Pharaohs of the Sun: Akhenaten, Nefertiti, Tutankhamen

by Rita E. Freed (Editor), Yvonne J. Markowitz

Few figures in history evoke the curiosity or command the attention that Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and Tutankhamen do. Pharaoh Akhenaten founded the city of Amarna 3,500 years ago. In this millennial exhibition of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the fascinating Amarna Period of ancient Egypt comes to life through more than 250 beautiful works of sculpture, architectural elements, ceramic ware, jewelry, clothing, tools, and furniture from renowned international collections. Essays by leading Egyptian scholars describe this time of unprecedented change in Egyptian art and architecture, technology, the role of women, and religion, specifically the transition from polytheism to monotheism. Pharaohs of the Sun is a rare opportunity to explore and understand the beauty of Amarna culture, a time that captures the imagination as no other period of Egyptian antiquity has.

Genres: Egypt, History, Egyptology, Nonfiction, Art

316 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[SnowGator · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the information/theories in the essays are probably out-of-date by now because of new discoveries, but the massive amount of photos make this book well worth it.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Celebrating an Amarna-centric exhibition at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Pharaohs of the Sun is a fabulous addition to the bookshelves of anyone interested in the Amarna period, or just Ancient Egypt. The presentation of the book is, in a word, gorgeous. The essays are accessible, informative and just plain interesting.

The exhibition is one I would have loved to have seen, if it had ever made it out to Australia. Even without the added benefit of having seen these items in real life, it is an incredibly valuable resource on the Amarna period. The book is a near-complete visual catalogue of the Amarna, as much as possible, and includes colour images of everyday items (including a toilet seat!) next to the reliefs and statuary. While I didn't find the essays particularly groundbreaking, I did learn things that I was previously unaware of, and the essays are a useful introduction to the subject.

If I was to quibble, my main complaint would revolve some of the photographs used. After reading a detailed description of the statue of Horemheb as a scribe, I wanted to be able to see the face for myself, but the photo used wouldn't allow anyone to see the face in that kind of detail. The photograph of Nefertiti's infamous bust is also one of the more unflattering photos of it.

Needless to say, these complaints are very petty, and this book is absolutely gorgeous and a very welcome addition to my Egyptology shelf.

[Megaera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous and informative.