Archaeology Odyssey, September/October 2004
Features
Narmer’s Enigmatic Palette
What Does It Tell Us About Egypt’s First Kings?
Rarely do I come across works of art that make my blood run almost cold with excitement. One such image, carved on a stone cosmetic palette some 5,000 years ago, has fascinated Egyptologists as the first fully articulated example of Egyptian royal representation—so that it seems to...Read more ›
Uncovering Nineveh
A New Review of the 1849 Bestseller Nineveh and Its Remains
Nineveh and Its Remains: A Narrative of an Expedition to Assyria During the Years 1845, 1846, & 1847 Austen Henry Layard (Guilford, CT: Lyons Press, 2001; this revised abridgment orig. published 1882) 384 pp., $16.95 “Wasted is Nineveh; who will...Read more ›
Birth of Narrative Art
How Writing Led to Picture Painting
Pottery painting was a major art form in the ancient Near East as early as the seventh millennium B.C. For thousands of years, the designs painted on ceramic pots were largely limited to geometric or animal patterns, though these decorations were often very elaborate and striking. Then,...Read more ›
TV Archaeology
These days most people get their information about archaeology from educational programs on such TV networks as The Learning Channel, Arts and Entertainment, The Discovery Channel, PBS and NBC. But how accurate are these programs? Are facts fudged to grab better ratings and to entertain? Are some...Read more ›