Category:  Egyptian Technology

Reviewed by Francesca : This book is rated the classic reference on Ancient Egyptian building techniques. It covers all aspects of construction from mathematical procedures to the ways the Ancient Egyptians drilled granite and other hard stones. Various buildings and pyramids are picked out as examples for diverse techniques as well as for the purpose of providing insight into how they were built. Although getting out of date with more information having been gathered during the past 60-odd years, it is well worth reading and having as a handy reference.

From AEB: This volume on Ancient Egyptian furniture deals with boxes, chests and footstools. In all chapters some pieces are presented with a description, drawings of the construction techniques and/or photographs.

Reviewed by Francesca : The technological skills and knowledge of the Ancient Egyptians are presented in this unabridged reprint. The chapters provide precise details on building materials, cosmetics, fibres, glass, metals, stones, pottery, oils and wood. Mummification and writing materials are also discussed. Recommended for all, this is an excellent scholarly introduction to have for studies and references.

Reviewed by Francesca : A much awaited book, this is the latest comprehensive study of Ancient Egyptian materials, offering essays on subjects such as stone, metals, faience, glass, papyrus, textiles, leather, ivory, wood, oil, resins and food, and covering from the Predynastic to the Ptolemaic periods. Every chapter, which includes extensive bibliographical references, was written either by an Egyptologist or by a specialist of the subject; contributors include Janine Bourriau, Rosalie David, Joann Fletcher, Nigel Hepper, Salima Ikram, Barry Kemp, Geoffrey Killen, Paul T. Nicholson, Stephen Quirke, Ian Shaw and John Tait. Fully illustrated, it also clearly explains the techniques used in the identification of materials. This is an excellent reference for every student and scholar of Egyptology.

From AEB: The author exposes the difficulties of the identification and naming of stones, and key maps to quarry locations and describes the materials. Each type of rock used for stone vessels is described, and its identification, sources and dating discussed.

From the book cover: Drawing on archaeological and literary evidence, [the author] examines the importance of the boat in Egyptian ritual and belief as well as in everyday life. The sun god was thought to travel across the sky in a solar boat and Egyptians believed that the deserving might join the god Osiris in his divine bark after death. Boats played an important part in funerary ritual; models were often placed in tombs to provide the deceased with safe passage through the Winding Waterway in the underworld. Also, boats are frequently depicted in tomb-painting. The Nile has always been a vital transport artery for Egypt, and boats the principal means of travel. [...] Dilwyn Jones traces the development of the different types of boat and the techniques of their construction through the Old, Middle and New Kingdom periods.