Series:

Cambridge Library Collection - Egyptology

29 total works

Cover of Methods and Aims in Archaeology
A pioneering Egyptologist, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. In this short but classic work of 1904, he explains his vision for the young science of archaeology. Petrie outlines his processes and goals for an excavation, offering advice on how to manage workers drawn from the local population as well as guidance on creating a thorough record of a dig, the importance of which had not been fully appreciated by many contemporary archaeologists. His methods were highly influential in their more systematic and scientific approach to archaeology at a time when many of its practitioners were more focused on acquiring attractive artefacts than advancing knowledge. The text is accompanied by 66 illustrations. Petrie wrote prolifically throughout his long career, and a great many of his other publications - for both specialists and non-specialists - are also reissued in this series.

Cover of Six Temples at Thebes, Naqada and Ballas
A pioneering Egyptologist, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. This single-volume reissue brings together two of his well-illustrated excavation reports. The first, originally published in 1897, describes work on six of the temples at Thebes, including the discovery of the famous Merneptah Stele, which contains the first non-biblical reference to Israel. A chapter on this inscription and others found in the temples is provided by the German scholar Wilhelm Spiegelberg (1870–1930). The second report, first published in 1896, discusses the archaeological work carried out at Naqada and Ballas by Petrie and James Edward Quibell (1867–1935), with a chapter by F. C. J. Spurrell (1842–1915) on the flint implements found at Naqada. Petrie wrote prolifically throughout his long career, and a great many of his other publications - for both specialists and non-specialists - are also reissued in this series.

Cover of Gizeh and Rifeh, Heliopolis, Kafr Ammar and Shurafa
A pioneering Egyptologist, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. The two excavation reports now reissued here together were written in collaboration with other experts. The first, published in 1907, describes digs at Giza and Rifeh, including the discovery of the Tomb of the Two Brothers, a well-preserved Middle Kingdom burial. The second report, co-authored with Ernest Mackay (1880–1943) and published in 1915, covers work at Heliopolis, Kafr Ammar and Shurafa. Petrie and his collaborators describe how they came to make their discoveries, shedding light on developing archaeological practices used in the early twentieth century. Each report includes a section of valuable illustrative material, such as photographs and drawings of artefacts. Petrie wrote prolifically throughout his long career, and a great many of his other publications - for both specialists and non-specialists - are also reissued in this series.

Cover of A History of Egypt: Volume 1, From the Earliest Times to the XVIth Dynasty
Published in six volumes between 1894 and 1905, this collection served as a valuable reference work for students and scholars of Egyptology at a time when ongoing archaeological excavations were adding significantly to the understanding of one of the world's oldest civilisations. At the forefront of this research was Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942), whose pioneering methods made Near Eastern archaeology a much more systematic and scientific discipline. Many of his other publications are also reissued in this series. Britain's first professor of Egyptology from 1892, Petrie was conscious of the fact that there was no textbook he could recommend to his students. The work of Weidemann was in German and out of date, so Petrie and his collaborators incorporated the latest theories and discoveries in this English-language resource. In Volume 1 (1894), Petrie covers Egyptian history from its beginnings to the sixteenth dynasty.

Cover of Tell el-Amarna
A pioneering Egyptologist, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. He also played a notable part in the preservation of a number of cuneiform tablets that became known collectively as the Tell el-Amarna letters. Petrie's Syria and Egypt (1898), containing summaries, is also reissued in this series, along with many of his other publications. The present work, first published in 1894 and richly illustrated, gives an account of the work that Petrie carried out in 1891–2. It contains detailed information about both the technical aspects of the dig and the array of artefacts found, including the tablet fragments of diplomatic correspondence from the fourteenth century BCE. The chapter on the tablets is provided by Archibald Sayce, Francis Llewellyn Griffth discusses ceramic inscriptions, and the flint tools are examined by F. C. J. Spurrell.

Cover of Egyptian Decorative Art
Among the leading Egyptologists of his day, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. He published these carefully illustrated lectures in 1895. Exploring the ancient Egyptians' passion for decoration, he demonstrates his view that the elaborate use of hieroglyphs and design 'made the Egyptian the father of the world's ornament'. Petrie describes and illustrates the four main areas of decoration: the geometrical use of lines, spirals and curves; the representation of natural images such as feathers and flowers; the existence of structural patterns resulting from ancient techniques of building or manufacture; and the use of symbolic emblems such as the vulture, scarab and lion. Much modern-day design, Petrie argues, is influenced by ancient Egyptian aesthetics. Many of his other publications - for both Egyptologists and non-specialists - are also reissued in this series.

Cover of Naukratis I and II, Hawara, Biahmu, and Arsinoe
A pioneering Egyptologist, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. Ernest A. Gardner (1862–1939) was to become a leading classical archaeologist, but his first major project was carrying on the work of Petrie at Naukratis, the ancient Greek colony in the Nile Delta that Petrie had discovered in 1884. Reissued here together are Petrie's initial excavation report of 1886 and Gardner's 1888 continuation, each with many illustrations and material contributed by specialists on certain topics. Notably, the finds of inscribed pottery yielded significant insights into how the Greek alphabet developed. The final component included here is Petrie's 1889 report covering recent digs, particularly his discovery of a Roman necropolis and dozens of remarkable mummy portraits at Hawara. He wrote prolifically throughout his long career, and a great many of his other publications are also reissued in this series.

