The Twilight of Ancient Egypt: First Millennium B.C.E. - Hardcover

Mysliwiec, Karol (Director

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0801437164 ISBN 13: 9780801437168

Publisher: Cornell University Press, 2000

Synopsis

Karol Mysliwiec surveys a turbulent time in Ancient Egyptian culture and history -- the eight hundred years between the eleventh century B.C.E. and the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great in 332 B.C.E., after which Egypt became part of the Hellenistic world. It was a time when Libyans, Kushites, Persians, and Greeks ascended to the throne more frequently than did indigenous kings. The history of this phase of pharaonic Egypt, marked by rapid changes in rule, has been relatively neglected until now.Egypt had become increasingly involved in the affairs of its Near Eastern neighbors (Assyria, Babylon, and Persia) and of the Mediterranean world. These many cultures greatly enriched and influenced pharaonic traditions. At the same time, Egyptian civilization extended far beyond the borders of Egypt itself. One of the most important cultural products of this period is the Old Testament, called here "an inestimable source of information on daily life in pharaonic Egypt". Mysliwiec perceives in recent archaeological discoveries clear evidence that the First Millennium B.C.E. was witness to more than a slow, progressive dying out of the pharaonic past; new and creative elements profoundly altered the culture of Ancient Egypt.Originally published in Polish, The Twilight of Ancient Egypt appeared in 1998 in a German edition. The Cornell edition has been updated by the author and also contains previously unpublished photographs of recently discovered treasures.

About this title

Synopsis:

The author surveys a turbulent time in Ancient Egyptian culture and history - the 800 years between the 11th century BC and the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great in 332 BC, after which Egypt became part of the Hellenistic world. It was a time when Libyans, Kushites, Persians and Greeks acended to the throne more frequently than did indigenous kings in a phase of pharaonic Egypt marked by rapid changes in rule. Egypt had become increasingly involved in the affairs of its Near Eastern neighbours (Assyria, Babylon and Persia) and of the Mediterranean world. These many cultures greatly enriched and influenced pharaonic traditions. At the same time, Egyptian civilization extended far beyond the borders of Egypt itself. One of the most important cultural products of the period is the Old Testament, which the author regards as "an inestimable source of information on daily life in pharaonic Egypt". Karol Mysliwiec perceives in recent archaeological discoveries clear evidence that the first millennium BC was witness to more than a slow, progressive dying out of the pharaoic past; new and creative elements profoundly altered the culture of Ancient Egypt.

Originally published in Polish, the text appeared in a German edition in 1998. This edition has been updated by the author and contains additional photographs of recently discovered treasures.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cornell University Press
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0801437164
• ISBN 13: 9780801437168
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 272