Securing Eternity: Ancient Egyptian Tomb Protection from Prehistory to the Pyramids - Hardcover

Clark, Reg

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 9774169026 ISBN 13: 9789774169021

Publisher: The American University in Cairo Press, 2019

Synopsis

The ancient Egyptian tomb evolved rapidly over a period of about 2,500 years, from a simple backfilled pit to an enormous stone pyramid with complex security arrangements. Much of this development was arguably driven by the ever-present threat of tomb robbery, which compelled tomb builders to introduce special architectural measures to prevent it. However, until now most scholarly Egyptological discussions of tomb security have tended to be brief and usually included only as part of a larger work, the topic instead being the subject of lurid speculation and fantasy in novels, the popular press, and cinema.















In Securing Eternity, Reg Clark traces in detail the development of the Egyptian royal and private tombs from the Predynastic Period to the early Fourth Dynasty. In doing so, he demonstrates that many of the familiar architectural elements of the Egyptian tomb that we take for granted today in fact originated from security features to protect the tomb, rather than from monumental or religious considerations. Richly illustrated with more than 150 photographs and tomb plans, this unique study will be of interest to students, specialists, and general readers alike.

About this title

About the Author

Reg Clark initially trained as a graphic designer at the West Surrey College of Art and Design before studying Egyptian Archaeology at Swansea University, where he received his BA in 2008, and his PhD in 2014.

Edition details

• Publisher: The American University in Cairo Press
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9774169026
• ISBN 13: 9789774169021
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 350