Cover of Seventy Years in Archaeology
Among the leading Egyptologists of his day, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. He is credited with bringing his subject to a much wider audience, and his talent for exposition is reflected in this accessible autobiography, first published in 1931 and illustrated throughout. It describes life on digs in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, providing rich insights into developing archaeological methods. Petrie's most important discoveries are recounted, including his unearthing of the Merneptah Stele, some of the earliest evidence of mummification, and elements of Greek and Roman cultural influence in Egypt. Furthermore, he reflects here on his innovative practice of recording and preserving every artefact, not just obvious museum pieces. Petrie wrote prolifically throughout his long career, and a great many of his other publications are also reissued in this series.

Cover of Researches in Sinai
A pioneering Egyptologist, dedicated to careful, methodical and economical research, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) made Near Eastern archaeology a much more rigorous and scientific discipline. This 1906 publication covers Petrie's work in the Sinai Peninsula, investigating the historical and biblical significance of the region, especially as it related to the Exodus. Copiously illustrated with photographs, the book depicts the region's climate, geography and antiquities, recording the logistical and archaeological processes that characterised Petrie's approach. Notable is the material on ancient turquoise mines and a Middle Kingdom temple at Serabit el-Khadim, where inscriptions in the previously unknown Proto-Sinaitic script were discovered. Several chapters by Charles T. Currelly (1876–1957) record additional travels and observations. Petrie wrote prolifically throughout his long career, and a great many of his other publications are also reissued in this series.

Cover of Inductive Metrology
Among the leading Egyptologists of his day, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. As a young man, he demonstrated an aptitude for mathematics and used this skill to measure monuments across the south of England, including Stonehenge. Published in 1877, this work was based in part on these early surveys and provides great insight into the linear measurements used by ancient civilisations. Notably, Petrie establishes that accurate measurement was possible in societies without writing systems. His innovative approach to metrology draws comparisons between units of measurement used by peoples separated by great spans of time and distance, ranging from medieval Ireland to ancient Egypt. Petrie went on to write prolifically throughout his long career, and a great many of his other publications are also reissued in this series.

Cover of The Arts and Crafts of Ancient Egypt
A pioneering Egyptologist, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. In this 1909 handbook, ranging in coverage from the prehistoric period to the Roman era, he examines a sample of the work of Egyptian painters, sculptors and diverse craftsmen, touching on such topics as statuary, architecture, jewellery, pottery and textiles. Beginning with a discussion of the meteorological, religious and political factors that influenced Egyptian artistic responses, the book contains 140 illustrations of the most striking works of each period. Many of the featured artefacts formed part of Petrie's own collection, and over a third of the photographs had not been previously published. His earlier lectures on Egyptian Decorative Art (1895), along with many of his other publications, are also reissued in this series.

Cover of Deshasheh, Diospolis Parva, Athribis
A pioneering Egyptologist, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. These three illustrated excavation reports, now reissued together, were originally published in 1898, 1901 and 1908 in collaboration with other experts. They focus on the cemeteries at Deshasheh, Abadiyeh and Hu (the latter known also as Diospolis Parva), and Athribis. Light is shed on the major discoveries, such as large quantities of beautifully preserved Neolithic linen, the 'pan graves' of semi-nomadic settlers, and a tomb featuring an early relief of Egyptians besieging a fortified Near Eastern town. Most significantly, these reports reflect Petrie's development of sequence dating, which influenced the use of seriation as a relative dating method in archaeology. Petrie wrote prolifically throughout his long career. Many of his other publications - for both Egyptologists and non-specialists - are also reissued in this series.

Cover of The Royal Tombs of the Earliest Dynasties
A pioneering Egyptologist, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. His meticulous recording of artefacts and his sequence dating of pottery types found in Egypt and Palestine made Near Eastern archaeology a more rigorous and scientific discipline. This fully illustrated follow-up report of 1901 on the royal tombs at Abydos, capital of Upper Egypt, covers the early dynastic period (c.3100–c.2700 BCE). Petrie gives detailed descriptions of eight tombs and the associated finds. A chapter on the inscriptions is provided by Francis Llewellyn Griffith (1862–1934). Petrie wrote prolifically throughout his long career for both specialists and non-specialists. His preliminary report, The Royal Tombs of the First Dynasty (1900), and the three-part Abydos (1902–4) are among those works also reissued in this series.

