LIVES OF THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS : pharaohs, queens, courtiers and commoners

From the dawn of history to the death of Cleopatra, ancient Egypt was home to larger-than-life personalities. Across one hundred lives, Toby Wilkinson explores the true character and diversity of human experience in the ancient world's greatest civilization. Some of those profiled are famous: pharaohs and queens such as Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Ramesses II and Tiye. Others are lesser known but equally engaging: Imhotep, architect of the first pyramid; Perniankhu, the court dwarf; and the royal sculptor Bak. Equally illuminating are the lives of commoners, so rarely given their own voice: ordinary men and women who include a doctor, a dentist, a housewife, a musician - and a serial criminal.00Original Hbk. edition (ISBN 9780500051481, 2007) no longer available. Foundations : Early dynastic period. Narmer : Egypt’s first king -- Merneith : The first woman to hold the reins of power -- Den : Reforming ruler of the 1st dynasty -- Khasekhemwy : Harbinger of the pyramid age -- Djoser : Builder of the step pyramid -- Hesira : Chief dentist at the court of Djoser -- Imhotep : Architect and sage who became a god -- Metjen : Career civil servant -- The pyramid age : old kingdom. Hetepheres : Mother of king Khufu -- Khufu : Lord of the great pyramid -- Hemiunu : Overseer of works -- Perniankhu : Court dwarf -- Ptahshepses : Royal son-in-law -- Pepiankh : Centenarian official -- Unas : The enigmatic monarch -- Metjetji : Courtier, patron, aesthete -- Mereruka : Grand vizier -- Weni : Royal factotum -- Harkhuf : Explorer of distant lands -- Pepi II : Egypt’s longest-reigning king -- Pepinakht-heqaib : Local hero -- Civil war and restoration : First intermediate period and Middle kingdom. Tjauti : Controller of desert routes -- Ankhtifi : Provincial leader in a time of civil war -- Hemira : Humble priestess from the delta -- Intef II : Theban warrior-king -- Tjetji : High official who served two monarchs -- Mentuhotep II : Reunifier of Egypt -- Meketra : Chancellor under Mentuhotep II -- Amenemhat I : Victim of a court conspiracy -- Hekanakht : Farmer and letter writer -- Sarenput : Prince of elephantine -- Hapdjefa : Provincial governor with a legal mindset -- Khnumhotep : Hereditary noble -- Ikhernofret : Witness of the Osiris mysteries -- Senusret III : Lord of Nubia -- Horwerra : Expedition leader -- Sobekhotep III : Commoner who became king -- A golden age : Early 18th dynasty. Apepi : An Asiatic on the throne of Egypt -- Taa II : King slain in battle against the Hyksos -- Ahmose-Nefertari : Royal daughter, wife and mother -- Ahmose son of Abana : Wartime naval officer -- Ahmose Pennekhbet : Soldier under four successive monarchs -- Hatshepsut : The female pharaoh -- Senenmut : Favoured courtier of Hatshepsut -- Thutmose III : Creator of an Egyptian empire -- Menkheperraseneb : High priest of Amun -- Rekhmira : Prime minister of Upper Egypt -- Dedi : Governor of the western desert -- Qenamun : Bombastic chief steward -- Nakht : Humble owner of a beautiful tomb -- Sennefer : Mayor of Thebes -- Amenhotep III : Ruler of a golden age -- Tiye : Queen with an interest in power-politics -- Userhat : Lowly scribe, artistic patron -- Amenhotep, son of Hapu : The king’s right-hand man -- The great heresy : Amarna period. Akhenaten : The heretic pharaoh -- Nefertiti : The power behind the throne -- Meryra : Zealot of a new religion -- Bak : Sculptor who led an artistic revolution -- Mahu : Akhenaten’s chief of police -- Huy : Viceroy of Kush -- Tutankhamun : The boy king -- Ankhesenamun : Tutankhamun’s child bride -- Maya : Royal treasurer -- Ay : The great survivor -- Imperial Egypt : Ramesside period. Horemheb : Founder of a new age -- Sennedjem : Workman in the Valley of the Kings -- Urhiya : Foreigner who became an army general -- Yupa : Successful second-generation immigrant -- Ramesses II : The greatest of all pharaohs -- Raia : A musician from Memphis -- Khaemwaset : The first Egyptologist -- Mes : Victor in a long-running court case -- Didia : Chief draughtsman of foreign ancestry -- Merenptah : Pharaoh who subdued Israel -- Paneb : Notorious criminal -- Bay : Kingmaker -- Ramesses III : The last great king of Egypt -- Ramessesnakht : High priest under the late Ramessides -- Naunakht : Woman who disinherited her children -- Thutmose : Correspondent in a time of trouble -- Panehsy : Strongman who challenged royal power -- Herihor : Great overseer of the army -- Twilight of the gods : Third intermediate period, Late period and Ptolemaic period. Wendjebaendjedet : Royal favourite -- Osorkon : Prince caught up in a bitter power struggle -- Piye : The first black pharaoh -- Harwa : Steward of the divine Adoratrice -- Montuemhat : Governor of Thebes in uncertain times -- Padiamenope : Owner of the largest private tomb in Egypt -- Nitiqret (Nitocris) : God’s wife, king’s servant -- Sematawytefnakht (I) : Royal flotilla commander -- Ahmose II (Amasis) : Usurper who made peace