Egyptology

Egyptology as an academic discipline did not fully emerge until the 19th century with the translation of the Rosetta Stone. Yet interest, both ametur and academic, in Egyptian civilization and culture goes back as far as the Ancient Greeks. Fascination with all things Egyptian has led to plundering, desecration and massive dissemination of the vast physical and cultural remains of ancient Egypt.Recntly, as academics and the Egyptian government have asserted the importance of preservations and full understanding of Egyptian heritage.

Defintion

Egyptology is a specialized field of study, drawing on the practices of Archaeology, history, antiquity and Near East Studies. Egyptology investigates the range of Ancient Egyptian culture/s (language, literature, history, religion, art, economics, and ethics) from the 5th millennium B.C.E. up to the end of Roman rule in the 4th century AD. Because it is such a specialized discipline, Egyptologists usually spend a majority of their careers exclusively studying ancient Egpytian civilization, at one or more of the centeral Egyptology centers in the world:

A Brief Over-view of Ancient Egyptian Civilization

Ancient Egyptwas one of the longest and most advanced of ancient civilizations. Believed to have appeared as a unified state no earlier than 3300 B.C.E., it lasted for over three millenia, until about 300 B.C.E., and is categorized into nine different Dynasty periods. Their achievements in engineering are the most visible today, the pryamids and monuments being recognizable world-wide. But they also had a complicated irrigation technique that harenessed the power of the Nile, a complicated writing system known today as hieroglyphics, complex labor organizations, and a highly structured political and religious structure . Perhaps one of the best known traditions of the Egyptians was the practice of Mummification. The Egyptian funeral was a complex ceremony including various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in the dead's honor. However, the practice also points out the stringent social stratification of the Egpytian society. Mummification was for the rich and prestigious, while the poor, which could not afford expensive tombs were buried in shallow graves in the sand, and because of the natrual, arid, dry enviroment they were often natrally mummified. For most of the civilization's existence, the main religion was polytheistic, and had elements of naturalismin that certain natural phenomeon, such as the Nile River, The Sun and moon, were all personified in different deities.

Contemporary and Future Issues in Egyptology

There are many open problems concerning Ancient Egypt, and some of them may never be solved. Egyptian archaeology is in a state of constant transition, with much of the terminology and chronology in dispute. The archeological record is incomplete, with countless relics and artifacts missing or destroyed. New archaeological discoveries can call into question previous conclusions about Ancient Egypt. Furthermore, there are internal problems of overall cohesion of various dynasties and there are problems reconciling the Egyptian civilization with other concurrent civilizations.

External links and other publications

• Manley, Bill (ed.), The Seventy Great Mysteries of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson. ISBN 0-500-05123-2
• Mysteries of Egypt National Geographic Society, 1999. ISBN 0-7922-9752-0
• Knapp, Ron, Tutankhamun and the mysteries of ancient Egypt. Messner, 1979. ISBN 0-671-33036-5
• Jacq, Christian, Magic and mystery in ancient Egypt. Souvenir Press, 1998. ISBN 0-285-63462-3
• Archibald's guide to the mysteries of ancient Egypt. Swfte International, Ltd., 1994.
• Bauval, Robert, and Adrian Gilbert, The Orion Mystery : Unlocking the Secrets of the Pyramids". 1994. ISBN 0-517-88454-2
• Childress, David Hatcher, Technology of the Gods: The Incredible Sciences of the Ancients. Adventures Unlimited Press, 2000. ISBN 0-932813-73-9
• Mertz, Barbara. Red Land, Black Land: Daily Life in Ancient Egypt. Dodd Mead, 1978. ISBN 0-396-07575-4
• Mertz, Barbara. Temples, Tombs and Hieroglyphs: A Popular History of Ancient Egypt. Bedrick, 1990. ISBN 0-87226-223-5
• Morris, Margaret, The Egyptian Pyramid Mystery Is Solved. ISBN 0-9720434-0-3
• Rhys-Davies, John, Riddles of the monument builders : Who built the Sphinx Time-Life Video, 1995.
• Sitchin, Zecharia, The earth chronicles expeditions : journeys to the mythical past. Bear & Co., 2004. ISBN 1-59143-036-4
• Archaeological Institute of America
• Mysteries of Egypt. Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, 2001.
• Official Website for Dr. Zahi Hawass
• Egyptian Mysteries
• Catchpenny Mysteries of Ancient Egypt.
• Gray, Martin, The Great Pyramid, Egypt. 2005.
• Dörnenburg, Frank, Mysteries of the Past. 2004.
• Berkeley Groks Science Radio, Show June 30th, 2004: Egyptology
• Theban Mapping Project
• Uruguayan Egyptology
• The Hall of Ma'at
• The Antiquity of Man Exploring human evolution and the dawn of civilisation
• Egyptology - Ancient Near East .net - a collection of links to online Egyptology resources
• Sussex Egyptology Society Online
• CNN.com: " Egyptologists launching online encyclopedia"

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