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NEW Book of Explore one of the greatest ancient civilisations to have walked the Earth III CCCOOONNNIIICCC PPPHHHAAARRRAAAOOOHHHSSS PPP YYYRRRAAAMMMIIIDDDSSS HHH IIIEEERRROOOGGGLLLYYYPPPHHHIIICCCSSS Welcome to Book of In 1922 a magnii cent discovery captured the imagination of the world. As Howard Carter slowly unveiled the opulence of Tutankhamun’s newly located tomb, people from every corner of the globe were enthralled. Egyptomania gripped the world. The rituals and beliefs of a highly advanced society were once again exposed; this was the most inl uential breakthrough in Egyptology since the Rosetta Stone had been discovered by Napoleon’s men and later deciphered by 19th century scholars. In All About History’s Book of Ancient Egypt we will step back in time and walk the banks of the River Nile to learn what made this society one of the most powerful ancient civilisations in history. Meet some of the most iconic and infamous pharaohs, tour the awe-inspiring landmarks raised in their honour and identify the religious tenets that guided everyday life. You will also explore the grisly burial rituals that ensured safe passage to the afterlife and even learn to read the mysterious markings that adorn surviving monuments and papyri – all through amazing articles, illustrations and photography. It’s time to walk like an Egyptian! Book of Imagine Publishing Ltd Richmond House 33 Richmond Hill Bournemouth Dorset BH2 6EZ (cid:8) +44 (0) 1202 586200 Website: www.imagine-publishing.co.uk Publishing Director Aaron Asadi Head of Design Ross Andrews Production Editor Fiona Hudson Senior Art Editor Greg Whitaker Assistant Designer Alexander Phoenix Printed by William Gibbons, 26 Planetary Road, Willenhall, West Midlands, WV13 3XT Distributed in the UK, Eire & the Rest of the World by Marketforce, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HU Tel 0203 787 9060 www.marketforce.co.uk Distributed in Australia by Network Services (a division of Bauer Media Group), Level 21 Civic Tower, 66-68 Goulburn Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2000, Australia Tel +61 2 8667 5288 Disclaimer The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited material lost or damaged in the post. All text and layout is the copyright of Imagine Publishing Ltd. Nothing in this bookazine may be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher. All copyrights are recognised and used specifically for the purpose of criticism and review. Although the bookazine has endeavoured to ensure all information is correct at time of print, prices and availability may change. This bookazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein. All About History Book of Ancient Egypt © 2015 Imagine Publishing Ltd ISBN 9781785462092 Part of the bookazine series Book of Ancient Egypt 3100-332 BCE CONTENTS Step inside the ancient world through the eyes one of history’s most powerful civilisations 08 Map of Ancient Egypt 62 Hatshepsut: The queen who became king 10 Historical timeline Discover the convoluted tale behind one woman’s Get an overview of the period as a whole rise to the limelight as pharaoh 12 Kingdoms of Ancient 68 Ahmose I’s unifying Egypt power Discover the historical periods when Egypt Follow in the footsteps of a king who defeated enjoyed great power and influence invaders and merged a divided kingdom FAMOUS PHARAOHS THE PYRAMIDS 22 Power of the pharaoh Learn about the absolute power wielded by the 74 Inside the Great Pyramid pharaoh, who ruled as god on Earth Get to grips with this awesome landmark that 30 Cleopatra’s ruthless rise attracts thousands of tourists every year to power 76 Building the pyramids 76 Revel in the dramatic life of a queen who would be the final pharaoh of Ancient Egypt Understand the feat of construction behind the most iconic symbols of Ancient Egypt 38 Alexander: Liberator of Egypt 82 Pyramids of a polymath Grasp the true nature of the ruthless warlord Meet the brilliant mind behind the impressive who ushered in Roman rule from Alexandria Pyramid of Djoser 44 The mighty Ramesses II Follow the lengthy reign of a pharaoh who proved a great warrior and lived to 96 52 Nefertiti: Behind the beauty Find out about the woman beneath the famously beautiful bust of a queen LIFE & DEATH 58 Peace & prosperity of Amenhotep III 88 Inside the Nile Witness the period of rule that led a nation to Navigate the landscape and the terrain of an its peak as a political and economic power ancient world built around the Nile Contents 90 Life on the banks of 82 the Nile Explore the rites and rituals that guided everyday life and ensured entry to the afterlife 102 Praying to the gods Learn about how the myths and legends of the gods guided every part of life 110 Inside the Karnak Temple Tour the vast and sacred temple of light 112 Magic & medicine Learn about the gruesome medical treatments 112 of an advanced and educated society 118 Egypt’s medical trailblazers Step inside the office of the world’s first doctors 120 Death, burial & the afterlife 144 Take a look at the extreme death rituals that were conducted to achieve immortality 44 LEGACY 128 What did the Ancient Egyptians do for