Ancient Records of Egypt: The Twentieth Through the Twenty-Sixth Dynasties, Vol. 4 (Volume 4)

With volume 4 of Ancient Records of Egypt, James Henry Breasted brings us to the end of the self-governed era of ancient Egyptian civilization. Chief among the documents contained in this volume are the inscriptions from the Medinet Habu Temple, one of the most completely preserved temples of Egypt, and the great Papyrus Harris, the largest (133 feet long) and most sumptuous papyrus extant, 95 percent of which Breasted was the first to study closely. Together these documents present a detailed record of the reign and benefactions of Ramesses III, whose reign lasted more than thirty years. Volume 4 includes intriguing records of the harem conspiracy and legal documents that indicate the extent of robberies of royal tombs. Records of the Nile levels at Karnak provide important chronological landmarks, while the Stela of Piye (Piankhi), which documents the Nubian kingdom already in existence as a full-fledged power, provides information on the internal political climate of Egypt during a time when no aggressive monarch controlled the whole country. Breasted also notes where these ancient Egyptian records intersect with accounts of the same events from other sources, such as the mutiny of Psamtik I's troops as inscribed on the alabaster statue of Nesuhor and as narrated by Herodotus. In effect, Ancient Records of Egypt offers a valuable dual record. On the one hand, Breasted presents the events and personages of ancient Egypt as recorded in the documents. On the other hand, he presents a history of the documents themselves. Fragmentary or partially destroyed, carved on temple and tomb walls or written on fragile scrolls of leather or papyrus, even inscribed on the coffins and temple linens of the royal and priestly mummy wrappings, these records offer an irreplaceable primary source on a fascinating civilization. Table of Contents: Volume IV......Page 23 The Twentieth Dynasty......Page 30 Reign of Ramses III......Page 31 Reign of Ramses IV......Page 250 Reign of Ramses V......Page 258 Reign of Ramses VI......Page 259 Reign of Ramses VII......Page 264 Reign of Ramses IX......Page 265 Reign of Ramses XII......Page 302 The Twenty-First Dynasty......Page 320 The Twenty-Second Dynasty......Page 363 Reign of Sheshonk I......Page 369 Reign of Osorkon I......Page 387 Reign of Takelot I......Page 392 Reign of Osorkon II......Page 394 Reign of Takelot II......Page 399 Reign of Sheshonk III......Page 402 Reign of Pemou......Page 415 Reign of Sheshonk IV......Page 417 The Twenty-Third Dynasty......Page 425 Reign of Osorkon III......Page 428 Reign of Piankhi......Page 429 The Twenty-Fourth Dynasty......Page 468 The Twenty-Fifth Dynasty......Page 470 Reign of Shabaka......Page 474 Reign of Taharka......Page 475 Reign of Tanutamon......Page 487 The Twenty-Sixth Dynasty......Page 494 Reign of Psamtik I......Page 495 Reign of Necho......Page 515 Reign of Psamtik II......Page 518 Reign of Apries......Page 519 Reign of Amasis (Ahmose II)......Page 527 Explanation of Typographical Signs and Special Characters......Page 29 Offers information on the people, places, and inscriptions of ancient Egypt. This title covers such indices as the kings and queens, temples and geographical locations, divine names, and titles and ranks encompassed by three thousand years of Egyptian history. It includes indices of Egyptian, Hebrew, and Arabic terms mentioned in the texts. Focuses on the end of the self-governed era of ancient Egyptian civilization. This title contains the inscriptions from the Medinet Habu Temple, one of the most completely preserved temples of Egypt, and the great Papyrus Harris, the largest (133 feet long) and most sumptuous papyrus extant. v. 1. The first through the seventeenth dynasties v. 2. The eighteenth dynasty v. 3. The nineteenth dynasty v. 4. The twentieth to the twenty-sixth dynasties v. 5. Supplementary bibliographies and indices. 1. This building is the most completely preserved temple of Egypt, antedating the Ptolemaic period.