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Egypt's Making: The Origins of Ancient Egypt 5000-2000 BC PDF

347 Pages·2003·9.05 MB·English
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EGYPT’S MAKING Michael Rice’s bold, original work evokes the fascination and wonder of the most ancient period of Egypt’s history, from the origins of the Egyptian state to the end of the Old Kingdom. Combining detailed attention to archaeological evidence with a dynamic and readable narrative, the text covers a vast range of topics. These include • the origins of the first Egyptians • the roots of the kingship • the development of the nation-state • early cities such as Hierakonpolis, Naqada and Abydos • the splendours of the Pyramid Age • the nature and effects of Egypt’s contact with Western Asia • the earliest development of the historic Egyptian personality. The final chapter draws on Jungian theory, exploring the psychological forces that contributed to Egypt’s special character, and which account for her continuing allure up to the present day. Wholly revised and updated in the light of the many discoveries made since its first publications, Egypt’s Making is a scholarly yet imaginative approach to this compelling ancient civilization. Michael Rice has published extensively on Egypt and the Near East, including Egypt’s Legacy (Routledge pbk 2003), Who’s Who in Ancient Egypt (Routledge 1999), The Power of the Bull (Routledge 1997) and The Archaeol- ogy of the Arabian Gulf (Routledge 1994). He has established museums throughout the Arabian peninsula states. He was appointed a CMG in 2002 and awarded the Order of Bahrain (1st class) in 2003. EGYPT’S MAKING The origins of Ancient Egypt 5000–2000 BC Michael Rice Second Edition First edition published 1990 Paperback edition first published 1991 Second edition published 2003 by Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2004. © 1990, 1991, 2003 Michael Rice All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data A catalog record for this book has been requested ISBN 0-203-42816-1 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0-203-43882-5 (Adobe eReader Format) ISBN 0-415-26874-5 (hbk) ISBN 0-415-26875-3 (pbk) Formative influences in the political and social organization and in the iconography of most ancient Egypt, the appearance of the earliest evidence of the historic Egyptian identity, and the nature and extent of Egypt’s contact with southwestern Asia, notably Sumer and Elam, and the lands bordering the Arabian Gulf. CONTENTS List of illustrations ix Introduction to the new edition xiii Preface to the original edition xxi Acknowledgements xxxi 1 The land of Egypt 1 2 The roots of the Egyptian State 20 3 The pursuit of the divine 40 4 The royal power centres 70 5 The Dual Kings 94 6 The legacy of the founder kings 132 7 The Third Dynasty: innovation 153 8 The pyramid age: the splendour of the Old Kingdom 172 9 The Old Kingdom: fulfilment and decline 189 10 The end of the Old Kingdom 213 11 Eastwards from Egypt 226 12 C.G. Jung and Ancient Egypt 244 Chronological table 274 Notes 276 Abbreviations 290 Bibliography 292 Index 301 vii ILLUSTRATIONS Figures 3.1 The rock drawings of southern Upper Egypt are often of great complexity and vivacity 43 3.2 A remarkable carving on a rock face in the Wadi Adab 44 3.3 A very large ship, with a central cabin or shrine, with many oarsmen indicated by the vertical lines on the boat’s deck 45 3.4 Boats were of great symbolic importance to the earliest inhabitants of Upper Egypt 46 3.5 A large, mud-brick built mastabatomb 48 3.6 An enigmatic statuette from El Amra 51 3.7.1 Borrowed from Western Asia in the late fourth millennium is the recessed panelling which articulates the exterior walls of the tombs 61 3.7.2 First Dynasty mastabas under excavation at Saqqara 62 3.8 Theserekh, is derived from Western Asiatic seal impressions of the late fourth millennium 63 3.9 Fantastic and composite animals are a feature of late predynastic Egypt and of contemporary Near Eastern cultures 68 4.1 In late fourth millennium Hierakonpolis, the temple area is bounded by a revetment 79 4.2 Hierakonpolis revealed other evidences of apparent contact with Western Asia 81 4.3 The temple in Hierakonpolis is the oldest known in Egypt 84 4.4 Masks were an essential component in many of the rites conducted in Egyptian temples in historic times 86 4.5 Lapis Lazuli was highly valued in late predynastic times 91 ix

Description:
Examines Egyptian history from c.5000 BC to c. 2000 BC down to the collapse of the old kingdom, showing in particular how the art of the period throws light on the psychology of the people and explores the essentially African nature of Egyptian society, institutions, and art.
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