Pharaoh: King of ancient Egypt' introduces readers to three thousand years of Egypt's ancient history by unveiling its famous leaders-the pharaohs-using some of the finest objects from the vast holdings of the British Museum. In an introductory essay, Marie Vandenbeusch looks at Egyptian kingship in terms of both ideology and practicality. Then Aude Semat considers the Egyptian image of kingship, its roles and its uses. In five additional sections, Margaret Maitland delves into themes related to the land of ancient Egypt, conceptions of kingship, the exercise of power, royal daily life, and death and afterlife. Detailed entries by Semat cover key works relating to the pharaohs. These objects, beautifully illustrated in 280 color photographs, include monumental sculpture, architectural pieces, funerary objects, exquisite jewelry, and papyri. The rulers of ancient Egypt were not always male, or even always Egyptian. At times, Egypt was divided by civil war, conquered by foreign powers, o

The Middle Kingdom was a time of unprecedented splendor, as regional potentates were lavished with rewards and buried in a style befitting royalty. Tomb 10A was prepared for one such potentate, and its treasures survived World War I, a ship's fires, and nearly a century of basement storage.

Now you can witness the marvelous treasures as these stunning and priceless artifacts are revealed in extraordinary detail, and experience the mystery and romance surrounding the legendary King Tutankhamun.

"Eternal Egypt features a selection of the most important and beautiful objects from ancient Egypt, a civilization of enduring fascination. Written by Edna R. Russmann, with contributions by a distinguished team of international scholars, the lively text examines over 140 works and highlights the extraordinary artistic achievement that they represent. The book is published in conjunction with a traveling exhibition organized by the American Federation of Arts and The British Museum and drawn exclusively from the collection of The British Museum, which is among the finest in the world. Illustrated with images of the works in the exhibition, as well as comparative materials, Eternal Egypt is that rare book of interest and value to the general and scholarly audience alike."--Jacket.