Egypt: To the End of the Old Kingdom

Article number 10124268

‘Man fears time, yet time fears the Pyramids,’ so an Arabic saying has it. The Pyramids were built for eternity and the zenith of Old Kingdom Egypt was reached in the Pyramid Age of 5,000 years ago. The present survey of Ancient Egyptian civilization of necessity is largely concerned with the material remains, particularly architecture and sculpture. A wealth of art objects has survived from the period and more are appearing every year. Several pieces illustrated are featured for the first time outside learned journals and many other illustrations of both sites and objects, although previously published, are seen for the first time in colour. The author’s aim has been to select the best specimens to illustrate his theme from Egypt’s earliest beginning to the end of the Old Kingdom, and in so doing he has endeavoured to include all the pieces of great distinction. Apart from the Pyramid Texts, few literary remains survive and it is from an appreciation of artistic modes and concepts, rather than an intellectual analysis of philosophical beliefs, that a deeper insight into this pre-scientific culture, such as that of Old Kingdom Egypt, may be obtained. ‘Mr. Aldred’s understanding and feeling for Egyptian sculpture is unique and the choice and standard of the illustrations which accompany the text are beyond praise.’ — *Times Literary Supplement.* Cyril Aldred is widely known and acknowledged for his scholarship in his chosen field, the art of Ancient Egypt. Among his publications may be listed *Jewels of the Pharaohs*, *The Egyptians*, *Old Kingdom Art in Ancient Egypt*, *Middle Kingdom Art in Ancient Egypt*, and *New Kingdom Art in Ancient Egypt*, besides numerous contributions to learned periodicals. He was formerly Associate Curator of the Department of Egyptian Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and Keeper of the Department of Art and Archaeology at the Royal Scottish Museum, Edinburgh. Contents: General Editor’s Preface – Introduction – Chronology – Map of Egypt – 1 The Beginnings of Human Settlement (The Change from Hunting to Farming) – 2 The Early Predynastic Period – 3 The Later Predynastic Period (The Gerzean Culture; The Physical Environment) – 4 The Transition to the Dynastic Age (The Ascendancy of the Pharaoh) – 5 The Archaic Period: Dynasties I and II (The Cultural Background; The Material Culture) – 6 Architecture of the Old Kingdom: Dynasties III–VI (The Saqqara and Dahshur Pyramids; The Giza Pyramids) – 7 Sculpture of the Old Kingdom: Dynasties III–VI (The Earlier Sculpture; The Later Sculpture) – 8 The Civilization of the Old Kingdom – Bibliography – List of Illustrations – Index. Colofon: ©1965 Thames and Hudson Ltd London; Reprinted 1978; Printed in Great Britain by Jarrold and Sons Ltd Norwich.