
Egypt
Lost Civilizations
Christina Riggs(Author)
Reaktion Books (Publisher)
Published on 28. February 2022
Book
Paperback/Softback
208 pages
978-1-78914-587-8 (ISBN)
Description
Often characterized as a 'lost' civilization that was 'discovered' by adventurers and archaeologists, ancient Egypt has fascin--ated and inspired many other cultures. Classical Greek and Roman writers admired ancient Egyptian philosophy; in the eighteenth century, secret societies like the Freemasons still upheld the wisdom of ancient Egypt. But why? Christina Riggs introduces the history, art and religion of Egypt from its earliest dynasties to its final fall to Rome, and explores the influence ancient Egypt has had through the centuries.
Today, ancient Egypt is ubiquitous in museums, television documentaries and tattoo parlours - wherever people look for a past as ancient and impressive as they come. Looking for a vanished past, Riggs argues, always serves some purpose in the present.
Today, ancient Egypt is ubiquitous in museums, television documentaries and tattoo parlours - wherever people look for a past as ancient and impressive as they come. Looking for a vanished past, Riggs argues, always serves some purpose in the present.
Reviews / Votes
2018 Outstanding Academic Title * Choice * it is Riggs's apparently inexhaustible fund of examples, and the well-targeted deployment of her material, from the physical remains of ancient Egypt itself to the iconography of the Arab Spring, that engages and carries the reader through this lively and informative survey. Tracing her story from the Roman period to the present day, Riggs guides us through the influences this "lost" civilization has exerted, and the numerous reactions it has provoked . . . Accessibly written, assuming no prior knowledge on the reader's part, it has an engaging tone, and never patronizes. * TLS * Christina Riggs's Egypt is one of Reaktion Books' accessible and informative Lost Civilizations guides. It is, however, much more than a chronological survey of ancient Egypt; it is also an elegant and intriguing thematic interpretation of that civilisation's grip on our imagination ever since. * Minerva * With this book, Riggs admirably achieves the objectives of the publisher's "Lost Civilizations" series, which looks at the rise and fall of a civilization and assesses its artistic and cultural legacy, and explains why it remains relevant for readers today. Riggs concludes that ancient Egypt has been gone for two thousand years, and so is lost. While many remains from ancient Egypt have survived, she asserts that each culture, society, or generation interprets them differently . . . For those seeking a brief introduction, Riggs's book, including its chronology and bibliography, is perfect . . . Essential. * Choice * This refreshingly different and beautifully written account of ancient Egypt goes beyond the ancient civilization itself to explore the ways in which it can be said to be lost and rediscovered. * Gay Robins, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Art History, Emory University *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
46 illustrations, 31 in colour
Dimensions
Height: 213 mm
Width: 137 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
417 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78914-587-8 (9781789145878)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
04/2017
Reaktion Books
€19.49
Available for download
Person
Christina Riggs is Chair in the History of Visual Culture at Durham University, and specializes in the history of photography, Egyptian art and archaeology. She is the author of several books, including Treasured: How Tutankhamun Shaped a Century (2021) and Ancient Egyptian Magic: A Hands-On Guide (2020).
Content
Chronology
1 Looking for Ancient Egypt
2 Forty Centuries
3 Sacred Signs
4 Taken in the Flood
5 Walking Like an Egyptian
6 Vipers, Vixens and the Vengeful Dead
7 Out of Africa
8 Counting the Years
9 Still Looking
References
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index
1 Looking for Ancient Egypt
2 Forty Centuries
3 Sacred Signs
4 Taken in the Flood
5 Walking Like an Egyptian
6 Vipers, Vixens and the Vengeful Dead
7 Out of Africa
8 Counting the Years
9 Still Looking
References
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index