Complete Tutankhamun: The King, the Tomb, the Royal Treasure

Since the sensational discovery of the Boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun's almost intact tomb in the Valley of the Kings in 1922 there has been a regular stream of books dealing with the tomb, its discovery, and the rich bounty of treasures found in the burial. The books vary greatly in quality but I have to say that Nicholas Reeves' 1990 work on the subject "The Complete Tutankhamun: The King, the Tomb, the Royal Treasure", is without a doubt one of the very best on the subject and is full of informative information and historical background, and beautifully presented colour and black and white photographs on the subject all displayed in an easy to read format that has a logical flow to it. Indeed "The Complete Tutankhamun", is a small jewel box in itself and is essential reading for all budding Egyptologists or people interested in the customs and religious beliefs of ancient civilisations such as Egypt. Beginning with a highly appropriate forward written by the present Seventh Earl of Carnarvon the format of the book is very well thought out and takes the reader firstly through the time that Tutankhamun lived in which of course was the controversial Amarna period created by the "Heretic Pharaoh", Akhenaten. This section provides much needed information on Tutankhamun's life much of which is still largely unknown to us. It deals with the Pharaoh's childhood and his eventual succession to the throne of Egypt as a 8 year old God and most interestingly looks at other monuments that Tutankhamun was responsible for creating during his short 9 year reign, most of which were usurped by later rulers. Later sections explore in detail the search for the tomb of the mysterious boy Pharaoh and its eventual discovery and excavation by Howard Carter. The tomb itself , small and largely undecorated compared to other Pharaoh's tombs is examined in an often interesting manner using three dimensional drawings to show its layout and side views. Finally the burial and the tomb's magnificent treasures encompassing golden shrines, jewellery, solid gold coffins, exotic animal figurines, and clothing are examined in detail. This section of the book is in particular a treat as the stunning colour photography really shows each piece described to its best advantage. When one thinks of Tutankhamun's tomb one always thinks of gold and jewels however one of the great strengths of "The Complete Tutankhamun", is that good coverage is given to the myriad of personal and domestic objects that accompanied a Pharaoh on his journey to his new life. Interesting examinations of food stuffs, clothing, board games, and even touching family heirlooms like a boyhood bow and arrow belonging to Tutankhamun's childhood and a lock of Tutankhamun's Grandmother Queen Tiye's hair are examined and it is these less spectacular items that go a long way towards showing the reader more about just who Tutankhamun was as both boy and Pharaoh. Each section of the book is accompanied by a huge selection of pho

This it is the best book than I have seen related young king Tutankhamon, with an exquisite and impeccable design, besides to have an excellent bibliographical quality. My English is very basic, for that reason I cannot continue describing to this book jewel

This was Howard Carter's initial description of the newly unearthed tomb of Tutenkhamen, and having read "The Complete Tutenkhamen" I'm inclined to make the same observation. For the first few hours the text of this book will be impossible to read, because the pictures are so arresting. My personal favorite is something that looks like a painted statute but, we are told, was a domestic a clothes-horse: if so, it's possibly the most beautiful mannequin ever designed. Virtually the entire inventory of Tut's tomb is dissected, with separate chapters devoted to each antechamber. We are treated, as well, to an account of Howard Carter's (and Lord Caernavon's) legendary pursuits, and explosion of the "Tut's Curse" canard. A great mix of good history and real eye candy.

I found this book to be one of the best amongst the many books I own on Egyptology. The book is richly illustrated and leaves the reader in awe as to the immensity and grandeur of King Tut's dynasty. I often refer to this particular book when doing research on him. Although I have had this book for some years now (1995 - Soft cover) and many more on the same king have been subsequently published, The Complete Tutankhamen still ranks as my favourite source of reference. The authors have spared no effort in bringing the mystery of King Tut into the homes and lives of the average layman. I am waiting in anticipation for more revelations on this mysterious Age of Kings.

Ever since King Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, the legacy of the boy-king has fascinated the world. This fascinating book provides much information about this boy, who reigned over Egypt for a short period of time. The author describes the search and the discovery of the tomb, the archaeology of the tomb and the treasures it contained. The book includes extracts from Carter's notes and diaries, as well as first-time publication of his drawings and reconstructions. Offering both color and black-and-white illustrations, this is a most excellent useful reference for everyone.