us? Identify the greatest inventions and discoveries we have inherited from this ancient society 136 Egyptology through time Discover how Egyptomania has gripped archeologists and fascinated the public 144 Inside the Giza complex See the enigma behind this tourist landmark 146 Curse of the boy king Learn the full story behind the curse of King Tut’s tomb 154 Decoding the hieroglyphics my Take a lesson in deciphering © Ala the mysterious hieroglyphics t p s, n i y plahe dtn f g floome atio p o E e fertile hat becaat civilis t hte an ta to tetting of a gr Me Dele sce i Nile e thhpla c he plorbirt tx n m e o r F A Book of Ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt, 3300-30 BCE The Golden Age The pyramids in Giza form part of the Giza Necropolis, which 2613 BCE – 2494 BCE also contains the Sphinx The Fourth Dynasty is often referred to as the Golden Age, when the entire nation benefited from a boom in arts and culture. The relative peace of the previous dynasties continued, enabling the pharaohs of the era to realise their architectural aspirations. The Old Kingdom (the third to sixth dynasties) is The Age of the Pyramids often referred to as the Age of 2700 BCE – 2200 BCE the Pyramids; almost every ruler Ancient Egypt saw a number of phases of pyramid building, but those had a pyramid tomb constructed built during the third and fourth dynasties became the most iconic. Built in their honour). Such structures almost solely as pharaohs’ tombs, the most famous are in Giza: the Great would have required huge work Pyramid of Giza (Pyramid of Khufu), the Pyramid of Menkaure and the forces, with many Egyptologists smaller Pyramid of Khafre. These colossal structures, built between 2560 believing a complex form of BCE and 2510 BCE, are part of Seven Wonders of the World and stand as government must have been A lack of foreign incursions and major invasions left the Old Kingdom a relatively peaceful period a testament to the ingenuity of Ancient Egyptian society and culture. created to organise them. (cid:79) First hieroglyphics (cid:79) The Old (cid:79) Rejuvenation of (cid:79) Rise of Thebes (cid:79) Hyksos raiders (cid:79) King Thutmose used Kingdoms the Faiyum For years, invade III rises to Hieroglyphics During the Much of the Memphis has Hyksos raiders (a power are first used by fourth to eighth Egyptians’ remained the Semitic people from One of the most the many tribes dynasties, the longevity largest hub of the Asia) invade the powerful and and peoples of Great Pyramids are comes from Egyptian realm, Delta. They establish long-lasting rulers, Egypt during the erected in DahShur the successful but Thebes has themselves and Thutmose III’s Predynastic period. and Giza. They implementation of now become the eventually introduce many successful 3300 BCE Hieroglyphics continued are considered agriculture – Faiyum Agriculture was largest and most the chariot. military campaigns to be used up until the one of the is a main site for this. a cornerstone of populous city. 1630 BCE bring new wealth fourth century CE Seven Wonders. 1900 BCE Ancient Egypt 1800 BCE to Egypt. 2575-2150 BCE 1400 BCE 3300 BCE 3100 BCE 2900 BCE 2700 BCE 2500 BCE 2300 BCE 2100 BCE 1900 BCE 1700 BCE 1500 BCE (cid:79) Narmer becomes (cid:79) First pyramid built (cid:79) First intermediate (cid:79) Ahmose I unifies first pharaoh The very first pyramid, period begins (cid:79) 11th-14th dynasties Egypt Narmer is believed to have the Step Pyramid, is After the government established With control of Upper united the sophisticated erected in Saqqara falls apart at the end The Middle Kingdom Egypt, Ahmose I neolithic states into the for King Djoser, the of the Old Kingdom, begins, and with it comes successfully drives the first Egyptian kingdom, second ruler of the Ancient Egypt a new era of stability as Hyksos from Lower Egypt making Memphis his Third Dynasty. divides and civil the warring regions are to unify the country for new capital. 2950-2575 BCE wars erupt. united once again. the first time in 160 years. 3100 BCE 2125-1975 BCE 1975-1640 BCE Written in hieratic script, the 1523 BCE Edwin Smith Papyrus is a medical text The Hyksos rule Rosetta Stone is carved The Hyksos influence had a big effect on over Egypt 196 BCE Egyptian warfare 1650 BCE – 1550 BCE Commissioned and carved during the It is estimated that the reign of Ptolemy V, the Rosetta Stone invading Hyksos warriors is a relic of huge historic importance. remained in power for 100 It was written in two languages to 160 years. From a region (Egyptian and Greek) to reflect the of Western Asia known as two main bloodline dynasties of Canaan, they took advantage Egyptian history, and three separate of civil unrest among the scripts (hieroglyphic, demotic and Egyptian states and conquered Greek) to represent the vast cultural Lower Egypt. The 15th cross-section of the kingdom. Used as Dynasty saw the introduction a religious document at the time, the of chariots and composite Rosetta Stone has proved invaluable in bows, as well as new advances The Rosetta Stone was thought helping modern linguists understand lost until its rediscovery in 1799 in pottery and agriculture. the use of language in Ancient Egypt. 10