A narrative history of the cavalcade of archaeologists, charlatans, thieves, self-promoters, and sightseers who have flocked to the Nile Valley since early times to study - or steal - the wonders of ancient Egypt. The scandalous rape of Ancient Egypt is a historical vignette of greed, vanity, and dedicated archaeological research. It is a tale vividly told by renowned archaeology author, Brian Fagan, with characters that include the ancient historian Herodotus; Theban tomb robbers; obelisk-stealing Romans; Coptic Christians determined to erase the heretical past; mummy traders; leisured antiquarians; major European museums; Giovanni Belzoni, a circus strongman who removed more antiquities than Napoleon's armies; shrewd consuls and ruthless pashas; and archaeologists such Sir Flinders Petrie who changed the course of Egyptology. Fagan's classic account of the cavalcade of archaeologists, thieves, and sightseers who have flocked to the Nile Valley since ancient times. Featured in this edition are new accounts of stunning recent discoveries, including the Royal Tombs of Tanis, the Valley of Golden Mummies at Bahariya, the Tomb of the Sons of Ramses, and the sunken city of Alexandria (whose lighthouse was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World). Fagan concludes with a clear-eyed assessment of the impact of modern mass tourism on archaeological sites and artifacts.

From ancient times, funerals have been deeply social events characterized by a complex array of social and cultural interactions. This book reveals what took place when the early Jews and Christians in Palestine gathered to bury their dead. Byron McCane, Academic Director of the Sepphoris Excavations, uses the evidence of his archaeological fieldwork to answer fascinating and important questions including: Was Jesus' burial a shameful event in Roman Palestine? What kinds of death rituals did his followers practice? How different were the death rituals of Jews from those of the earliest Christian communities? McCane writes with insight and wit about the typical characteristics of Jewish, Christian, and pagan burial practices between 63 B.C.E. and 135 C.E. He argues that Jews of the period shared cultural ethnicity that led to very similar death rituals. He contends that the Christian communities that handed down the Q traditions were made up of typical Galilean Jews. He examines early Christian stories about Jesus' burial, showing how they are founded in the social context of Palestinian Judaism. Finally, he explores how, in the second century, Jews and Christians begin to part ways in their funerary practices. These changes were driven not only by theological disputes about death and the afterlife, but also by the steady pressure of larger social and cultural forces. Byron R. McCane is Professor of Religion and department chair at Wofford College, Spartanburg, South Carolina. He is Academic Director of the Sepphoris Excavations in Northern Israel.

These nine papers are taken from a session at the EAA conference held in Esslington in 2001 which dealt with themes of interest to both the Egyptological community and to European archaeologists alike. The contributors deal with a range of subjects: recent Russian and Hellenic investigations in Egypt; the history of European Egyptology; political, cultural and economic contacts between Europe and Egypt in Dynastic, Hellenic-Roman and early Christian periods; links between ancient populations of Europe and Egypt drawing on anthropological data.

After the death of the last of the ramessides, Smendes, Lord of Tanis, proclaimed himself Pharaoh, founded the XXI dynasty and initiated one of the most unknown but attractive periods in the history of Egypt, the Third Intermediate Period. This book deals with the burials in the Valley of the Kings in the 21st - 30th Dynasties of Egypt, when they were not used by the rulers anymore. Through detailed investigation of the tombs and the hieroglyphes, the author has tried to identify the individuals buried in these tombs. The royal New Kingdom tombs were taken as a reference point and a comparison with the texts and iconography was established. This enables a better understandong of the traditions that followed in the Third Intermediate Period and naturally the changes that had taken place in the choice of the religious compendiums and representations associated with this period.

Animal burials, whether buried with human remains or alone, are frequent discoveries in Egypt yet it can be difficult to reconstruct their religious and cultural significance. This study examines animals in human graves, possibly intended as food offerings, but the emphasis is on independent Predynastic animal burials because these provide greater archaeological evidence for animal cults and possible sacrifice. Flores examines the geographic distribution of the burials and the types of animal represented, including goats, dogs and, in more elite tombs, donkeys, birds, bulls and lions. Throughout, comparisons are made between cultures from Upper and Lower Egypt.

The definitive story of the recent discovery of the first-century ossuary (limestone bone box) with the legend 'James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus', & it's implications for understanding Jesus, his family, his followers, the first Christians and the Jewish Christian movement in Jerusalem that was led by James.

