The Nile: A Journey Downriver Through Egypt’s Past and Present, by Toby Wilkinson
Wilkinson managed to address Egyptian history, culture, geography, religion, archaeology, and significant figures, all while making the reader feel like they were simply taking a pleasure sail down the Nile. The structure of focusing on a region or city and delving into the history it contains is genius, taking away any sense of being overwhelmed with information. Plus, Wilkinson’s obvious love for this country along one of the world’s most famous rivers shows through, so that the reader can’t help but be interested. A great way to start my “Everything Egypt” year; I found many more topics to explore while reading this book. Recommended to anyone interested in ancient history, the Middle East in general, or religious practices.
I’ve never had a huge desire to travel to Egypt—Europe is more my dream vacation—but now, I want to see everything that Egypt holds in its ancient heart. What a strange land, where Upper Egypt is lower on the map, and downriver means moving north. Geographically, I felt like I was in a vortex for awhile, took some time to orient myself to the locations. But the history is no less rich, strange, and engaging. The deeply engrained traditions, surviving so many governments; the masterful architecture; and the Nile itself, giving life to a desert.
The Message of the Sphinx: A Quest for the Hidden Legacy of Mankind, by Graham Hancock
4.5 stars, though probably not such a rating for a casual reader. That rating is assuming an interest in ancient history, astronomy, great monuments, or Egypt itself. For one interested in these topics, this book has it all! The authors persuasively argue the importance of the connection between the stars and the Egyptian worldview, where the connection between the two is the Giza necropolis.
There is a lot about the Great Pyramid, probably more, overall, than about the Sphinx, so if you were looking for a book specifically about the Sphinx, this may prove to be a disappointment. The Sphinx’s place in the necropolis and in the placement of the duality of sky and earth is clearly delineated, but more time is spent on the pyramids.
Examining Egyptian history without acknowledging the deep reverence for and knowledge of the skies will be sadly incomplete, the authors propose (and I accept). Not only is the mathematical precision and astronomical alignment of the structures in Giza somewhat well known and impressive in its own right, but delving deeper into the details of the structure reveals a level of insight into the stars and the Egyptian deep past that cannot be ignored. Too many pieces come together to reveal Egyptian values. Nothing in the buildings is done without astrological intentionality. Their alignment with constellations annually and cyclically throughout the earth’s travels through space is evident, even more so the more factors one considers. Essentially, everything is rooted in a duality of thought, connecting skies and earth–and earthly events. The goal of sending a Horus-king to his heavenly kingdom is of primary importance to the Egyptians, and the monuments contain all the clues regarding how that is to be done.
At the end of the day, all the clues reveal four main ideas:
1) The ancient Egyptians are probably more ancient than we realize, with much more background, culture, and knowledge than has been assumed.
2) The Egyptians look back to a “Golden Age” portrayed in the stars about 12,000 years ago, where something was set in motion. Lesser events in Egyptian history stem from this golden age, and branches off of this main event.
3) While the authors hint at the fact that the Egyptian monuments may be “devices” that “trigger” or “control” history (in conjunction with the stars), what if, instead, the ancient Egyptians (or the “Followers of Horus”) knew the realities of how history would play out, saw those realities in the skies, and attempted to point others toward those realities with clues through their monuments? What if all of their religious and political practices were intended, in the beginning, to direct people toward a deep reality unfolding around them?
4) When examining a culture’s legends and mythology, it is OK not to accept the events as historical (though they do not necessarily need to be entirely rejected as historical, either, in my opinion), but they do need to be acknowledged as a way a culture thinks about reality, a clue to their worldview.
Archaeology from Space: How the Future Shapes Our Past, by Sarah Parcak
3.75 stars. I loved the way this book started out but enjoyed less the more political direction of the ending. Parcak still made some great points in that, but just not what I was interested in when I selected the book. Recommended to anyone considering archaeology as a field–Parcak really gives an excellent overview of the day-to-day process and grind of the profession, as well as the romantic and exciting parts that keep archaeologists coming back. Also recommended for those interested in Egyptian history, as a good portion of the book focuses on work done in that region.
