The Egyptian Museum houses the world's greatest collection of Egyptian treasures and antiquities, tens of thousands of stunning and fascinating objects dating from the earliest Predynastic times right through to the Greek and Roman Periods. Visitors to this great storehouse may become easily overwhelmed by the vast number of objects on display. But here for the first time is the world's best-known Egyptologist's personal introduction to the unmissable highlights of the Museum--Zahi Hawass's own selection of his favorite 200 exhibits. For each piece, he gives some background to its discovery and significance, and describes what it means for him in terms of the art or the history of ancient Egypt, and why it strikes a personal chord. "Due to my love of the Egyptian Museum, I thought that it would be wonderful to write a guide to its treasures, and to talk about my favorite objects within."--Zahi Hawass

This beautifully produced new paperback edition of Silent Images explores a puzzling contradiction: Despite the multitude of artifacts and texts that have come to us from ancient Egypt, much still remains obscure regarding the lives of women. Women were, from the historical perspective, silent-but how should this silence be interpreted? What was the reality of women's lives behind the standardized images? We know that their chief role in society as mothers and anchors of the family was honored and respected, although it meant a degree of segregation and, in most periods, excluded them from public office. Nevertheless, in law they were the equals of men and they could, and did, own property, which they administered and disposed of themselves. Zahi Hawass's book searches for a more realistic picture of women's lives in ancient Egypt. As well as reconsidering the evidence from tomb and temple, the author draws on unpublished material from his excavations at the workers' cemetery at Giza, which sheds light on the womenfolk of the workmen who built and maintained the pyramids. The text is complemented by lavish illustrations of places and objects, many made especially for this book.

The royal mummies in the Cairo Museum are an important source of information about the lives of the ancient Egyptians. The remains of these pharaohs and queens can inform us about their age at death and medical conditions from which they may have suffered, as well as the mummification process and objects placed within the wrappings. Using the latest technology, including Multi-Detector Computed Tomography and DNA analysis, the authors present the results of the examination of the royal mummies. New imaging techniques not only reveal a wealth of information about each mummy, but render amazingly lifelike and detailed images of the remains.

"A guide to an exhibition of some of the artifacts found in the tomb of Tutankhamun, discussing the life and death of the young king, daily life in ancient Egypt, and ancient Egyptian religion and funerary practices." --

The astonishing discovery of the Valley of the Golden Mummies in Bahariya Oasis, deep in the Western Desert of Egypt, is considered perhaps the most spectacular Egyptian archeological discovery since that of Tutankhamun's tomb. This vast site was uncovered by accident, when a donkey stumbled into the opening of one of the many underground tombs of a 2,000-year-old cemetery believed to cover approximately two square miles. Never before have so many mummies been discovered at a single site: multi-chambered tombs dating from the Roman period in Egypt held rows of mummies, many adorned with gilded masks and painted cases, others wrapped in linen. Whole families were found placed together. Jewelry, pottery, amulets, and other artifacts were also uncovered, and it is estimated that as many as 10,000 mummies may ultimately be uncovered from the site, which has escaped plunderers and is thus remarkably intact. Featuring some 250 color illustrations, most of which have never before been published, this exciting book reveals the lives, customs, and religious beliefs of this until now little-known community. As such, it will both fascinate and enthrall all those with an interest in the ancient history of Egypt.

Penned by a scholar who was personally involved in research into the enigmatic young pharaoh, this fully illustrated study reviews our knowledge about the life, death, and burial of Tutankhamun. Zahi Hawass places the king in the broader context of Egyptian history, unravelling the intricate and much debated relationship between various members of the royal family, and the circumstances surrounding the turbulent Amarna period.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is Home to some of the most exquisite artifacts in existence, yet many of these wonders have never been seen outside Egypt. Now, for the first time, world-famous Egyptologist Zahi Hawass takes readers on a tour of these long-lost antiquities and shares the adventures that led to their discoveries. Readers will marvel at the astonishing stories behind these dazzling treasures -- from the leg-endary unearthing of the tomb of boy king Tutankhamun, who ruled Egypt more than 3,000 years ago, to the modern-day photographer who discovered a royal burial shaft when he tripped over it while setting up his tripod. Many of the fabulous antiquities featured here were left to languish in storerooms all over the country and only recently were rediscovered. Hawass provides invaluable insights into what they meant to ancient Egyptians and what they now signify to us in the 21st century. Featuring exquisite photographs and enlightening commentary, Hidden Treasures of Ancient Egypt will delight Egyptophiles and history buffs and shed new light on some of the great mysteries of this ancient civilization. Book jacket.

“World-renowned archaeologist Zahi Hawass. He is one of the world’s authorities on the Giza pyramids, and has spent his life excavating around the pyramids and the Sphinx. He made major important discoveries such as the tombs of the pyramid builders and the secret doors inside the pyramid of Khufu. Dr. Hawass has received fi ve honorary doctorates from different international universities and was named as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People for the year 2006 by Time Magazine. His adventures around the pyramids have been presented in many TV shows. In this book, you will feel the thrill and the adventures of the modern-day Indiana Jones.”