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Judgement of the Pharaoh: Crime and Punishment in Ancient Egypt
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About Judgement Of The Pharaoh: Crime And Punishment In
Product Description This book unmasks Ancient Egyptian crimes and criminals, meticulously recreating a series of crimes, from grave robbing, false embalming, necrophilia, and bestiality to a re-creation of the murder of Tutankhamun, reassessing and rejecting the evidence for his murder. It also introduces readers to some of the inhabitants of Deir el Medina, the dwelling place of the craftsmen who constructed the tombs of the Valleys of the Kings and Queens. From Publishers Weekly British Egyptologist Tyldesley (Nefertiti: Egypt's Sun Queen; Hatchepsut: The Female Pharaoh; etc.), the prolific author of acclaimed books for a general audience, here has all the makings of a bestseller--passion, sex and murder--but she squanders the opportunity with a treatment that is neither comprehensive nor gripping. In the first, and most satisfying, third of the book, Tyldesley aptly examines the administrative structure of the Egyptian judicial system, focusing on the roles of the pharaoh, the vizier and other officers of the law. However, the rest of the book, in which she explores various crimes--from regicide (particularly the murder of Tutankhamen) to adultery to petty theft--does not live up to its potential. Exceptions are chapters on the long-standing Egyptian tradition of tomb-robbing, which she calls "Egypt's second oldest profession," and on sex and sex crimes. (Tyldesley effectively dismisses the notion that ancient Egypt was rife with incest and polygamy, although she affirms that prostitution "was a legitimate trade.") But Tyldesley, an expert at the concise account, this time around is perhaps too concise. For example, her discussion on homosexuality is a scanty paragraph with one example that raises more questions than it answers. The most likely audience for this book consists of readers well versed in ancient Egypt, looking to expand their knowledge. Unfortunately, Tyldesley adds little that's new for such readers, and those avid to read about human misdeeds will be similarly disappointed. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. Review "[Tyldesley] organizes her narrative in a way that focuses on the juridical process, while remaining lively, lucid, and thoughtful." -- Choice From the Publisher In the mainstream imagination, Ancient Egypt exists as an idyllic place where, for 3,000 years, wise Pharaohs governed a peaceful and plentiful kingdom. Historians, although skeptical of this image, have struggled to explain for rhe lay reader the realities of life for ordinary Egyptians. In "Judgement of the Pharaoh," archaeologist Joyce Tyldesley meticulously recreates a series of crimes--from grave robbing, false embalming, necrophilia, and bestiality to a graphic recreation of the "murder" of Tutankhamen. These crimes and transgressions, which were all carefully recorded, provide an eloquent record of Ancient Egyptian atritudes towards sex and death, property and punishment. Inventive and humane, lucid and authoritative, this original work adds greatly To our understanding of how Ancient Egyptians lived. Joyce Tyldesley earned a doctorate in archaeology from Oxford University; among her many books are "Daughters of Isis: Women of Ancient Egypt, Hatchepsut: The Female Pharaoh, The Mummy," and "Nefertiti: Egypt's Sun Queen." About the Author Joyce Tyldesley earned a doctorate in archaeology from Oxford University. She is Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Archaeology, Classics and Oriental Studies at Liverpool University and the author of many books on Ancient Egypt.