with the Greeks -- Wadjhorresnet : Admiral who collaborated with the Persians -- Wennefer (Onnofri) : Snake doctor and political survivor -- Nakhthorheb (Nectanebo II) : Egypt’s last native ruler -- Sematawytefnakht (II) : Eyewitness of Alexander’s conquest -- Padiusir (Petosiris) : Devoted servant of his local god -- Ptolemy I : Macedonian general who founded a dynasty -- Manetho : The father of Egyptian history -- Cleopatra VII : Tragic queen who became a legend -- Chronology and king list -- Map -- Sources of quotations. The One Hundred Biographies Included Here Give Voice Not Only To Ancient Egypt's Rulers But Also To The People Who Built The Great Monuments, Staffed Government Offices, Farmed, Served In The Temples, And Fought To Defend The Country's Borders. Spanning Thousands Of Years Of Ancient Egyptian History, The Book Offers A Fresh Perspective The Civilization Through The Lives Of: The God-kings, From Great Rulers Like Khufu And Ramesses Ii To Less Famous Monarchs Such As Amenemhat I And Osorkon; Egypt's Queens: The Powerful Tiye, The Beautiful Nefertiti, Tutankhamun's Tragic Child-bride Ankhesenamun, And The Infamous Cleopatra; The Officials Who Served The Pharaoh: The Architect Imhotep Who Designed The First Pyramid; The Court Dwarf Perniankhu And The Royal Sculptor Bak; Ordinary Women Who Are Often Overlooked In Official Accounts: Hemira, A Humble Priestess From A Provincial Delta Town, And Naunakht, Whose Will Reveals The Trials And Tribulations Of Family Life; Commoners And Foreigners Such As The Irascible Farmer Hekanakht, The Serial Criminal Paneb, And Urhiya, The Mercenary Who Rose To The Rank Of General In The Egyptian Army. Illustrated With Works Of Art And Scenes Of Daily Life, This Volume Insights Into The History And Culture Of The Nile Valley And Very Personal Glimpses Of A Vanished World. Foundations: Early Dynastic Period -- The Pyramid Age: Old Kingdom -- Civil War And Restoration: First Intermediate Period And Middle Kingdom -- A Golden Age Early 18th Dynasty -- The Great Heresy: Amarna Period -- Imperial Egypt: Ramesside Period -- Twilight Of The Gods: Third Intermediate Period, Late Period, And Ptolemaic Period -- Chronology And King List. Toby Wilkinson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 330-333) And Index. 100 biographies reveal the true character and diversity of the ancient world's greatest civilization The biographies included here give voice not only to ancient Egypt's rulers but also to the people who built the great monuments, staffed government offices, farmed, served in the temples, and fought to defend the country's borders. Spanning thousands of years of ancient Egyptian history, the book offers a fresh perspective on an always fascinating civilization through the lives of: The god-kings, from great rulers like Khufu and Ramesses II to less famous monarchs such as Amenemhat I and Osorkon Egypt's queens: the powerful Tiye, the beautiful Nefertiti, Tutankhamun's tragic child-bride Ankhesenamun, and the infamous Cleopatra The officials who served the pharaoh: the architect Imhotep who designed the first pyramid, the court dwarf Perniankhu, and the royal sculptor Bak Ordinary women who are often overlooked in official accounts: Hemira, a humble priestess... L'éditeur indique : "From the dawn of history to the death of Cleopatra, ancient Egypt was home to larger-than-life personalities. Across one hundred lives, Toby Wilkinson explores the true character and diversity of human experience in the ancient world's greatest civilization. Some of those profiled are famous: pharaohs and queens such as Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Ramesses II and Tiye. Others are lesser known but equally engaging: Imhotep, architect of the first pyramid; Perniankhu, the court dwarf; and the royal sculptor Bak. Equally illuminating are the lives of commoners, so rarely given their own voice: ordinary men and women who include a doctor, a dentist, a housewife, a musician - and a serial criminal." What was it really like to live in ancient Egypt? Lives of the Ancient Egyptians is packed with one hundred personal stories of ambition and intrigue, of triumph, despair and love, that compelling recreate the world of the pharaohs. here are famous pharaohs, from Khufu, builder of the Great Pyramid, to Akhenaten and Ramesses II but also the ordinary men and women, so often ignored in histories of ancient Egypt: a doctor, a sailor, a housewife and a serial criminal. Note: The ebook edition includes the complete text of the printed book without illustrations Traces the history of Egypt as reflected in the lives of one hundred key figures, encompassing important rulers, government officials, and defenders, in an illustrated chronicle that offers additional insight into the history and culture of the Nile Valley. The 100 Biographies Included Here Give Voice Not Only To Ancient Egypts Rulers But Also To The People Who Built The Great Monuments, Staffed Government Offices, Farmed, Served In The Temples, And Fought To Defend The Countrys Borders. Illustrated.