Pharaohs of the Sun: Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Tutankhamen [Hardcover]

Rita E. Freed (Author), Yvonne J. Markowitz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1999

The fascinating Amarna Period of ancient Egypt comes to life through more than 250 beautiful works of sculpture, architectural elements, ceramic ware, jewelry, clothing, tools, and furniture from renowned international collections. Essays by leading Egyptian scholars describe this time of unprecedented change in art and architecture, technology, the role of women, and religion.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bulfinch Press; 1st edition (November 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821226207
• ISBN-13: 978-0821226209
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 10.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,382,496 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Absolute, February 4, 2000

By 

Kate Stange (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pharaohs of the Sun: Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Tutankhamen (Hardcover)

What a treasure! Whether you've seen the exhibition or not (I saw it and wrote about it at http://kate.stange.com/egypt/ps.htm), this is more than just a detailed catalogue of all the over 250 exhibition pieces. It is a full-colour, well-written wealth of Amarna information, including a wide variety of essays by all the most well-known Amarna scholars (Johnson, Redford, Lacovara, Mallinson, Reeves, Foster, Freed, Markowitz, Manuelian, Silverman, Kendall, D'Auria, Murnane), a glossary, list of excavations, miscellaneous reference information (such as cartouches of the royalty) and extensive bibliography (the bibliography alone is worth the purchase of this book). In the end, the over 400 colour plates (of sumptuous quality) probably show every Amarna piece I've ever heard of, and then some. They are the real treasure in this book.

If you've never heard of "Amarna" or these pharaohs, this is a fantastic introduction to their unique piece of history and the stunning, unusual (for Ancient Egypt) art! You'll love it. Only it's a little too large to take to bed.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars review of Pharaohs of the Sun, December 30, 2000

By 

Lane Banks (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pharaohs of the Sun: Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Tutankhamen (Hardcover)

An intriguing account of the life and rule of Akhenaten, one of the most controversial figures in Egyptian history. Akenaten, who is widely credited with being the world's first monotheist, rejected the well-established pantheon of gods and Egypt's capital to establish a new religious and government center at Aketaten, the "Horizon of the Aten." The authors attribute this to the fact that the priesthood, especially that of Egypt's most powerful god Amun, had grown so as the threaten pharaonic power, and Akenaten's closing of the temples was designed to eclipse this threat.

Much has been written about Akenaten's possible physical deformities, due to the appearance of surviving sculptures and paintings. The slack belly, prominent hips, almond-shaped eyes, long face, and large lips, not only of Akenaten but of other members of the royal family as well, have engendered discussions as to whether Akenaten actually appeared this way, or if he wished to depart from the traditional methods of depiction in Egyptian art. When Akenaten abolished the old system of worship, and set up the Aten, the disc of the sun, as the one true god, he also appointed himself as the sole intermediary between Aten and the people, thereby deifying himself in the process. (This deification of the person of the pharaoh was not without precendent. Akenaten's father, Amenhotep III, enjoyed such status in his lifetime.) The authors suggest that the unusual appearance of Akenaten was to give himself an instantly recognizable iconography appropriate to his divine status, much like the other gods' peculiar attributes, such as Osiris' mummiform body and green skin. This theory is supported by the fact that Akenaten's appearance in artworks changed throughout his reign, moving from relatively usual examples toward the most extreme depictions in the "high Amarna" style, before returning to a more traditional appearance before the end of his rule. The authors also note the continuing influence of the Amarna style for centuries after Akenaten's death, most notably in the tomb treasures of Tutankhamen.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Model for Exhibition Catalogues, July 16, 2001

By 

Jeffrey C. Collins (Jersey City, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pharaohs of the Sun: Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Tutankhamen (Hardcover)

This is the finest exhibition catalogue for Egyptian art this reviewer has ever seen. The text is a monument of scholarship for the always-challenging Amarna period, and the objects are sensitively photographed and well explained. The book is also beautifully designed and printed. A must-have for the devotees of Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and Tutankhamen.