Abydos - The Most Sacred of Cities

Originally published January 28, 2010 | Al-Ahram Weekly Online | by Jill Kamil | A review of David O'Connor's Abydos: Egypt's First Pharaohs and the Cult of Osiris. Here's an excerpt of Jill's take on it:

Abydos: Egypt's First Pharaohs and the Cult of Osiris gives us new insights into the origins of kingship in Egypt and the organisation of early state. It reveals that writing has been found here that rivals in antiquity that of Mesopotamia. And it explores the significance of a fleet of boats, the earliest surviving in the world, unearthed at Abydos. "Each discovery raises new questions and issues, and indicates that further mysteries remain to be explored and resolved," writes O'Connor, and adds: "Abydos will continue to intrigue archaeologists, Egyptologists and lay enthusiasts for many generations to come."

Let me, however, hasten to add that this is not a book for the general reader who expects a publication described as: "The definitive account of one of Egypt's most important ancient sites, written by a world authority", to be a guidebook to the site. Abydos is most definitely a book by a scholar, for scholars, and for those enthusiasts who have some background in archaeology.

Ancient Men Had Strokes

Originally published January 25, 2010 | Zee News | An excerpt:

Ancient Egyptian mummies, some as old as 3,500 years, showed hardening of arteries, suggesting that heart attacks and stroke afflicted the ancients too.

"Atherosclerosis, despite differences in ancient and modern lifestyles, was rather common in ancient Egyptians of high socio-economic status living," says Gregory Thomas, clinical professor of cardiology at the University of California-Irvine (UCI).

"The findings suggest that we may have to look beyond modern risk factors to fully understand the disease," said Thomas, principal study co-investigator.

Massive Statue of Taharqa Found In Sudan

Originally published December 29, 2009 | Heritage Key | by Owen Jarus | A small blurb about the newly discovered one ton granite statue of Taharqa, a 25th Dynasty Egyptian ruler, including a bit of background history of the Napatan pharaoh and previous discoveries made in the Sudan in 2008 (only recently made public on December 20, 2009 - follow the link to read the original announcement).

Ancient Egypt on Exhibit in Little Rock

Originally published October 11, 2009 | Florida Today | by Chuck Bartels

Archaeology Magazine's Special Ancient Egypt Issue

Accessed August 20, 2009 | Archaeology Magazine Online The following is quoted from AIA's e-Update, which will bring you to more information on what's inside this issue and how to purchase it:

Learn why mummies are the icons of ancient Egypt and why the pharaohs' tombs were designed to last forever. Discover how Napoleon's expedition led to the birth of Egyptology and how the Great Pyramid was built. Explore a City of the Dead and the Valley of the Kings. Come along with Archaeology to the banks of the Nile--and beyond. There are mummies, pharaohs' treasures, unsolved mysteries, and an entire civilization to uncover.

I think I voted for this cover! I'm glad to have helped Archaeology Magazine :)

I'm thinking I might request that my library buy this issue for its magazine collection. I'm sure someone other than myself will find this a great addition.

Left-handed Kings? Observations on a Fragmentary Egyptian Sculpture

Accessed July 30, 2009 (web site updated July 27) | Nicholas Reeves.com | by Nicholas Reeves

Although not a new theory, Mr. Reeves presents an article, followed by descriptive notes and accompanying pictures, that examines the supposed leftward orientation in Ancient Egypt, as observed through several facets: sculpture, the folding of kilts, perceptions favoring the left side, hieroglyphic representations, and others.

Self-Preservation

Originally published July 12, 2009 | Inquirer | by John C. Maxwell

John Maxwell gives a run-down of the purpose of building pyramids and how abouts they executed the feat. He then continues with the irony of the self-preserving leader, how the "me-first" mentality may just have weakened their authoritative role in society, thereby deteriorating their mighty dynasties. He concludes with the root causes of the self-preserving leader.

Fabulous Lives of the Pharaohs Revealed in New Book

Originally published June 23, 2009 | The University of Manchester

Dr. Joyce Tyldesley gives a straightforward yet full account of the life of kingly and common Egyptian from 3100 BCE to 30 BCE in her latest book, The Pharaohs. She zones in on themes and issues of the time and pairs fascinating information with beautiful pictures.

The article ends with contact information and brief information on and links to the following: the Certificate in Egyptology course, the KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology, and the University of Manchester’s Faculty of Life Sciences.

How Where the Pyramids Built?

Originally published May 20, 2009 | Talk Pyramids Blog

This 6-part blog post on Talk Pyramids announces a new model at the Boston Museum that shows how the pyramids were built according to the external spiral ramp theory. Following this small blurb and accompanying photo, are a handful of other blog posts that describe previous theories on Egyptian pyramid building. They include:

1. Donald B. Redford's traditional theory, where a mud brick ramp was employed, oiled to help teams of oxen and men, not slaves, bring up blocks of limestone, and where local limestone served as the pyramid core and finer quality limestone as the casing
2. A docudrama from the BBC entitled Building the Great Pyramid.
3. John Romer's unique theory based on the traditional theory, documented in a video entitled Secrets of the Great Pyramid
4. The cement pyramid theory, first introduced by David Davidovitts, where he states that the Egyptians used limestone-based concrete to create perfectly formed blocks, using the Famine Stele as his proof. His theory was later supported by Michel Barsoum who proved it with science and by Linn Hobbs' team that tested the theory in creating their own concrete limestone block.
5. Jean-Pierre Houdin's internal ramp theory, inspired by the spiral ramp theory, that he hopes to prove with technology.
6. And Mark Lehner's theory that it was a band of Egyptians and not slaves who built the pyramids, using the remains of a "pyramid city" nearby as his evidence.