Hans Wolfgang Müller Livres

The ambitious claim of this lavishly illustrated book is that it presents the widest range of ancient Egyptian gold objects and jewels ever assembled in one volume; it is certainly a treat for the eye. Large colour photographs, accompanied by concise and informative passages of text, provide a social and religious history of Egypt, from prehistory to the Ptolemaic Period, through its unrivalled collections of gold artefacts, often portraying a wide variety of animals. The belief that gold had spiritual and magical properties ensured that it dominated funerary assemblages. The authors discuss changing fashions and fortunes as well as the ancient and more recent problem of tomb robbery. Reliefs and papyri illustrate goldmining and goldworking techniques. This book is also a guide to the great archaeological discoveries of the 19th and 20th centuries and includes discussions of finds dating from each period, not least objects belonging to Queen Ahhotep, Tutankhamun and the High Priests of Thebes. Appendices record rulers, types of coloured stones and the hieroglyphs, insignia and emblems of the gods which provided frequent inspiration for goldwork.

This illustrated compendium analyzes the extraordinary gold craftsmanship of the Egyptians, showcasing a remarkable array of ancient gold objects and jewels commissioned by the Pharaohs. Featuring hundreds of stunning color photographs, it presents the most extensive collection of these artifacts ever assembled. The book highlights treasures discovered in the tombs of King Tutankhamen and the King of Tanis, as well as vast caches found in the pyramids of Meroe, Queen Ahotep's tomb, and the graves of Middle Kingdom princesses, among others. The author recounts the excavations and the adventures of archaeologists who made these significant discoveries. Readers will encounter the shimmering beauty of carnelian and turquoise in a falcon-shaped necklace, the striking obsidian gaze of a lapis-encrusted mummy mask, and the radiant pearls and amethyst in a princess's belt. Above all, the dazzling splendor of gold symbolizes divine power and the Pharaoh's immortality. This volume not only depicts the opulence of a long-lost civilization but also serves as a vivid introduction to ancient Egyptian life and culture. The Egyptians' belief in the magic of gold led them to bury their dead with vast treasures, leaving behind overwhelming remnants even after centuries of grave robbing.

El oro de los faraones, con sus mas de cuatrocientas esplendidas fotografias a todo color, abarca el mas amplio abanico de joyas y objetos preciosos del Antiguo Egipto jamas reunidos en un solo volumen. Ademas, exhibieno los mas preciados tesoros de esa civilizacion tan remota como opulenta no solo pretende dar muestra de su riqueza, sino tambien ilustrar de forma grafica la vida y la cultura de la epoca.