I most appreciated Parcak’s intellectual humility. Don’t get me wrong, she is extremely qualified and confident in what she does. But she recognizes that what she does (and really what many scientific professional do) is a process which allows for information to be modified and overturned as the study progresses. For Parcak, that is part of the wonder of archaeology, and she enjoys the collaboration that helps to refine the ideas and the processes. Quite refreshing. I wish more scholars were that honest and courageous.
The tone of the writing was engaging, accessible, with a natural sense of humor, and very like the author’s own voice. I can tell she would be an amazing teacher.
The first third of the book talks about the satellite technology, its capabilities, and how archaeologists apply it to help narrow their field and have more precise and successful dig seasons. Very cool, as are the accounts of “a day in the life on a dig site,” which for the author took her to many points on the globe, which she was able to relate to the reader.
The middle third of the book connected a particular site she found on satellite in Egypt with the conclusions that were drawn from the digs there. This is the portion of the book that is heavy on Egyptian history. If you’re not studying that for fun like I happen to be this year, you may not find this section interesting, but I did, and so would any general history buff.
The last third is more of the author’s soapbox about the need for diversity in collaboration, particularly diversity united against site looting. Like I said, I enjoyed this section the least, but I can see how it would be so important to the author, and I agree with many of her conclusions. It is easy to see how she won the TED award in 2017; her cultivated love for archaeology and ultimately people and their pasts resonates from the pages. Very young Indiana Jones seeing the men loot the cross of Coronado and saying, “That is a priceless artifact, and it belongs in a museum.” Like Indy, I fully believe that Parcak will spend all her life seeking to right the wrongs done to antiquities. Fedora duly tipped.
Egypt: People, gods, Pharoahs, by Rose-Marie Hagen, Rainer Hagen
3.5 stars—3 for the history, 4-5 for the photography. Even my seven-year-old flipped through the pages, staring at the pictures in wonder. That, truly, is the treasure of this book—recording the preserved visual snippets of the Egyptian world. Stunning wall paintings, sculptures, and daily artifacts fill the pages and accompany the narrative. In this way, the book makes an excellent coffee table type book, in addition to being of interest to those who enjoy what Egypt made and how the ancient civilization lived.
The history is blasé and mainstream, with very little original insight to contribute. The attempts to connect the religion of ancient Egypt with Christianity, however, resulted in a laughable conclusion that the author knows very little about Christianity and even less about Egyptian religion. Honestly, the whole accepted narrative of Egyptology leaves a lot to be desired, in my mind. The more I learn about Egypt, the more I learn how truly little we do know. So many conjectures have had to be made, but they’ve been said so often that it is just not questioned anymore.
Parting the Desert: The Creation of the Suez Canal, by Zachary Karabell
A mediocre rating here has nothing to do with the achievement of the Suez Canal or the men who made it happen. That was a sheer force of will and an engineering, political triumph. The telling of the Canal, though, included too much backstory and not enough on the actual building, for my taste. However, if you are looking for a story of leadership where compromise, patience, and grit come together, Ferdinand Lessep is your man.
My hope was to read about the building process of this canal, with the impact on Egypt at the forefront. This book covered the way-back story of every detail. For instance, Napoleon III was emperor in France while the canal was built, so his backstory began with the birth of Napoleon I. Really the relevant detail was the fact that France fell in love with Egypt because of Napoleon’s campaign. Also, some of the main components of the story got repetitive—all right, the venture almost failed and Lessep kept it going just because he wanted to; all right, they ran out of money and did the same things to get more, etc.
The ultimate Egyptian dependence on Europe was both heartbreaking and courageous, as they sought to actively take their place among world powers again, just lacking the capital to do so. They sought to gain from partnerships but wound up being financially governed by the West. Perhaps that is the way in which East and West were truly united in this project, rather than through waters.
African Cosmos, by Christine M. Kreamer
My hope was to get a sense of how, culturally, African people groups incorporated astronomy/astrology into their worldview, how the stars shaped their culture. To some extent this was present, but a lot was said about the rituals themselves, leaving the astronomy behind them to a minimum. Honestly, this is a really cool coffee table book and a fantastic book about the rich knowledge, artistry, and tradition connected with the stars, present in African history.
