Chronicle of a Pharaoh: The Intimate Life of Amenhotep III [Hardcover]

Joann Fletcher (Author), George Hart (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 9, 2000

Taking an eye-opening new approach to Egyptian history, Chronicle of a Pharaoh presents a unique and intimate portrait of Amenhotep III, the man and self-proclaimed god who presided over the zenith of Egypt's greatness. Through an unprecedented wealth of details--from the day-to-day running of a huge empire to his clothes, cats, and bedroom habits--the private and public faces of a pharaoh are vividly brought to life as never before.
Joann Fletcher explores Amenhotep's private and public life in a compelling year-by-year account, drawing on firsthand and previously unpublished material. Among the many subjects covered are his daily schedule, such as bedchamber ceremonies and meetings with ministers; his relations with rulers of other ancient superpowers, recorded in a lively correspondence covering topics from new wives to the price of silver; his family life, including the remarkable role of his wife, Queen Tiy; the superlative art of the reign; and his monumental construction projects--among them the great temple of Luxor. Amenhotep III also established the cult of Aten, the sun disk, and after Amenhotep's death his son, the rebel pharaoh Akhenaten, became fanatically obsessed with the god.
Illustrated with spectacular full-color photographs, maps, and artifacts, many of which are published here for the first time, Chronicle of a Pharaoh provides the full context for understanding the monarch who presided over the magnificent flowering of Egyptian civilization.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This attractive, richly illustrated little book relates the life of Amenhotep III, who ruled Egypt in the 14th century B.C.E. He was a remarkable figure, and during his reign, Egypt was the world superpower, enjoying unparalleled economic growth and peace, both at home and with its neighbors. Amenhotep was a brilliant politician, best known today as the builder of the magnificent temple of Luxor and the royal palace of Malkata. Yet Fletcher, a well-known freelance Egyptologist based in England, focuses equally on some of the more intimate details of Amenhotep's life. She has organized the book in short chapters, each corresponding to roughly one year of Amenhotep's life, allowing Fletcher to present a plethora of extraordinary documents, paintings and sculptures that shed light on specific problems or events of Amenhotep's reign. For example, she includes charming details of the pharaoh's three jubilee festivals, and examines how he mourned the death of his loved ones and his marriage to the remarkable Queen Tiy. In addition, the author presents fascinating details of her subject's diplomatic relations with neighboring states and of how Amenhotep utilized religion to bolster his reign. The essential weakness of the format, however, is that it breaks up the narrative, thus losing an analytical edge. The book could also have benefited from a summary introduction or conclusion. Strengths outweigh weaknesses, however, in this aesthetically pleasing, small volume that imparts a taste of Amenhotep's persona, making the reader feel closer to this figure who lived so long ago. (Oct.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-A renowned Egyptolo-gist offers some previously unpublished data in this year-by-year account of the nearly 40-year reign enjoyed by the famous pharaoh. The minutia of daily life for ancient Egyptian royalty is explained through colorful draw-ings, reproductions, and diagrams. Sum-maries at the start of each year in his life set the scene for the descriptions to come. One section, entitled "The Education of a Prince," describes the schooling and clothing of the young Amenhotep, and even includes a translation from a text of the time. Toys and games favored by children are described and a photograph of a wooden lion with jaws that can snap offers visual evidence of a similarity to present-day toys. Other topics include the five titles given to Amenhotep at his birth; the translations of letters to him from other rulers; descriptions of fashion and jewelry; and the events such as Opet, a yearly revival of the pharaoh's powers that lasted for two to four weeks. Fletcher describes how scholars have traditionally dismissed Amenhotep's achievements, while in actuality he may have been the most significant of the ancient pharaohs. The book is readable, yet scholarly, and presented in a colorful format that is easy and interesting to use. It should make a good addition to traditional reference sources for research on ancient Egypt.-Carol DeAngelo, Kings Park Library, Burke, VA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (November 9, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195216601
• ISBN-13: 978-0195216608
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,653,663 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ancient Intimacy, October 11, 2000

By 

R. Hardy "Rob Hardy" (Columbus, Mississippi USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chronicle of a Pharaoh: The Intimate Life of Amenhotep III (Hardcover)

It is rather surprising that a book-length biography of a king who lived three thousand years ago could be accomplished. Naturally, there are few amusing anecdotes or personal recollections to draw on, and it is not possible to come up with even a biographer's speculations about how the character of the subject was formed. What Dr. Fletcher (the jacket says she is a "freelance Egyptologist") can do is look at the monuments, paintings, and written records to show aspects of what Amenhotep III did from year to year, and from his possessions make inferences as to what was important to him. It is as full a biography of this ancient as we could expect.

For instance, it is possible to get some idea of what the prince's upbringing was like. Children of the royal nursery were taught to read and write hieratic, the "cursive" variety of hieroglyphics by the scribe Menkheper. He also would have learned cuneiform script, the language of diplomatic correspondence of the time, and he would use it prolifically during his reign. A primer of the time advises students: "You have to do your exercises daily. Don't be idle... Ask from those who know more than you, and don't be weary - try to understand what your teacher wants, listen to his instructions." Maybe such exhortations worked, but obviously not always: a contemporary proverb says, "A boy's ear is on his back: he hears when he is beaten." It was not all work and no play, however. There is a palette of six blocks of paints which bears the name of Amenhotep III, and his playroom (shared by children of the royal generations) in the palace of Amarna has paint marks on the floor and lower walls.

_Chronicle of a Pharaoh_ is a beautifully illustrated book, with pictures on most of its pages. Some of the descriptions of life in ancient Egypt will seem as if they are taken from the ruling classes of our own times, but most interesting are the descriptions of customs, dress, and religion which are nothing like our own. Amenhotep III lived a full reign of 38 years, mostly with his nation at peace, and prosperous from good weather and big harvests. He had many construction projects, notably the temples at Luxor. He was a capable administrator and had a sense of humor (shown by the cache of diplomatic correspondence displayed here). The details of life in the times, and the lovely pictures, are captivating.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amenhotep Dazzles, February 3, 2001

By 

Standing In Motion - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chronicle of a Pharaoh: The Intimate Life of Amenhotep III (Hardcover)

Chronicle of a Pharaoh is a readable in-depth look at pharaoh Amenhotep III, one of the three greatest kings of ancient Egypt. The layout is superb as it chronicles his life with a year-by-year format. Contains a generous amount of personal minutae, reinforced with pictures and plates on almost every page. Outstanding in all respects, this one is a keeper.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A full picture of a pharaoh, December 2, 2000

By 

Ben Single (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chronicle of a Pharaoh: The Intimate Life of Amenhotep III (Hardcover)

I agree with the first reviewer--it's amazing that Joann Fletcher has pieced together so much about Amenhotep and presents it in a way that conveys an actual life. The little details, like the name of his family cat, make this book tons of fun. An all-around beautiful book.