Reviews

Ancient Egypt, it seems, is everywhere. It is a rare evening when one cannot find a television documentary highlighting some exciting Egyptian archaeological work. The many books and magazines filling our book shops, along with the abundant resources of the Internet, must satisfy even the most voracious of Egyptophiles.

The 1922 discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun (1336–1327 B.C.E.) thrust Egyptology into the media spotlight. Not only has the serious study of ancient Egypt increased multifold, with scores of heavy tomes being published each year, but discoveries from ancient Egypt have fueled the passion of an enraptured general public. This “Egyptomania” is apparent in the numerous Hollywood releases on Egyptian themes (usually highly inaccurate portrayals of Egypt and archaeology!), as well as in a rich range of Egypt-related fictional works—such as the Amelia Peabody mysteries, the intricately written historical novels of Pauline Gedge, and the comic-book exploits of the Egyptian cat “Sheba.”