TUTANKHAMUN'S TRUMPET: Ancient Egypt in 100 Objects

An indelible portrait of the history, people and legacy of Ancient Egypt, through 100 artifacts from Tutankhamun's tomb, the book explores Ancient Egyptian civilisation, its culture, development and lasting legacy. In 1922, after 15 years of searching, archaeologists finally discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun. There they found more than 5,000 unique objects from the mundane to the extravagant, from the precious to the everyday. His spectacular gold mask is justifiably famous, but the rest of the treasures remain largely unknown and their stories untold. In this rich and beautifully illustrated work of history, renowned Egyptologist Toby Wilkinson examines 100 artifacts. A gold-decorated chariot reveals the impressive scale of Egyptian technology. Loaves of bread, baskets of fruit, and jars of wine hint at the fertility of the Nile Valley and the abundant feasts enjoyed by its people. Ebony and ivory from Nubia and a jewel of Libyan desert glass show the range of Egypt's trading and diplomatic networks. Shaving equipment and board games provide a window into the everyday lives of people, and perhaps most poignant of all the objects is Tutankhamun's silver trumpet. There are 46 pictures in the text like a painted box showing Tutankhamun as a sphinx, a folding bed, and a cubit measuring rod, and among the 31 colour plates from collections in Cairo and Giza include an ostrich-feather fan, a falcon pectoral, a golden throne, and a black resin scarab. All of these colour images are presented on a striking black paper background. With timeline and maps, this fresh history of King Tut is beautifully written and constantly fascinating. 476pp. Remainder mark.