Pascal Vernus and Jean Yoyotte. 2003. The Book of the Pharaohs. Translated from the French by David Lorton. Cornell University Press, Ithaca. 256 pages. Index and bibliography.
The Book of the Pharaohs is another in the series of scholarly work by French Egyptologists translated into English by David Lorton and published by Cornell University Press. The book is essentially an encyclopedia of significant people in ancient Egypt. Most of the entries describe ruling pharaohs and other important personages such as Imhotep and Heqaib; but also included are brief entries on specific cultures such as Hyksos, Hurrians, and Hittites, and more general information on specific dynasties.
Each entry contains a transliteration and translation of the pharaonic name, genealogical data, historical data on his or her rule, and other useful tidbits such as whether certain individuals were real people or simply useful fictionalizations by later dynasties.
Each entry contains a transliteration and translation of the pharaonic name, genealogical data, historical data on his or her rule, and other useful tidbits such as whether certain individuals were real people or simply useful fictionalizations by later dynasties.
Because of the writing style and depth of the encapsulations, the book is fun and enlightening to dip into. Take, for example, the 7000 word entry on Memphis. In it you learn that the original name for Memphis was "Ineb-hedj", or the "white wall", but that the word Memphis itself means "Meryre is enduring of beauty", Meryre referring to the pyramid of Pepy I.
A political history of the capitol city follows, a discussion of its importance to the various dynasties who used it as a capitol, and its importance to those who did not, but instead saw Memphis as a center of culture, art, and religion.
If you need a reference book to bone up on your favorite king of Egypt; or just want to learn a little bit about one of the greatest civilizations, get thee to the bookstore and pick up The Book of the Pharaohs.
A political history of the capitol city follows, a discussion of its importance to the various dynasties who used it as a capitol, and its importance to those who did not, but instead saw Memphis as a center of culture, art, and religion.
If you need a reference book to bone up on your favorite king of Egypt; or just want to learn a little bit about one of the greatest civilizations, get thee to the bookstore and pick up The Book of the Pharaohs.
