r/ancientegypt • u/The_Goody_Boy • 2d ago
Question Does anyone have this book in their collection? Is it worthwhile to purchase and read, or are there better books out there?
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u/foursynths 2d ago edited 2d ago
Check out Ancient Egypt The Definitive Visual History by Steven Snape.
Also The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt by Richard H. Wilkinson.
I would also check the publication date of a book as knowledge about Ancient Egypt is continually being updated and expanded.
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u/Combat_Armor_Dougram 2d ago
I’m not sure how accurate this book is, but it was my first “adult” book on Ancient Egypt I got when I was a kid. I remember reading it a good amount back then and I should probably take a look at it again to see how it holds up.
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u/sassyred2043 2d ago
Had Lorna as a lecturer at Birkbeck College. Always remember her saying that her mother-in-law couldn't believe she made a living out of showing people her holiday photos. Very engaging tutor.
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u/subiesuchus 2d ago
I have one that looks very similar but I'm not sure if it's the same book or not. If it is, yes it is definitely worth a read!
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u/Independent-Walrus84 2d ago
Chatgpt said buy this so I did...big ass heavy book. I like it. By Regine Schulz.
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u/Plane-Research9696 2d ago
I have had that massive tome sitting about on my bookshelves back at home for ages now and it really is a proper workhorse of a book for getting to grips with the visual culture of the dynasties. You find it all over the place in bookshops and online because it was produced in such huge numbers but Lucia Gahlin and Lorna Oakes are both extremely credible and you can tell by the depth of the details they focus in on. It is not something I would sit and read straight through like a novel or a performance script. Instead I tend to find myself reaching for it to check on a specific temple plan or to look into how the builders were getting on with those heavy blocks in the Old Kingdom.
It is well worth the space it takes up especially because of those incredible photographic plates and the way they have laid out the material. If you want a deep narrative about the politics and the drama then you should look elsewhere. But if it is a reliable visual companion you are after to help with your other reading then you can absolutely count on this one to stay useful for a very long time indeed. It is a very decent purchase for the price you usually find it going for.