Egyptian Mummies: Unraveling the Secrets of an Ancient Art [Paperback]

Bob Brier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 14, 1996

Egyptian Mummies results from research done in preparation for the mummification of a human body, the first to be done in the Egyptian style in two thousand years. Through these studies, noted Egyptologist Bob Brier has unearthed the gripping stories of grave robberies and stolen mummies, the forgotten language of the pharaohs, and the tombs of the royal mummies. In an easily accesible and lively style, Brier uncovers the complete historical context of ancient Egyptian culture and offers a fascinating contemporary interpretation of it. Illuminating their mysteries, myths, sacred rituals, and heiroglyphic writing, Egyptian Mummies brings the ancients to life.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA?Brier explains the philosophical and spiritual ideas and tenets that nurtured mummification, but this book is mainly a description of its history, methods, how each pharoah was found and by what process unwound, and how the mummy has been portrayed in modern film and fiction. YAs should enjoy this title?the pace is lively and some sections can be skimmed without losing a sense of the whole. Useful for assignments and fascinating reading.?Clodagh Lee, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Mummies. The word itself conjures a sense of the macabre, of dread, of morbid fascination. Brier's work, however, conjures something very different: the adventure of discovery. Brier (Egyptology, Long Island Univ. and the New School for Social Research) hopes one day to mummify a modern cadaver according to ancient Egyptian embalming methods. Meanwhile, in a lively readable style, he gives us an overview of his own study and that of his predecessors. He discusses Egyptian religion and funerary practice and the burials of pharaohs and priests, nobles and commoners, pets and sacred animals. He describes desecrations by grave robbers, ancient and modern, and shows how Napoleon's invasion of Egypt-not only with soldiers but also with scholars and scientists-brought into being the field of Egyptology. A fascinating study; recommended for public and academic libraries.
James F. DeRoche, Alexandria, Va.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial (March 14, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688146244
• ISBN-13: 978-0688146245
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #241,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #98 in Books > History > Africa > Egypt

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, July 12, 2001

By 

Jadepearl "geezer geek" (Wandering, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Egyptian Mummies: Unraveling the Secrets of an Ancient Art (Paperback)

This is a wonderful one stop volume on Egyptian mummies. Detailed and focused on the process of how the Egyptians developed mummification. The book begins with the memos between Dr. Brier and school administration on performing an actual human mummification on campus and then ends with the teaser that any further information on the modern mummification will be published elsewhere.

For anyone who has a fascination about mortuary practices, Ancient Egyptian history, and paleo-archaeology or even the developoment of Egyptian archaeological practices this book is for you. Broken down by dynasties Brier carefully provides information about the mummification process through those time periods while giving small doses of Egyptian history. Brier also has a nice section on the Mummy in movies and popular media which is a nice send off to the previous historical chapters.

It is a fascinating introduction and I could not put my copy down. The writing style is very readable and easy going. The only reason that I give it 4 stars is due to him not providing information on the modern mummifcation that he performed a few years ago. For further information on that mummification you have to find his article in Archaeology (Jan/Feb. 2001) or articles in the Journal of Physical Anthropology. After reading those articles I thought a chapter on that mummification would not have been out of place nor of too much strain on resources.

For those wanting to start an Egyptology section to their library this would be a fine edition and so would the Oxford history of Ancient Egypt.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good, January 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Egyptian Mummies: Unraveling the Secrets of an Ancient Art (Paperback)

I recieved this book three...maybe four years ago as a gift. At first, the photographs of actual corpses and mummified remains of people who lived thousands of years ago kind of spooked me out every time I looked at the book, but as time went on and I got used to the photographs, I was able to actually read and appreciate this informative text. The mummies (which were not in bandages, necessarily, but unwrapped, uncovered, and undisturbed) actually became interesting to view, and I was able to gain an even greater appreciation of Ancient Egyptian culture through reading this book. If all a person knows about mummies comes from a Brenden Fraser, a Louis Gossett Jr., or a Boris Karloff movie, s/he will be stunned to read a book like this, which is entertaining, informative, and most importantly true to the ancient culture of Egypt.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book, October 14, 2002

By 

M Nelson (Portland, Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Egyptian Mummies: Unraveling the Secrets of an Ancient Art (Paperback)

This book is great fun and full of fascinating little details. It covers the process of mummification and interesting info about the history of Egyptology. I loved the stories about the archaeological finds at Saqqara and Deir el Bahri. My one complaint is the last chapter, which is a lame summary of mummies in modern fiction.