Blue Guide: Egypt

by M.V. Seton-Williams, Peter Stocks

EGYPT (map)

Genres: Egypt

1 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Dr. Marjory Veronica Seton-Williams (20 April 1910 – 29 May 1992) FSA, was a British-Australian archaeologist who excavated in Egypt and the Near East, as well as in Britain. She studied history and political science at the University of Melbourne and then Egyptology and prehistory at University College London.

Reviews

[Augustus]

The Blue Guide advertises itself as "the most complete and accurate description of the country" available in English. Although the guide hasn't been updated for 30 years, it nonetheless remains very useful for those who want to understand Egypt in detail. If you are interested only in pharaonic Egypt (pyramids, temples, tombs and mummies), there are much more colorful books available. If you want information on hotels and restaurants, you will obviously want a much newer reference. But the Blue Guide supplies more detailed information on the things that don't change. It also does an excellent job introducing readers to monuments from the many centuries of Muslim rule in Egypt.

The initial chapters provide extensive information to help visitors appreciate art and architecture. I particularly liked the multi-page chart listing the decorative cartouches identifying the names of every ancient Pharoah, which can be used when examining hieroglyphic inscriptions on temple walls or in museums. There's a lengthy summary of Egyptian history, an introduction to the language, and descriptions of common plants and animals. Unusually, the book devotes more pages to Muslim monuments than to those of the ancient pharoahs. Chapters cover Cairo, the ancient Nile, the Nile delta, the western oases, and St. Catherine's monastery in Sinai.

Although most visitors to Egypt will confine themselves to Cairo, Giza, and a Nile cruise, this book is a useful guide for those who want to learn more about the country and its culture.

[Hossam]

Blue Guide Egypt