Since their discovery in 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls have become an icon in popular culture that transcends their status as ancient Jewish manuscripts. Everyone has heard of the Scrolls, but amidst the conspiracies, the politics, and the sensational claims, it can be difficult to separate the myths from the reality. In this Very Short introductions, Timothy Lim discusses the cultural significance of the finds, and the religious, political and legal controversies during the seventy years of study since the discovery. He also looks at the contribution the Scrolls have made to our understanding of the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible, and the origins of early Christianity. Exploring the most recent scholarly discussions on the archaeology of Khirbet Qumran, and the study of the biblical texts, the canon, and the history of the Second Temple Period, he considers what the scrolls reveal about sectarianism in early Judaism. Was the archaeological site of Qumran a centre of monastic life, a fortress, a villa, or a pottery factory? Why were some of their biblical texts so different from the ones that we read today? Did they have 'a Bible'? Who were the Essenes and why did they think that humanity is to be divided between 'the sons of light' and those in darkness? And, finally, do the Scrolls reflect the teachings of the earliest followers of Jesus? ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

The recent discovery and exhibition of an ancient Jewish ossuary (a burial box) that bears the inscription "James the son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" has stunned scholars and public alike. Could it really be that this small stone box actually contained the bones of James, the brother of Jesus Christ? While the preliminary scientific and paleographic study suggests that this ossuary may well be authentic (in other words, datable to the 1st century) and may well refer to James, the brother of Jesus, whose leadership to early Christianity in Jerusalem has become public, what is still shrouded in mystery is that this ossuary is only one of several that shed important archaeological light on the historical Jesus and the origins of Christianity.

In Jesus and the Ossuaries, Craig A. Evans helps all readers, expert and layperson alike, understand the importance of this recent find for the quest for the historical Jesus and any historical reconstruction of early Christianity. Evans provides an overview of the most important archaeological discoveries, including those near the Dead Sea, before summarizing archaeological findings relevant to 1st-century Galilee and Judea.

Against this backdrop, Evans then provides a detailed study of nine other inscriptions (six on ossuaries, three on stone slabs) that pertain in one way or another to the historical Jesus and the arguments for and against the authenticity and identification of the recently discovered James Ossuary (the tenth major inscription). Evans concludes his volume with a measured consideration of the historical, exegetical, and apologetic value of the archaeological data afforded by the several inscriptions.

The University College London Lahun (Middle Kingdom) papyri constitute one of the most remarkable harvests of papyri of any age. This volume communicates the content of the surviving letters and letter fragments from the Petrie excavations at Lahun in an accessible and affordable format. The letters and fragments are from original letters: model letters, letter copies, and reports are reserved for future publications. The volume is intended not only for Egyptological researchers, but also for learners in higher and further education. This mass of writing calls for a more nuanced appreciation of the roles of writing and reading, and the social reach of the written culture across the different classes, ages, genders inhabiting this architecture and landscape. (The reader will find three means of access to the original content: Printed pages with transcriptions, transliterations, and translations: A printed index: The entire collection of papyri on an accompanying CD.)

This volume challenges some common assumptions about the culture of the early Byzantine Near East by examining the architecture and urban design of five cities in that period. The author assesses the various kinds of religious structure found in each city, including cult centres, temples dedicated to the Olympian gods and buildings set aside for mystery religions. He also shows how the effects of these sanctuaries on civic religious life were hugely important and influential, and shaped the way that citizens conceived of their city and of themselves. This book should be of interest to: scholars and students of the New Testament and of the Hellenistic period; scholars and students of Judaic studies; scholars and students of Classical studies; and non-specialists interested in the life and times of the ancient world.

This volume reports on the results of survey work carried out in Sudan in advance of the construction of the Merowe Dam. A short introduction leads into the main body of the volume which forms a gazetteer of sites (artefact scatters, settlements, fortified enclosures and cemeteries) reflecting extensive occupation over long periods. Rich in archaeological material, the remainder of the volume includes analyses of pottery, small finds, lithics and rock art from the area. This report clearly reflects the rich archaeology of the area and, since only small areas could be examined in detail, the large amount of material that will be lost.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Evidence from ancient records with maps and illustrations. Volume 1 of the Advanced Christian Culture Courses. This book is intended for those readers and students of the Bible and ancient history who are not able to read the inscriptions on the monuments, or to make practical use of the larger technical works. The book is arranged so that it yields readily to a plan of reading and study, covering a period of six months. The table of contents gives the theme of each of the 285 sections, distributed under 25 chapters. Also contains a listing of books for further study.

This book studies the royal festivals in the Egyptian Late Predynastic period and the First Dynasty. (The chronological beginning here is the Naqada IId period and the author includes a brief account of royal festivals in the contemporary Lower Nubia and the Second Dynasty.) The Egyptian kings developed a complex system of ceremonies and rituals that served them as a form of expression before society. The ways were complex and varied, but so effective that most of these festivals continued to be performed for more than three thousand years. The author begins with an historical outline of the unification process and the First Dynasty before exploring the main themes of kingship and festivals. The points of discussion include temple structures (Abydos, Saqqara, Hierakonpolis), festival traditions, the 'sed' festival, 'victory festivals', the festival of 'Sokar', and symbolic topography.