I appreciated the clear fact that African history, literature, and art all point to complex and intimate knowledge of the skies. Sun and moon seemed to be of particular importance, with heavy reliance on the moon to measure seasons and rituals. One primary argument made is that just because Africans did not express their knowledge in the one way that modern Western science talks about astronomy does not diminish what they knew. “Science, of course, provides one point of entry, but belief, myth, memory, the unconscious, and the senses including aesthetic experience, offer equally compelling access.”
African cultures and world views also demonstrate the recognition of duality—sky/earth, male/female, sun/moon, etc.—and because these different entities exist AS different entities, they can have unity and cooperation. The differences accentuate the connection. “The physical world is a marketplace; heaven is home.” Origin myths and cultural rituals play out this idea in various forms.
Cracking the Egyptian Code: The Revolutionary Life of Jean-Francois Champollion, by Andrew Robinson
Excellent biography. Just enough historical background to sketch a context, without belaboring the point. The first 1/3 was a skim for me, as it covered more of Champollion’s early life, education, employment, etc. My interest was in his work on the Rosetta Stone and in founding Egyptology at the university. Recommended for those interested in the French Revolution, Egyptology, or the process of decipherment (which, to me, looks like a totally made-up word).
Honestly, most of the process for breaking the Rosetta Stone “code” was philology 101–with the exception of having to set aside the preconceived assumption that the hieroglyphs were symbolic rather than phonetic. Once Champollion (inspired, perhaps, by Thomas Young) was willing to to operate under new assumptions, the key came together quite well. Champollion is the unquestioned expert on hieroglyphs, developing the alphabet most fully, being the most fluent reader, and most systematic student of the language. This, coupled with his expedition to Egypt where he studied the art, culture, and language of ancient Egypt, establish him as the true Father of Egyptology. He even thought in terms of Egyptian worldview and understands their mind and culture far more than modern scholars do, from my perspective. Basing worldview in language is a solid place to sink roots, and that was the driving force for Champollion.
This biography does attempt to develop the man, not just the achievements, but it doesn’t quite succeed in his springing off the pages. Readers can definitely get the sense that Champollion was no saint, but it “told” more than “showed” his character. Still a fine introductory read about a fascinating man.
Belzoni: The Giant Archaelogists Love to Hate, by Ivor Noel Hume
A scrappy, gritty pioneer. This thorough, thoughtful account of one of the first archaeologist’s lives felt honest but generous. It certainly would have been interesting to be a fly on the wall in Belzoni’s life. I particularly enjoyed the chapters about his exploration and discoveries in Egypt. And the fact that Sarah existed and contributed to Giovanni’s life and work.
Belzoni’s dedication to finding and retrieving huge artifacts—both in size and significance—fueled the love of all things Egypt that swept Europe in the early 19th century. He transported one of the most famous statutes against all odds, dug and shipped an obelisk, and discovered a new tomb. He was an archaeologist before the field even existed. In retrospect, he is condemned for some of his methods, but there WERE no methods in his day, and he was working on contract, highly motivated to deliver, not preserve. The author made sure to highlight the unfairness of those criticisms. Granted, because of some of Belzoni’s actions, we DO now have archaeological best practices.
But a good, clean read about an interesting person, an interesting place, and interesting finds.
Nefertiti: Egypt’s Sun Queen, by Joyce A. Tyldesley
It really is ironic how we can write a complete book on a historical figure about whom we truly know almost nothing. Don’t get me wrong, Tyldesley writes in a way that is well-informed, engaging, and seeks to paint a picture. However, in order to discuss ancient figures surrounded by mystery, it is necessary to discuss much that comes before and after the person of interest, in order to even gain an outline of the picture. So, if you are looking for a book on the life of Nefertiti, you will get a lot more information than you are seeking.
If you are looking for likely possibilities of life over a three generation span of the 18th dynasty, this is a great place to start. I respected that Tyldesley honestly acknowledges areas where the information is in doubt, as well as drawing conclusions about the most likely option. Given the nature of the portrayal of Egyptian reigns, as well as the knowledge we have lost over millennia, that seems the fairest approach to studies like this.
