City of the Ram-Man : The Story of Ancient Mendes

**A richly illustrated history that sheds light on ancient Egypt across the millennia** In this richly illustrated book, renowned archaeologist Donald Redford draws on the latest discoveries—including many of his own—to tell the story of the ancient Egyptian city of Mendes, home of the mysterious cult of the "fornicating ram who mounts the beauties." Excavation by Redford and his colleagues over the past two decades has cast a flood of light on this strange center of worship and political power located in the Nile Delta. A sweeping chronological account filled with photographs, drawings, and informative sidebars, __City of the Ram-Man__ is the first history of Mendes written for general readers. Founded in the remote prehistoric past, inhabited continuously for 5,000 years, and abandoned only in the first-century BC, Mendes is a microcosm of ancient Egyptian history. __City of the Ram-Man__ tells the city's full story—from its founding, through its development of a great society and its brief period as the capital of Egypt, up to its final decline. Central to the story is millennia of worship dedicated to the lascivious ram-god. The book describes the discoveries of the great temple of the ram and the "Mansion of the Rams," where the embalmed bodies of the avatars of the god were buried. It also discusses ancient Greek reports that these ram-gods occasionally ritually fornicated with women. Vividly written and informed throughout by Redford's intimate knowledge of the remains of Mendes, __City of the Ram-Man__ is a unique account of a long-lost monument of Egyptian history, religion, and culture.

A richly illustrated history that sheds light on ancientEgypt across the millennia In this richly illustratedbook, renowned archaeologist Donald Redford draws on the latestdiscoveries-including many of his own-to tell the story of theancient Egyptian city of Mendes, home of the mysterious cult of the"fornicating ram who mounts the beauties." Excavation by Redfordand his colleagues over the past two decades has cast a flood oflight on this strange center of worship and political power locatedin the Nile Delta. A sweeping chronological account filled withphotographs, drawings, and informative sidebars, City of theRam-Man is the first history of Mendes written for generalreaders. Founded in the remote prehistoric past, inhabitedcontinuously for 5,000 years, and abandoned only in thefirst-century BC, Mendes is a microcosm of ancient Egyptianhistory. City of the Ram-Man tells the city's fullstory-from its founding, through its development of a great societyand its brief period as the capital of Egypt, up to its finaldecline. Central to the story is millennia of worship dedicated tothe lascivious ram-god. The book describes the discoveries of thegreat temple of the ram and the "Mansion of the Rams," where theembalmed bodies of the avatars of the god were buried. It alsodiscusses ancient Greek reports that these ram-gods occasionallyritually fornicated with women. Vividly written and informedthroughout by Redford's intimate knowledge of the remains ofMendes, City of the Ram-Man is a unique account of along-lost monument of Egyptian history, religion, and culture.

The beginnings The advent of Horus In the time of the residence The collapse The mysterious centuries : the Middle Kingdom Mendes under the empire pharaohs The great chiefs of the Meshwesh Egypt in the time of troubles The Ram, Lord of Djedet The Saite revival Mendes, the capital of Egypt The great disaster Dusk and darkness : the end of Mendes.