Pharaoh Facts

Amenhotep II suffered from ankylosing spondylitis, a condition that causes rigidity of the spine.

The Pharaoh's First Review

I always wondered how I'd react to reviews. Should I refuse to read them, like some authors do, or seek out every paragraph ever published about a piece of my work. Well, my answer came yesterday as I was tipped off that a review of The Pharaoh had appeared in Current World Archaeology magazine issue 55: I immediately ran out and tracked it down. As the magazine had only just been published, not all shops had yet received the latest issue, leading to much grumbling on my part and the need to hop between London's various branches of WH Smiths like some questing knight of the Victoria line. You'll be happy to hear that victory was achieved at Euston station's branch at approx. 11am. The verdict on my book: good! (I probably wouldn't be writing this piece otherwise.) 'Lively and authoritative,' they say, 'beautifully illustrated...always with reference to written and material evidence.' Hopefully all reviews will be as positive! 

New Egyptology Class: The Pharaohs: The Lives and Times of Egypt's Kings

The Pharaoh Live! If you're interested in learning about the lives of the pharaohs and Egyptian history in general, why not sign up for my class at the Egypt Exploration Society, London. It runs from 4th October - 6th December (ten weeks of two hour classes). More here: http://www.ees.ac.uk/events/index/165.html

Here's the course blurb:
Following his very popular seminar on The Daily Life of the Pharaohs, Dr Garry Shaw will be running an introductory course on ancient Egyptian history and kingship, focusing on the development of the role, iconography and mythology of the pharaoh from the earliest times to the emperor pharaohs of the Roman Empire. Dr Shaw is author of Royal Authority in Egypt's Eighteenth Dynasty (Archaeopress, 2008) and The Pharaoh, Life at Court and on Campaign (Thames and Hudson, 2012).

Course outline: From the development of kingship during the Predynastic Period through to the Roman Emperors who ruled Egypt over three thousand years later, the pharaoh embodied an eternal office in an ever-changing world. This course will provide an introduction to Egyptian history from the perspective of its monarch. Through a series of presentations and informal discussions students will explore the iconography and role of the king in society, while learning about the major events that shaped Egypt's history and how royal ideology adapted as the dynasties passed. Special focus will be placed on palace life and architecture, assassinations, politics, warfare, and dynastic disputes, so that students will leave with an understanding of the king's role as a man in government as much as his role as 'perfect god'.

Although the course is unaccredited and as such written work is not compulsory, participants have the option to undertake project work, essays and/or workbooks under the supervision of the tutor to enhance their learning and engagement with the course material.

Classes will be held on the following Thursday evenings:
4 October, 11 October, 18 October, 25 October, 1st November, 8 November, 15 November, 22 November, 29 November, 6 December.

Pharaoh Facts

Pharaoh Facts: The burial chamber of Khufu's Great Pyramid at Giza once contained a large wooden frame.

Pharaoh Facts

The pharaoh's pets are distinguished from wild animals in depictions by the collars they wear.