La scoperta della tomba di Tutankhamon nel 1922 scatenò l'immaginazione di tutto il mondo. Mentre Howard Carter ne svuotava i tesori, la mania verso il faraone attanagliava il pianeta e, per molti versi, non è ancora cessata. Ma chi era il 're bambino' e com'era veramente la sua vita? Garry J. Shaw racconta la storia completa del regno di Tutankhamon e la sua moderna riscoperta. Come faraone, Tutankhamon dovette gestire un impero, destreggiarsi tra cortigiani influenti e soffrire per la perdita di almeno due figli, il tutto prima del suo diciannovesimo compleanno. Shaw esplora i tesori e i beni del re bambino, da una ciocca di capelli della nonna a una canna tagliata con le sue mani. Si sofferma anche su Ankhesenamun, la moglie di Tutankhamon, e sul potere che le regine detenevano. Si tratta di una nuova biografia avvincente che intreccia dettagli intriganti sull'antica cultura egizia, sulle sue credenze e sul suo posto nel mondo.

This survey of Egyptian mythology explores how the ancient Nile-dwellers explained the world around them. It delves into the creation and evolution of the world and the reigns of the gods on earth, before introducing us to the manifestations of Egypt’s deities in the natural environment; the inventive ways in which the Egyptians dealt with the invisible forces all around them; and their beliefs about life after death.Through his engaging narrative, Garry Shaw guides us through the mythic adventures of such famous deities as Osiris, the god murdered by his jealous brother Seth; the magical and sometimes devious Isis, who plotted to gain the power of the sun god Re; and Horus, who defeated his uncle Seth to become king of Egypt. He also introduces us to lesser known myths, such as the rebellions against Re; Geb’s quest for Re’s magical wig; and the flaying of the unfortunate god Nemty. From stars and heavenly bodies sailing on boats, to the wind as manifestation of the god Shu, to gods, goddesses, ghosts, and demons—beings that could be aggressive, helpful, wise, or dangerous—Shaw goes on to explain how the Egyptians encountered the mythological in their everyday lives.

The pharaoh is the iconic ruler from the ancient world, immortalized in stoneand gold and celebrated today in countless films and books. But how did thesemonarchs—mortals who lived and died like anyone else—spend their days? Howdid they become pharaoh? How did they govern and how were they entertained?In this vividly written and authoritative account, Garry Shaw conveys the fullexperience of what it was like to be pharaoh, from birth to death, in private andin public, at court and on campaign, and shows how a uniquely Egyptian visionof kingship, with its complex ideology and regalia, evolved. We follow dailyevents, from waking up in the palace to evenings spent banqueting; in between,the king acted as lawmaker, judge, and priest. The most important ceremoniesare compellingly described, including accession, coronation, and the royal funeral,as well as the pomp and protocol of an audience before the monarch.Supplemented by numerous box features, from the internal decoration ofpyramids and the women who became pharaoh to pharaonic pets, as well asquotations from contemporary sources and a king list with brief biographiesof all the major pharaohs, this beautifully illustrated volume provides a comprehensiveinsight into the Egyptian pharaoh and his world.