From Publishers Weekly
Forgotten artifacts unearthed from the basement of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo or reclaimed from dusty warehouses for the institution’s centennial exhibit "Hidden Treasures" join key pieces from the permanent collection to form the foundation of this sumptuous tour of the archeological history of Egypt. Aided by Kenneth Garrett’s adept photography, Hawass, an Egyptologist and head of the country’s antiquities council, narrates the past 150 years of excavation, from the colonial period-when Westerners overwhelmed the ranks of those recovering the nation’s treasures-through Egypt’s independence and the present era of international cooperation. A last section explains current discoveries driving the field as well as Hawass’ efforts to preserve ancient sites and increase Egyptians’ knowledge of and access to their heritage. This breathtaking glimpse at the country’s archeological wealth should excite curious and adventurous minds worldwide. 120 color photographs.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Hidden Treasures of Ancient Egypt: Unearthing the Masterpieces of Egyptian History FROM THE PUBLISHER
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is Home to some of the most exquisite artifacts in existence, yet many of these wonders have never been seen outside Egypt. Now, for the first time, world-famous Egyptologist Zahi Hawass takes readers on a tour of these long-lost antiquities and shares the adventures that led to their discoveries. Readers will marvel at the astonishing stories behind these dazzling treasures -- from the leg-endary unearthing of the tomb of boy king Tutankhamun, who ruled Egypt more than 3,000 years ago, to the modern-day photographer who discovered a royal burial shaft when he tripped over it while setting up his tripod. Many of the fabulous antiquities featured here were left to languish in storerooms all over the country and only recently were rediscovered. Hawass provides invaluable insights into what they meant to ancient Egyptians and what they now signify to us in the 21st century. Featuring exquisite photographs and enlightening commentary, Hidden Treasures of Ancient Egypt will delight Egyptophiles and history buffs and shed new light on some of the great mysteries of this ancient civilization.
FROM THE CRITICS
Library Journal
Hawass, secretary-general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, is the author of scholarly and popular publications, including Valley of the Golden Mummies. Inspired by the 2002 centennial of Cairo's Egyptian Museum, he has assembled this catalog for the nonspecialist. The book presents more than 100 objects in coffee-table-book format, all reproduced in large, full-color illustrations. Some of the objects are well known, while others were taken from storage, having appeared in the special exhibition "Hidden Treasures of the Egyptian Museum." Still others were recovered from abroad. The objects are arranged not by period of creation but by order of discovery and divided into two sections ("From Colonialism to Nationalism, 1850-1950" and "The Era of International Cooperation, 1950 to the Present"), with historical introductions to place them in archaeological context and introduce the reader to native Egyptian scholars overlooked in favor of their Western colleagues. A third section, "Exciting New Discoveries from Aswan to Saqqara," includes an overview of the recent excavations of the great temple of Ramesses II at Akhmim, the latest findings from the quarry of the Unfinished Obelisk at Aswan, and two intact First Dynasty tombs found at Saqqara. A bibliography would have fulfilled the potential of this book, and scholars would have found the objects' accession numbers useful. On the whole, however, this book is recommended for all public libraries. Edward K. Werner, St. Lucie Cty. Lib. Syst., Ft. Pierce, FL Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
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