Ancient Egypt

This title provides a comprehensive survey of writings and inscriptions which have survived from Ancient Egypt, illustrating a variety of themes of Ancient Egyptian civilization and culture, from imaginative literature, magic, and religion to royal administration, building programmes and warfare. It covers the period from the early Old Kingdom (c.2600 BC) through to the period immediately after the end of the New Kingdom (c.1000 BC) - the period often known as the core pharaonic period from the building of the pyramids to the closure of the Valley of the Kings. It also provides up-to-date translations of the most significant examples of all types of Egyptian writing, with a commentary essay on each example, clarifying and expanding the content of the original document, discussing and further illustrating the cultural themes which the document raises. Readers are introduced to the range and content of Ancient Egyptian inscriptions and writings and to the use of these texts as primary source material for the study of Ancient Egypt.