Synopses & Reviews
When Tutankhamen's tomb was discovered in 1922, even the most experienced archaeologists joined the international community in marveling at the incredible wealth-and seemingly bizarre rituals-of ancient Egypt. What kind of society could produce such spectacular treasures only to bury them forever?
Lost in a frenzy of speculation-anthropological, scientific, and commercial-was Tutankhamen himself. Thirty-five hundred years ago, the mightiest empire on earth crowned a boy as its king, then worshipped him as a god. Nine years later, he was dead. Despite the young monarch's almost universal recognition in death, Egyptologists know very little about his life. Traditional histories, founded on incomplete investigation and academic dogma, shed almost no light on the details of a life as complicated and as fascinating as it was short.
In Tutankhamen: The Life and Death of the Boy-King, Christine El Mahdy finally delivers a coherent portrait of King Tut's life and its historical significance. Based on stunning tomb records, lost since their discovery, this revolutionary biography begins to answer one of the twentieth century's most compelling archaeological mysteries: Who was Tutankhamen?
Review
"Wonderful...accessible and informative and full of the author's enthusiasm for her subject, El Mahdy's book provides some long-absent historical context to the life of the famous king." --
Publishers Weekly"Complex though always engaging...and entertaining blend of tenacious scholarship, rigorous argument, and lucid exposition." --Kirkus Reviews
"Sifting through arcane archaeological evidence, the author diligently pieces together a full-bodied portrait of an ever-fascinating ancient ruler." --Booklist
"Once you surrender to El Mahdy's magical, mystical Egyptian tour, this book is hard to put down." --Cleveland Plain Dealer
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 330-331) and index.
About the Author
Christine El Mahdy is an Egyptologist at Yeovil College, where she is the founder and director of the Egyptian Society. Previous works include
The World of the Pharaohs and
Mummies, Myth and Magic. She lives in England.