The Tomb of Tut.ankh.Amen: vol. 2 The Burial Chamber

by Howard Carter, Harry Burton (Photographer), Nicholas Reeves (Foreword by)

The tomb of Tutankhamun (Tut.ankh.Amen), uncovered by the fifth Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter in November 1922, was the greatest archaeological find the world has ever seen. Though superficially plundered by thieves in antiquity, the burial remained intact, surrounded by a mass of funerary equipment arranged in three peripheral chambers. "The Tomb of Tut.ankh.Amen: The Burial Chamber" was originally published in 1927 as the second volume of Carter's trilogy. It records the work of the second and third seasons at the tomb: the opening of the four protective shrines; the discovery within of Tutankhamun's quartz-sandstone sarcophagus; the extraction of the king's three anthropoid coffins (the innermost of solid gold); and the final examination of the pharaoh's mummy.

Genres: Nonfiction, Egypt, Africa, History

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1927

About the author

Howard Carter is best known for his discovery of the tomb of the 14th century BCE Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun.

Carter was an English archaeologist and Egyptologist who devoted his life to archaeology. He first travelled to Egypt in 1891, where he held several archaeological positions, until in 1907 he was privately funded by the English aristocrat Lord Carnarvon to carry out work at Carnarvon's excavation sites. This work was interrupted by World War One, but resumed immediately after. In 1922, growing tired of the lack of results Carnarvon offered Carter one more year of funding.

On the 4th of November 1922 Carter discovered the entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun. This discovery immediately gained international attention, and huge crowds flocked to see the tomb. This was the first intact ancient, royal Egyptian discovered. The immensely demanding task of excavating and examining the artefacts continued for several years, amidst a great amount of controversy and difficulties.

Carter eventually left Tutankhamum for others, and spent the remainder of his life as an agent for collectors and museums, and as a public speaker on the subject of Egyptology.

Reviews

[Boudewijn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three thousand years and more had elapsed since men's eyes had gazed into that golden coffin - Howard Carter

This is a follow up review from The Tomb of Tutankhamun: Volume I—The Discovery (review here) where Howard Carter researches the sarcophagus of the young pharaoh and sees him for the first time:

At such moments the emotions evade verbal expression, complex and stirring as they are. Three thousand years and more had elapsed since men's eyes had gazed into that golden coffin. Time, measured by the brevity of human life, seemed to lose its common perspectives before a spectacle so vividly recalling the solemn religious rites of a vanished civilization

[Shweta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I loved how thorough this book was! Based on my experience with the first book, I expected this book to contains similar details about burial chamber. What all was found in and around the mummy and may be some explanation of tomb walls and their meanings, but not more. This books is much much more and I loved it. Not only it explained what I was looking for, it went above and beyond with details about the mummy, the objects found in wrappings, shrines, walls, even the metals, chemicals, glass and chemical composition of other things found in the chamber. it even tried to explain the mysterious powders, metals, chemicals and objects found in the chamber and what could they possibly be!

[Deborah James · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the second of his diaries, Howard Carter details his discovery of Tutankhamun’s burial chamber, the breakthrough of each of his four protective shrines that nearly completely filled the chamber, the quartz-sandstone sarcophagus, the three coffins made of pure gold, the famous death mask of the king himself and the bejewelled mummy that lay beneath it.

Find my full review on my blog -> http://bookworminglife.com/howard-car...

[Russell G Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Technicians of ancient Egypt, their skills, materials, and methods

Examined, explained and thoroughly set forth in modern terms for the benefit of all who in the course of events, may be interested.

[Stockboy87yahoo.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!!

A great continuation to Howard Carter’s amazing find and the science of archeology. I’m looking forward to reading Volume III!!!