Pharaoh: art and power in ancient Egypt
Resource type
Book
Creator (person)
Vandenbeusch, Marie
Date published
2024
Abstract
The rulers of ancient Egypt were not always male, nor always Egyptian. At times, Egypt was divided by civil war, conquered by foreign powers or ruled by competing kings. While some kings were revered, the memory of others was officially erased. This book explores the reality and the many challenges of ruling one of the greatest civilisations the world has ever seen.
After introducing the historical context of the ancient pharaohs, the book explores royal iconography. It investigates the main roles of the king, as high priest, as the head of the royal family, as the administrative ruler of the country and as the leader of the army and diplomat. Following an investigation into the preparation for the king’s eternal life, the book closes on a contemporary perspective from Egypt and how the notion of the pharaoh still resonates today.
The book covers 3,000 years of history – highlighting research on key pieces from the British Museum’s outstanding collection of Egyptian antiquities.
Editor
Vandenbeusch, Marie
Publisher
British Museum Press
Place of publication
London
Keywords