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

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 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. Profusely illustrated with works of art and scenes of daily life, Lives of the Ancient Egyptians offers remarkable insights into the history and culture of the Nile Valley and very personal glimpses of a vanished world. 200 illustrations, 80 in color Cover Title About the Author Other titles of interest Dedication Author’s Note Contents Introduction Part 1 Foundations: Early Dynastic Period 1 Narmer: Egypt’s first king 2 Merneith: The first woman to hold the reins of power 3 Den: Reforming ruler of the 1st Dynasty 4 Khasekhemwy: Harbinger of the Pyramid Age 5 Djoser: Builder of the Step Pyramid 6 Hesira: Chief dentist at the court of Djoser 7 Imhotep: Architect and sage who became a god 8 Metjen: Career civil servant Part 2 The Pyramid Age: Old Kingdom 9 Hetepheres: Mother of King Khufu 10 Khufu: Lord of the Great Pyramid 11 Hemiunu: Overseer of Works 12 Perniankhu: Court dwarf 13 Ptahshepses: Royal son-in-law 14 Pepiankh: Centenarian official 15 Unas: The enigmatic monarch 16 Metjetji: Courtier, patron, aesthete 17 Mereruka: Grand vizier 18 Weni: Royal factotum 19 Harkhuf: Explorer of distant lands 20 Pepi II: Egypt’s longest-reigning king 21 Pepinakht-Heqaib: Local hero Part 3 Civil War and Restoration: First Intermediate Period and Middle Kingdom 22 Tjauti: Controller of desert routes 23 Ankhtifi: Provincial leader in a time of civil war 24 Hemira: Humble priestess from the Delta 25 Intef II: Theban warrior-king 26 Tjetji: High official who served two monarchs 27 Mentuhotep II: Reunifier of Egypt 28 Meketra: Chancellor under Mentuhotep II 29 Amenemhat I: Victim of a court conspiracy 30 Hekanakht: Farmer and letter writer 31 Sarenput: Prince of Elephantine 32 Hapdjefa: Provincial governor with a legal mindset 33 Khnumhotep: Hereditary noble 34 Ikhernofret: Witness of the Osiris mysteries 35 Senusret III: Lord of Nubia 36 Horwerra: Expedition leader 37 Sobekhotep III: Commoner who became king Part 4 A Golden Age: Early 18th Dynasty 38 Apepi: An Asiatic on the throne of Egypt 39 Taa II: King slain in battle against the Hyksos 40 Ahmose-Nefertari: Royal daughter, wife and mother 41 Ahmose Son of Abana: Wartime naval officer 42 Ahmose Pennekhbet: Soldier under four successive monarchs 43 Hatshepsut: The female pharaoh 44 Senenmut: Favoured courtier of Hatshepsut 45 Thutmose III: Creator of an Egyptian empire 46 Menkheperraseneb: High Priest of Amun 47 Rekhmira: Prime Minister of Upper Egypt 48 Dedi: Governor of the Western Desert 49 Qenamun: Bombastic chief steward 50 Nakht: Humble owner of a beautiful tomb 51 Sennefer: Mayor of Thebes 52 Amenhotep III: Ruler of a golden age 53 Tiye: Queen with an interest in power-politics 54 Userhat: Lowly scribe, artistic patron 55 Amenhotep Son of Hapu: The king’s right-hand man Part 5 The Great Heresy: Amarna Period 56 Akhenaten: The heretic pharaoh 57 Nefertiti: The power behind the throne 58 Meryra: Zealot of a new religion 59 Bak: Sculptor who led an artistic revolution 60 Mahu: Akhenaten’s chief of police 61 Huy: Viceroy of Kush 62 Tutankhamun: The boy king 63 Ankhesenamun: Tutankhamun’s child bride 64 Maya: Royal treasurer 65 Ay: The great survivor Part 6 Imperial Egypt: Ramesside Period 66 Horemheb: Founder of a new age 67 Sennedjem: Workman in the Valley of the Kings 68 Urhiya: Foreigner who became an army general 69 Yupa: Successful second-generation immigrant 70 Ramesses II: The greatest of all pharaohs 71 Raia: A musician from Memphis 72 Khaemwaset: The first Egyptologist 73 Mes: Victor in a long-running court case 74 Didia: Chief draughtsman of foreign ancestry 75 Merenptah: Pharaoh who subdued Israel 76 Paneb: Notorious criminal 77 Bay: Kingmaker 78 Ramesses III: The last great king of Egypt 79 Ramessesnakht: High Priest under the late Ramessides 80 Naunakht: Woman who disinherited her children 81 Thutmose: Correspondent in a time of trouble 82 Panehsy: Strongman who challenged royal power 83 Herihor: Great Overseer of the Army Part 7 Twilight of the Gods: Third Intermediate Period, Late Period and Ptolemaic Period 84 Wendjebaendjedet: Royal favourite 85 Osorkon: Prince caught up in a bitter power struggle 86 Piye: The first black pharaoh 87 Harwa: Steward of the Divine Adoratrice 88 Montuemhat: Governor of Thebes in uncertain times 89 Padiamenope: Owner of the largest private tomb in Egypt 90 Nitiqret (Nitocris): God’s Wife, king’s servant 91 Sematawytefnakht (I): Royal Flotilla Commander 92 Ahmose II (Amasis): Usurper who made peace with the Greeks 93 Wadjhorresnet: Admiral who collaborated with the Persians 94 Wennefer (Onnofri): Snake doctor and political survivor 95 Nakhthorheb (Nectanebo II): Egypt’s last native ruler 96 Sematawytefnakht (II): Eyewitness of Alexander’s conquest 97 Padiusir (Petosiris): Devoted servant of his local god 98 Ptolemy I: Macedonian general who founded a dynasty 99 Manetho: The father of Egyptian history 100 Cleopatra VII: Tragic queen who became a legend Chronology and King List Map Sources of Quotations Further Reading Index Copyright 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. 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.