Product Description

A comprehensive survey of all Egypt's temples, from Luxor and Karnak to those in the delta, oases and Nubia. It traces the processes of building and decorating, how they functioned, and what happened when they were robbed and desecrated. It also discusses the Egyptian pantheon, rites and festivals.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #70681 in Books
• Published on: 2000-05-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Describing the inner halls of the temple of Abu Simbel, Egyptologist Richard Wilkinson writes "In February and October, the sun's rays penetrated some 60m through its inner halls where they illuminated the statues of the deified Rameses and his companion gods". Such evocative detail brings an ancient culture to life and The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt is full of it. As it picks its way through a "complex and tangled" story of over 3,000 years of temple building, the monuments are reconstructed and "offer a unique view into the lives and minds of the ancient Egyptians". Revealing the fascinating depth of knowledge that now exists about the nature and symbolism of Egypt's eternal stone symbols, Wilkinson also indicates how much more there is to learn. Not a lightweight book, literally or metaphorically speaking, this is a volume that asks to be pored over--although the section of descriptions of individual temples, organised by geographical area, is a useful reference tool. Specialist vocabulary (for which there is no glossary) occasionally crops up in the text but informative diagrams and stimulating page design help to make this book attractive to a wide audience. Ending with useful advice for travellers, the combination of a highly illuminating text and superb photographs which is The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt will surely inspire and enrich many a visit to the monuments. --Karen Tiley

Customer Reviews

A must have book for your Egyption collection!
This book follows the excellent previous titles in the series, well laid out and easy to read. A most valuable reference tool that fills the gap in the market. It gives an excellent insight into the progression of Egyptian buildings over the ceturies. References to interesting facts of the alinments of the temples and how they have changed with the specific movement of steller bodies such as Sirius and the Sun. As I said earlier a must have book, well worth twice the selling price. Richie Wells

Well written and illustrated
Generally, the problem with Egyptology for the starter is that there is little about the Temples that you can visit. There is a great deal about the pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Philae, but little about the purpose and reason for their existence.
Here in one boomis all the known temples, there origins and development.One of the key points about any Egyptian temple: tye were livinbg organisms, forever changing and deverlping, yet the same.
They all have the same items, and usually in the samer place. Here you will find out why tere is a Birth Room, but no one was ever born in the Temple. Where the last hieorglyohic inscription was made.
Well worth the buy, get it if your going to Egypt and want to know more about what you are seeing then is easily found in the average guide.

Very good global review
A must have for those who want to make themselves a clear idea about the dynamics, the philosphy, the ideas that stand behind the construction of the temples during the ancient Egypt times.