Cover of The Royal Tombs of the First Dynasty
A pioneering Egyptologist, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. His meticulous recording of artefacts and his sequence dating of pottery types found in Egypt and Palestine made Near Eastern archaeology a more rigorous and scientific discipline. This fully illustrated report of 1900 on the royal tombs at Abydos, capital of Upper Egypt, covers the first dynasty (c.3100–c.2900 BCE). Although Petrie acknowledges that it is only a preliminary report of ongoing work, he gives detailed descriptions of six tombs and the associated finds. A chapter on the inscriptions is provided by Francis Llewellyn Griffith (1862–1934). Petrie wrote prolifically throughout his long career for both specialists and non-specialists. His follow-up report, The Royal Tombs of the Earliest Dynasties (1901), and the three-part Abydos (1902–4) are among those works also reissued in this series.

Cover of Roman Portraits and Memphis IV, Tarkhan I and Memphis V, Tarkhan II
A pioneering Egyptologist, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. The diversity of his work is revealed in these three excavation reports, reissued here together but originally published separately in 1911, 1913 and 1914. The first, an important resource on mummy portraits, records significant discoveries made during renewed work on the Roman necropolis at Hawara. Continued excavations at Memphis are also described. Petrie's work at Tarkhan, where he excavated numerous tombs, is written up in the second and third reports. Each report features a valuable section of illustrations, including photographs and drawings of the various sites and finds, most notably the lifelike mummy portraits. Petrie wrote prolifically throughout his long career, and a great many of his other publications - including earlier reports from both Hawara and Memphis - are also reissued in this series.

Cover of Memphis I, The Palace of Apries (Memphis II), Meydum and Memphis III
A pioneering Egyptologist, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. This single-volume reissue brings together three well-illustrated reports of his excavations over three seasons at Memphis and Meidum on the west bank of the Nile, first published in 1909–10. Work at Memphis in 1908 and 1909 notably focused on the west hall of the temple of Ptah and the royal palace of Apries. Chapters on the inscriptions are provided by James Herbert Walker (d.1914). The excavations at Meidum continued those begun in 1891 and recorded in the 1892 report that is also reissued in this series. Petrie was assisted by Ernest Mackay (1880–1943) and Gerald Averay Wainwright (1879–1964) in working on the pyramid, built for the fourth-dynasty pharaoh Sneferu, and the mastaba of Nefermaat, one of the largest private tombs of the Old Kingdom.

Cover of Illahun, Kahun and Gurob. Medum
A pioneering Egyptologist, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. The two excavation reports now reissued here together were first published in 1891 and 1892 respectively, written in collaboration with other experts. They outline significant finds at the pyramids of Lahun and Meidum, and at Gurob and Kahun, notably the latter's cache of Middle Kingdom papyri. Petrie and his collaborators describe in detail how they came to make these discoveries, shedding light on developing archaeological practices used towards the end of the nineteenth century. Petrie's professional method of painstakingly recording every find is well demonstrated here, and each report includes a section of valuable illustrative material. Petrie wrote prolifically throughout his long career, and a great many of his other publications - for both specialists and non-specialists - are also reissued in this series.

Cover of The Pyramids and Temples of Gizeh
A pioneering Egyptologist, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. In 1880 he began the first ever systematic survey of the Giza Plateau, with perhaps his most important work being on the Great Pyramid. Theories abounded as to how the Great Pyramid had been constructed, yet few were based on close examination of the structure itself. Petrie's findings, still used as a reference today, enabled him to disprove prominent theories, such as the belief of Charles Piazzi Smyth that the Great Pyramid was a product of divine revelation and therefore flawless. This first edition of 1883 was not reprinted, and subsequent editions summarised some of the material. Petrie wrote prolifically throughout his long career, and many of his other publications are also reissued in this series.

Cover of Ten Years' Digging in Egypt
Among the leading Egyptologists of his day, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. Pioneering in his rigorous recording of evidence, Petrie wrote prolifically throughout his long career and is credited with bringing his subject to a wider audience. A great many of his other publications are also reissued in this series. First published in 1892 and intended for non-specialists, this highly readable book summarises Petrie's recent work in Egypt, including his surveying of the pyramids of Giza and his discovery of the city of Naukratis in the Nile Delta. Illustrated throughout with detailed line drawings, this work sheds much light on Petrie's influential approach as well as the technological and artistic achievements of ancient Egyptian civilisation. It will appeal to those who wish to learn about the birth of modern Egyptology and the methods of its founding father.

Cover of Egyptian Tales: Volume 2
Although some of Egypt's most important archaeological finds were made in the late nineteenth century, at a time when historical fiction was popular, the literature of Egypt had reached very few English readers. Aiming to bring ancient Egypt to life in the public imagination, eminent archaeologist W. M. Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) published in 1895 this two-volume collection of original stories, accompanied by illustrations and helpful contextualising comments. The four tales of Volume 2 are set in the period from the reign of Thutmose III during the eighteenth dynasty to the time of Setna, a son of Ramesses II of the nineteenth dynasty. Shedding light on contemporary life and literature, the stories represent a valuable resource for Egyptologists and folklorists. Petrie's rendering of the stories into English, based on translations of various papyri, remains accessible to all. Many more of his works, for both specialists and non-specialists, are also reissued in this series.