing than that ofthe previous book but it is nonetheless very readable. LIONEL CASSON. Everday life in ancient Egypt (2nd edition). xi+163pages, 10 figures. 2001. Baltimore (MD): Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins University,mainly at Baltimore, Md. Johns Hopkins in 1867 had a group of his associates incorporated as the trustees of a university and a hospital, endowing each with $3.5 million. Daniel C. Press;0-8018-6600-6 hardback, 0-8018-6601-4 paperback. The first edition of Everyday life appeared in 1975 and it has nowbeen revised and reprinted. Again, this is a very readable book withsome black & white illustrations, which presents the lay person witha clear picture of life in New Kingdom Egypt. The format, however, feelsrather dated, especially in comparison with Strouhal's Daily life,with which it must surely compete. The latter is a much larger volumeand will appeal to a different audience. CASSON's book is likely toappeal to those with a real interest in ancient Egypt who are lookingfor a short narrative account of life in the New Kingdom. ELIZABETH S. BOLMAN (ed.). Monastic visions: wall paintings in themonastery of St. Antony at the Red Sea. xxvii+307 pages, 287 figures.2002. New Haven New Haven,city (1990 pop. 130,474), New Haven co., S Conn., a port of entry where the Quinnipiac and other small rivers enter Long Island Sound; inc. 1784. Firearms and ammunition, clocks and watches, tools, rubber and paper products, and textiles are among the many (CT): Yale University Yale University,at New Haven, Conn.; coeducational. Chartered as a collegiate school for men in 1701 largely as a result of the efforts of James Pierpont, it opened at Killingworth (now Clinton) in 1702, moved (1707) to Saybrook (now Old Saybrook), and in 1716 was Press; 0-300-09224-5 hardback 45[pounds sterling]. Last, but by no means least, is the splendid Monastic visions.Beautifully illustrated throughout, it provides a description of thewall paintings in the monastery of St Antony and their conservation.Although already published, most recently in 1998, the inscriptions arenow more visible as result of the cleaning and so have been individuallytranscribed and translated, with commentary as appropriate (although forsome reason the Syriac is not dealt with). The sheer quality of thephotographs makes this book appealing and anyone with even a slightinterest in monasticism monasticism(mənăs`tĭsĭzəm, mō–), form of religious life, usually conducted in a community under a common rule. in Egypt will want a copy. The description ofthe conservation techniques used will also be of great interest toconservators. References EDWARDS, I.E.S. 1947. The pyramids of Egypt (1st edition). WestDrayton Coordinates: West Drayton is an area of West London in the London Borough of Hillingdon.By 1965, urban London had further expanded and almost all of the original area was incorporated into Greater London. : Penguin. LEHNER, M. 1997. The complete pyramids. London: Thames &Hudson. STROUHAL, E. 1992. Life in ancient Egypt. Cambridge: CambridgeUniversity Press Cambridge University Press (known colloquially as CUP) is a publisher given a Royal Charter by Henry VIII in 1534, and one of the two privileged presses (the other being Oxford University Press). . See too BRIANT in `Technology' and HASSAN in `Food',above, and ASTROM and WYKE in the next section.