Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs: Official Companion Book to the Exhibition sponsored by National Geographic [Hardcover]

Zahi Hawass (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2005

The discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun - the most spectacular royal tomb ever found - is one of the most famous events in the history of archaeology. The treasures of this tomb surpass all others and the 50 Tutankhamun artifacts featured in this book illustrate many uses of gold and other precious materials in ancient Egypt, providing us with a glimpse into the extraordinary richness of this ancient civilization. The book also includes cutting-edge forensic data that may provide tantalizing clues to Tutankhamun's mysterious life and death. In addition, artifacts from the period preceding the reign of Tutankhamun will be featured, illuminating this fascinating era of Egyptian history and setting the stage for the treasures of Tut. These pieces will illustrate the history of the 18th dynasty, daily life under the golden pharaohs and the journeys of both kings and commoners to the afterlife and will include pieces dating to the reigns of four 18th dynasty pharaohs, the direct ancestors of Tutankhamun: Amenhotep II, Tuthmosis IV, Amenhotep III and Akhenaten

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Tutankhamen's reign, though brief, is historically significant because it coincided with restoration of the traditional Egyptian pantheon, which had been suppressed in an experiment in radical monotheism under the famous pharaoh Akhenaton. But it's the trove discovered in 1922 that has elevated Tutankhamen into an archaeological superstar, invariably drawing stadium-size crowds to museums that periodically exhibit its objects. A selection of about 130 items (without the spectacular coffins but including grave goods from other kings of Tutankhamen's dynasty) will tour four U.S. cities from 2005 to 2007: this book is the sanctioned companion to the exhibition. Written by one of the premier names in Egyptology, it closely describes the physical and symbolic attributes of each object and explains its purpose in the afterlife. Hawass' text sustains his reputation (Secrets from the Sand, 2003) as an engagingly clear public presenter of the subject, as it threads a general history of the eighteenth dynasty with dramatic narration of archaeologist Howard Carter's finding of Tutankhamen's sepulchre. An arrestingly visual album destined for high demand. Gilbert Taylor
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and National Geographic Explorer- in-Residence, is credited with major discoveries, such as the tombs of the Giza pyramid builders and the Valley of the Golden Mummies, which inspired a best-selling book. He has been consultant for film, television, and magazines, and he lectures throughout the world.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 287 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic; 1St Edition edition (June 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792238737
• ISBN-13: 978-0792238737
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 1 x 11.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #283,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars King Tut World Tour -- Part II, June 28, 2005

By 

C. Hutton "book maven" (East Coast, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs: Official Companion Book to the Exhibition sponsored by National Geographic (Hardcover)

Over the next two years, the artifacts found in the Egyptian tomb of King Tutankhamun will be on display at the musuems in Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago and Phildelphia. This expensive coffee-table book is the "Offical Companion" to the exhibition.

Every other page is an illustration, a photograph of an artifact or a map which is accompany by a descriptive text on the opposing page. Beautifully laid out, the first section of the book is the history and background of King Tut followed by a longer section on every single artifact on display. As it was in its first tour in the late 1970's (with new objects added), this exhibtion is a museum blockbuster -- the LA site will be open 24/7 hours during its final two months of its stay to compensate for the heavy demand for tickets.

For any reader interested in the history of ancient Egypt or plan on viewing this once-in-a-lifetime show, this book is a must buy, preferably before seeing the exhibition.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Photographs from the National Geographic., August 10, 2005

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs: Official Companion Book to the Exhibition sponsored by National Geographic (Hardcover)

This magnificant book is the companion book to go with the Tutankhamun exhibition that is currently touring the United States. It features the magnificant photography for which National Geographic is famous complete with a narative written by Zahi Hawass, the secretary general of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities and director of the Giza and Saqqara Pyramids. In the descriptions, he talks about the life of the boy king, the state of Egypt at the time, the religion and much more. Each piece of the exhibit is discussed as to what it is, what significance it has, and where it was found.

Perhaps most striking is the reconstructed image of Tutankhamun. It was made by a special CT scanner that obtained images from inside the mummy's wrappings without damaging them. This created the first three-dimensional picture of Tutankhamun.

The exhibit will show in LA, June 16 to November 15, 2005, Ft. Lauderdale from December 15 to April 23, 2006, Chicago May 26 to January 1, 2007, and in Philadelphia February 3 to September 30, 2007.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not your average book of Tutankhamun, October 11, 2005

By 

G.Reed (Somewhere in Utah...) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs: Official Companion Book to the Exhibition sponsored by National Geographic (Hardcover)

I admit, King Tut has been done to death. So many books out there exist soley about him and the discovery of his tomb. Even me, being a passionate afficianado of Egyptology, have to admit that when I recieved this book, I though it would be just another book on King Tut.
But it isn't.
This book is a marvelous analysis of the life and times of Tutankhamun, the heretic Akhenaten, and the tumultous Amarna period, which has fascinated and astounded historians for centuries. This book is a beautiful exhibition guide to an unearthly exhibit. If you have seen the exhibit, it's a perfect way to relive the wonderful experience again and again. If you have not, the book, with its earthy, gorgeous, full color photograhps, captures the feel of the exhibit spectacularly. With hundreds of gorgeous and new photos by Kenneth Garret, and clear, concise, and fascinating text by the brilliant Zahi Hawass, this book is another triumph by National Geographic.