Frederick J. Giles and M.D. Birrell (ed.)
The volume 'The Amarna Age: Egypt' represents the author's assessment of a number of key issues relating to the Amarna Period in Egypt. The study is the result of a lifetime of interest in the Amarna Period and its aftermath. The book is divided into an introductory chapter, four chapters of analysis and a conclusion. An appendix adds new interpretations on comparative material.
The first chapter is an Introduction to the period, outlining the main areas of contention. The author examines previous research into the historical figures, the development of the Aton cult and the events that took place at the end of the reign of Ikhnaton.
Chapter 1 is entitled 'The Coregency of Amenhotep III and Ikhnaton'. This is the main chapter in the study. It examines the contentious physical and textual evidence for the coregency, including study of the inscribed monuments at Amarna, the new evidence for stylistic developments during the reign of Amenhotep III, and evidence outside Amrna.
Chapter 2 is entitled 'Smenkhkare'. The chapter examines the previous scholarly assessments of this individual and argues against the notion that this king is to be equated with Queen Nefertiti. The author makes an analysis of the representational evidence for Smenkhkare and textual sources from his short reign.
Chapter 3 is entitled 'The Royal tomb and the Amarna Period Burials'. It examines the physical evidence for the burials at Amarna including a re-assessment of the objects from the Royal Tomb. Special attention is given to the funerary scenes from the tomb and evidence for the burials of Ty and Amenhotep III.
Chapter 4 is entitled 'Tomb 55 in the Valley of the Kings'. The author examines the physical evidence from the tomb in an attempt to determine the original sequence of burials in this contentious monument.
The Appendix examines evidence for coregencies from the Middle Kingdom and compares inscriptional material from examples dated to the Amarna Period.
Dr F.J. Giles studied at Toronto, Chicago and London.
He is the author of Ikhnaton, Legend and History (London,
1970) and The Amarna Age: Western Asia (1997) in the ACE
Series.
Dr Michael D. Birrell is a lecturer and tutor at Macquarie
University in Sydney. His PhD examined the title 'Father of the
God', a designation given to priests and high civil officials
in the government. This study will be published by Brill in 2002.
He is currently writing a study of the representational evidence
of the sed-festival.
274pp. 9 colour plates, 14 line drawings; pb 0 85668 820 7 (ACE Studies 6) $99 / £45 (published March 2002)
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Abbreviations Bibliography Introduction
5. Conclusions Appendix Middle Kingdom Coregencies Index |
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