It seems like Nefertiti landed herself in a pretty good position, with a fairly positive home and public life. The pictures of the Stella and sculptures referenced in the writing were beautiful—as was the queen.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead, translated by Ogden Goelet and R.O. Faulkner
I am more convinced than ever that our true knowledge of the Egyptian mindset is limited and skewed by our own take on things. The commentary following the Book of the Dead plates and translation proved to be extremely honest and insightful into various components of the Egyptian worldview surrounding death, the gods, etc. In fact, I would recommend reading that commentary before reading the translation of the various “chapters” of the Book of the Dead that accompany the stunning illustrations. Without the commentary, it is like bouncing along from one strange idea to the next–which is truly how the BD is structured. There is no cohesion, as it seems to be assembled over time with more “guesses” at how to maintain proper connections between this life and the next. This does not mean haunting this world with a dead body, but rather reflects the deep interconnectedness of the “Two Lands”–this world and the one beyond. Even the gods connect these realms, specifically Horus, the god of the horizon, joining sky and earth together, like the two worlds.
The Egyptians seemed to understand many theological truths, such as the continued existence of the soul, Creator god, a god experiencing death and resurrecting, gods facing and defeating chaos and enemies, etc. They simply lacked the cohesive telling of these ideas. Honestly, the art itself is probably the most cohesive telling of the tales that reflect their beliefs.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in mythology or theology.
Gifts from the Pharoahs: How Ancient Egyptian Civilization Shaped the Modern World, by Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt
Beautiful photography and expected insights regarding how Egypt influenced the world. Thorough in the sense of covering many topics and aspects of life, though each was, by design, just an overview. Some glaring typographical errors mar an otherwise stunning portrayal of Egyptian life.
I really enjoyed the clear portrayal of the Isis/Osiris story and its foundation to the Egyptian worldview. Also, the insights into Egyptian bestiary symbolism was fascinating, as were the captivating observations about the zodiac and Egypt’s strong ability to navigate time through the stars.
While many of the historical explanations were thought-provoking and interesting, I found that the author failed to grasp many basic points when dealing with the way Egypt interacted with biblical/Hebrew thought. She repeatedly cites Egyptian symbols as the start of Christianity, but I think it is far more likely that early Christians (perhaps already familiar with Egyptian symbolism and stories) used that as a starting point on which to build the Gospel message. This practice is common throughout both scriptural and extra-scriptural evangelism, and it does not necessarily mean that the “foreign” source is the origin of the Christian thought. Also, Christians are extremely good at borrowing images that fit with the practices and messages they are trying to convey. Egypt certainly has a lot to offer in that regard.
In dealing with Old Testament content, the author argues that many of the biblical figures were aware of and participated in Egyptian cultural practices. And that was precisely the point for some of them–Joseph and Moses in particular–bookends of the same story, wherein Egyptian “wisdom”/learning/education serves as a catalyst to God’s people achieving something significant. The strong likelihood that Egyptian culture had spread in some degree to most of the ANE does not negate the historicity of the biblical account; it indicates the strength of Egyptian culture, just as Hellenism indicates the strength of the Greek culture (and the way that religious groups gravitated to those images in their own day as apt common connections with the culture).
Lastly, I am intrigued by the “mysterious” 14th dynasty, which the author casually mentions as one potential time period when Israel was making its exodus. Huge implications.
For real lastly, we are most certainly unaware of how much of our lives retain connections to practices of early Egyptian culture. It spread far in its day, and many of its pieces have proved so effective that they are still functioning, perhaps in different guises, today.
The Search for Cleopatra
Click here for review.
Cleopatra: A Life
Click here for review.
Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie
A four-star Christie is still a pleasure. For me, the flaw in this one was the setting. I felt like the family could have been a landed gentry in England, and the story still could have played. One the one hand, this testifies to Christie’s insights into psychology and the fact that people are people wherever and whenever. However, that also makes the Egyptian setting rather irrelevant, rather than exotic. Other than that, a totally enjoyable multiple murder mystery. And I called it.
Renisenb returns home a young widow to find things unchanged–on the surface. But when her father returns home with a new concubine, her family reveals new facets of their character–including the capacity to kill. Multiple murders create more chaos and confusion in the Egyptian home, and no one can trust anyone else.
In the background, Renisenb must make choices for her new future, including deciding on a course of romance, leading to a satisfying ending.
That Lady Who Reads A Lot 