Life in Ancient Egypt - Brossura

Erman, Adolf

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0486226328 ISBN 13: 9780486226323

Casa editrice: Dover Pubns, 1971

Riassunto

What was it like to live in the ancient land watered by the Nile, thousands of years before Christ was born? How did a man earn his living, what did he wear, where did he go in his leisure time? What was the relationship between an ordinary Egyptian and his government, his wife, his children? Was life for him grim or optimistic, difficult or easy, reverent or worldly? Did his people travel, explore, conquer? Were they very much different from those of the other great civilizations of antiquity, the Greek and the Roman? What was the nature of their science, art, magic, religion? If the past has lessons for the present, what can we deduce from ancient Egyptian life that is of value to us today?
For generations, scholar, specialists, and general readers have been turning to a monumental sourcebook for the answers to such questions: Life in Ancient Egypt by Adolf Erman. It is one of the most influential and frequently consulted works on Egyptology ever written, a classic in its field and the basis of numerous other studies and works. It is still one of a very few books that offer the modern reader so satisfying, informative, and complete a survey in one volume.
Erman, a rigorously trained scholar, Director of the Egyptian Museum in Berlin, and author of standard works on Egyptology, covers his subject thoroughly and with a wealth of interesting, concrete detail. He examines ancient Egypt’s political structure, crime and police systems, domestic life and kinships, dress, amusements, religion, learning, mathematics, magic and folk beliefs, literature, art, agriculture, trades, arts and crafts, commerce, warfare, and much else. His objective point of view, eschewing romanticism on the one hand and frigid pedantry on the other, gives us a treatment that is as trustworthy in fact as it is evocative in effect — as Professor Jon Manchip White says in his new introduction for this edition, “From first to last … a superb performance.” The scholar, the student and the merely curious can do no better than to go to this first, great authority on ancient Egypt. Profusely illustrated throughout.