In this short, accessible and readable book, Professor Soggin gives an account of all the features of Israelite and Jewish religion in the biblical period. After a radical assessment of the nature of the sources and the problems of using them historically, he discusses the origin of monotheism and Israel's belief in its one God Yahweh. Then follow accounts of the three most important features in Israelite religion: the Jerusalem temple and its worship, the covenant, and sacrifices. The main festivals are discussed and there are chapters on the sabbath and the new moon, the sabbatical year and the year of jubilee, and the calendar. The book ends with an account of changes brought about after the exile and the development of Middle Judaism, and the collapse of the old Israelite system of worship after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE.Though firmly based on biblical and Near Eastern texts and artefacts, the book wears its learning lightly; there are no footnotes, but a bibliography of books for further reading. Its clarity and straightforward approach make it an ideal introduction to the subject for students.

Archaeology seems to have become an active partner in the attempt to prove the historical truth of the Bible. Biblical archaeologists have gone to the field in search of Noah's ark or the walls of Jericho, as if the finding of these artifacts would make the events of scripture somehow more true or real.Thomas Thompson is one of the most vocal contemporary critics of biblical archaeology. His simple but powerful thesis is that archaeology cannot be used in the service of the Bible. Focusing on the patriarchal narratives-the stories of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob-he demonstrates that archaeological research simply cannot historically substantiate these stories. Going further, Thompson says that archaeological materials should never be dated or evaluated on the basis of written texts. Looking to the patriarchal narratives in Genesis, he concludes that these stories are neither historical nor were they intended to be historical. Instead, these narratives are written as expressions of Israel's relationship to God. Thomas L. Thompson is Professor of Old Testament, University of Copenhagen. His books include The Mythic Past and The Early History of the Israelite People.

A selection of 17 papers from the first Symposium of "Current Research in Egyptology", held in Oxford in 2000. The Symposium was held to foster communication and exchange of ideas among students of Egyptology at UK institutions. The UK enjoys a wealth of Egyptological resources, but it is sometimes difficult for graduate students from different universities to interact. In many cases, the very diverse papers presented, constitute ongoing research, offering authors the opportunity to formulate the current state of their work, and to present it to a wider audience. Topics covered range from "Hysteria Revisited: Women's Public Health in Ancient Egypt" to "Papyrological Evidence of Travelling in Byzantine Egypt".

Before its inundation in 1965, the island of Meinarti was situated at the foot of the Second Nile Cataract, 10km south of the town of Wadi Halfa. It was the last place that could be reached, at all times of the year, by large watercraft travelling upriver, a circumstance clearly important in shaping the history of the settlement. The total excavation work covered 18 occupation levels, varying in date from the 2nd or 3rd centuries to the 17th century AD. This volume processes in detail the Late Meroitic and Ballana phases (c. 200-660 AD), and is the first in five volume series.

Although the Ptolemaic royal image has been the subject of many individual studies, there remains an imbalance in the extent of scholarly attention devoted to the different styles of imagery. The aims of the present publication are to assess the interaction between the Greek and Egyptian Ptolemaic royal representations (from about the third century B.C.), and to establish a relative chronological sequence for developments in the presentation of the royal family, where possible identifying individual rulers. The book's material is divided according to classification, and the various functions of the different types of royal image will also be considered. Includes a catalogue section detailing 70 pieces of sculpture from major museum collections and elsewhere.

The potential of the scarab seal is still neglected by many archaeologists. They are primarily considered for chronological purposes, and so their capacity as an historical document is under-rated, as is their value as an archaeological tool. Luckily, more recent studies are beginning to assess the archaeological and historical value of scarabs, and in particular design scarabs, revealing them as potential indicators of cultural interaction, and it is within this genre that the anra (identified always by a sequence of hieroglyphs which includes the letters n and r) scarab is considered in this extensive study. The aim of this work is to try and establish the status, function, meaning, and significance of the anra scarab, and possibly offer something new with regard to the nature of the relationships that existed between the countries of Africa and the Levant during the latter part of the Middle Bronze Age.

Hierakonpolis, located less than 100km south of Luxor, has been excavated at various times since the end of the 19th century with much work carried out by Michael Hoffman in the 1980s. This report builds on Hoffman's work and forms the background to renewed investigations at the site by Adams and others. It presents material from 12 tombs which are part of the large cemetery, including descriptions of the tomb form and type, and artifacts found within them, as well as plant, human and faunal remains. These finds are then compared with material from other parts of the Hierakonpolis site.

The use of Neutron Activation Analysis opens up enormous possibilities for studying and identifying the chemical composition of clays from pottery vessels and, subsequently, for investigating the origins and possible place of manufacture for these vessels. This publication and the research on which it is based, completes the work of Joan Huntoon whose dissertation focused on the origins, distribution and trade of Middle Bronze Canaanite Jars, with the site of Tel el-Daba featuring prominently. Patrick McGovern uses Huntoon's programme of NAA analyses in making inferences on the production, movement and trade of Canaanite jars, polished, painted and other vessels around the Near East and Aegean.

This collection of essays composed by an international array of friends and colleagues typifies the career accomplishments and scholarly endeavors of W. G. Lambert.