The Scepter of Egypt Vol.2: The Hyksos Period & the New Kingdom

The Scepter of Egypt presents the culture of ancient Egypt as it is reflected in the large and comprehensive collection of Egyptian antiquities in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The account - written by the eminent Egyptologist and former Curator of Egyptian Art at the Museum, William C. Hayes - traces cultural development from prehistoric times through the end of the New Kingdom. The historical narrative is wholly derived from the objects in the Museum's collection, which are understood as testimonials of the life, tastes, and thought processes of the ancient Egyptians, "one of the most interesting and attractive people of the ancient world." The book provides the reader with both a detailed history of the art and culture of ancient Egypt and a guide through the collection of the Metropolitan Museum's Egyptian galleries. The present volume is devoted to Egyptian history from the period when parts of the country were dominated by Asiatic rulers (Hyksos), through the rise of the Eighteenth Dynasty, the time of Akhenaten, and the rule of the Ramesside kings to the end of the New Kingdom (c. 1080 B.C.) It covers roughly six hundred years of recorded time; it deals with more than ten thousand works of art and craftsmanship. Much of the material has never been published elsewhere. In addition to the objects in the collection, the book discusses the architecture, language and writing, religion, funerary beliefs and customs, dress, warfare, musical instruments, furniture, jewelry, and daily life of the ancient Egyptians. The history of the period comes alive in such personalities as Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Amunhotpe III, Akhenaten, and Ramesses II. The many quotations from ancient records and inscriptions bring the reader close to ideas, events, and personalities of the time. The text is accompanied by 275 illustrations.