Su questo libro

Contenuti

INTRODUCTION Traditional Characteristics of Egypt Importance of Egypt in the History of the World Jewish and Greek Sources The Egyptian Monuments Difficulties inherent in the Subject CHAPTER I THE LAND OF EGYPT Geology of the Country Climate and Inundation Flora and Fauna Character of the Country; its Influence on the Nation The Twofold Division of the Country Density of the Population The Nomes or Provinces Upper Egypt Middle Egypt and the Feyum Lower Egypt CHAPTER II THE PEOPLE OF EGYPT Origin of the Egyptians Characteristics of the Egyptian People Dawn of Egyptian History CHAPTER III HISTORY OF ANCIENT EGYPT Chronology The Old Empire The Middle Empire; the Hyksos The Eighteenth Dynasty The Religious Reformation The Nineteenth Dynasty The Twentieth Dynasty Later Periods CHAPTER IV THE KING AND HIS COURT The Status of Royalty in the East Titles of the King The King in his Divine Character The Regalia and the Officials belonging thereto Suite of the King The King's Accession The King in his Priestly Character The King the Head of the Government The Court and the Court Ceremonial The Courtiers The King's Consorts The Princes Education of the Princes CHAPTER V POLITICAL CONDITIONS IN EGYPT UNDER THE OLD EMPIRE The Nomes The Two Halves of the Kingdom "Government of Upper Egypt ; the " Great Men of the South " Government of the North Country The Treasury Department Administration of Justice Honours and Titles Disintegration of the Kingdom under the Middle Empire Hereditary Government of the Nomes The Nomarchs Administration of Government in the Nomes The Treasury Department under the Middle Empire Decline of the Bureaucratic Government Social conditions in the Earlier Period Property of the Aristocracy The Middle Class CHAPTER VI POLITICAL CONDITIONS IN EGYPT UNDER THE NEW EMPIRE Disappearance of the Old Nobility Soldiers and Priests become the Ruling Classes The Slaves of the King The Highest Officials The Treasury Department Scribes and Deeds The Archives The Official and his Chief Reprimand and Deposition Distinctions "Bestowal of the " Gold " The Workmen and their Life Social conditions under the New Empire Serfs and Bondservants CHAPTER VII THE POLICE And THE COURTS OF JUSTICE Robberies in the Theban Necropolis Lawsuit against the Tomb Robbers The Courts of Justice under the Old Empire The Courts of Justice under the New Empire Laws ; exceptional Procedure A Case of High Treason Contracts Statues regarding Endowments CHAPTER VIII FAMILY LIFE The Status of the Wife Double Marriages The Harem Marriage with a Sister Morality of the Nation Inheritance of Property Genealogies Personal Names Surnames and Pet-names Erasure of Names Education and Morals CHAPTER IX THE HOUSE Preliminary Remarks Change of Site of the Royal Towns Memphis Houses of the Old Empire Pictures of Houses of the New Empire Country Houses Town Residences of the New Empire Palace of the King Chairs and Couches Tables and Boxes Household Servants The Kitchen The Bakery Beer Meals The Garden Vine Culture Preparation of Wine CHAPTER X DRESS Preliminary Remarks Men's Dress under the Old Empire Men's Dress under the Middle Empire Men's Dress under the New Empire The Royal Short Skirt Robes of Office Women's Dress under the Old Empire Women's Dress under the New Empire General Character of Egyptian Dress The Laundry Men's Coiffure under the Old and the New Empire Women's Coiffure under the Old and the New Empire Beards Sandals and Shoes Ornaments Coverings for the Head Sticks and Scepters Rouging and Anointing Cosmetics CHAPTER XI RECREATION Preliminary Remarks Bird Snaring Fishing Hippopotamus Hunting Fabulous Animals Desert Hunting Dogs and Monkeys Bull Fights Gymnastics Dancing Music and Song Feasts Games CHAPTER XII RELIGION Development of Religion Attempt at a Reformation Legends of the Gods Rê' and Isis The Rebellion of Mankind The Myth of Osiris Other Divine Myths Private and Public Worship Ritual Sacrifices Festivals The House of the God Plan of the Temples Temple Decoration The Names of the Temples The Temple Enclosure The Temple of Tell el Amarna The Temple Outbuildings The Priesthood under the Old Empire The Priesthood under the Middle Empire Rise of the Priesthood The Priests of Amon under the New Empire Dress of the Priests Gifts of the Kings to the Gods Gifts of Ramses III. To the Gods The Property of Amon CHAPTER XIII THE DEAD The Soul of Man and his Ka Influence of the Myth of Osiris on Funerary Worship Burial Tombs of the Old Empire Tombs of the Middle Empire Tombs of the New Empire Treatment of the Viscera Employment of Magic &nbs Employment of Wood Pillars Tendency to a Freer Development in Architecture Smaller Objects of Art CHAPTER XVII AGRICULTURE Irrigation Ploughing Hoeing and Sowing Harvest Threshing and Winnowing Granaries Various Species of Corn Cattle Breeding Life of the Herdsmen Small Stock and Birds Cattle Breeding under the New Empire Status of the Agricultural Labourer CHAPTER XVIII ARTS AND CRAFTS Status of the Artisan Matting and Woven Stuffs Weaving and Spinning Leatherwork The Use of Wood Carpenters' Tools Peculiarities of Egyptian Carpenters' Work Pottery Glass Blowing and Metal Smelting Metals Goldsmiths' Work Sources of the Various Metals The Nubian Gold Mines The Mines of Sinai The Quarries of Turah The Quarries of the Silsilis and Syene The Quarries of Hammamât The Transport of Blocks of Stone CHAPTER XIX TRAFFIC AND TRADE Papyrus Skiffs and Wooden Boats The Boats of the Old Empire The Boats of the Middle Empire The Boats of the New Empire Litters Donkeys and Horses Carriages "Riding, Traveling, and Postal Arrangements" Marketing Barter and Exchange Intercourse with Nubia Nubia in the Earlier Period Nubia under the New Empire The Government of Nubia The Divine Land The Incense Countries Intercourse with the North Syria and Palestine CHAPTER XX WAR Unwarlike Character of the Egyptians A War under the Old Empire The Wars of the Middle Empire The Fortresses of the Middle Empire Warlike Character of the New Empire The Battle of Kadesh The Syrian Fortresses Celebration of a Victory Treaty with the Cheta Time of Peace with Syria Frontier Relations The Libyans and the Maritime Nations A Naval Engagement Constitution of the Army under the New Empire The Divisions of the Army and their Equipment The Chariot Force The Pitiable Position of the Subordinate Officers

Product Description

The fullest, most thoroughly detailed account - including much material not found in more recent books - of domestic life, religion, magic, medicine, commerce, and much more in ancient Egypt. Many illustrations reproduce tomb paintings, carvings, and hieroglyphs.

Dettagli dell'edizione

• Editore: Dover Pubns
• Data di pubblicazione: 1971
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0486226328
• ISBN 13: 9780486226323
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 597
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: Soc. Agr. La Raia Ss; http://www.la-raia.it; ; Strada Monterotondo, 79; Novi Ligure; 15067; Italia