Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
When we think of ancient Egypt, we think of the gods, the pharaohs and the pyramids. However, life for the average Egyptian was very different from this glorious perception and was not so unrecognisable from the lives we live today. This book tells the history of the ordinary population of ancient Egypt, using the stories of real people - often strange, at times amusing and ultimately very recognisable. Booth introduces us to a number of fascinating people, including Taimhotep, who married a man twice her age and turned to the god Imhotep to help her to conceive a son; Naunakhte, who disinherited her children for neglecting her in her old age; Kenhirkhopshef, a man seemingly obsessed with making lists; and Paneb, the 'bad boy' of Deir el-Medina. History is made up of people and personalities, and each of these characters has a story to tell.
Synopsis
Why was a skin graft used on a mummy?
Was there a state healthcare system for pyramid workers?
How could Bes the happy dwarf help you with childbirth?
When we think of ancient Egypt, we think of the gods, the pharaohs and the pyramids. However, life for the average Egyptian was very different from this glamorous perception, and not so very unrecognisable for us today.
This book will tell the history of the ordinary population of ancient Egypt, using the stories of real people often strange, at times amusing, and ultimately very recognisable. Aspects of life such as affairs of the heart, household religion and education and employment and will be explored, as well as and death and burial all from the perspective of non-royal members of Egyptian society. This book will draw on the archaeological records, artefacts, written records and the mummies themselves to recreate life in ancient Egypt.
Booth introduces us to a number of fascinating people, including Taimhotep, who married a man twice her age and turned to the god Imhotep to help her to conceive her son; Naunakhte, who disinherited her children for neglecting her in old age; Kenhirkhopshef, a man seemingly obsessed by making lists; and Paneb, who was the Bad Boy of Deir el Medina. History is made up of people and personalities: each of these people have a story to tell."