Egypt
Franck Goddio, Andre Bernand
Periplus Publishing London Ltd.
2004
London
ISBN: 1-902699-51-3
This handsome volume is large but not unruly, the size rather is an enhancement to the many beautiful coloured pictures within. The book opens with an introduction to Mr. Franck Goddio and his background including the preparations made in order to do the job put before him.
We find the history of archaeological work which predates Mr Goddio in the harbor of Alexandria and are presented with a number of maps created of it from the 18th and 19th century including a current map. The author introduces members of the team, their specialties and technologies including how they work, unfortunately.
The technical detail appear in minutia throughout the text, detail that I would have expected in the scholarly publication but not in a mainstream book. If you are a scuba diving scientist who enjoys archaeology this book may be for you.
This maybe a little presumptuous on my part as sadly I am only half way through the book. Truly the pictures are wonderful but the read has been very dry so far and probably unsuitable for a young person or an old person.
The second half of the book is "The Portus Magnus of Alexandria", gone is the technical jargon replaced by a look at the finds accompanied by text descriptions in ancient times of the site. The maps are helpful in envisioning the layout of the ancient harbor while the pictures are a ghostly assemblage of objects testifying to the sites lost importance.
I loved the Ptolemaic family tree on two full pages from Lagos and Arsinoe to Caesarion, a murderous bunch indeed. The archaeological sites within the Portus Magnus are individually examined beginning with the island of Antirhodos.
Exceptional finds certainly include any inscriptions which are thankfully presented and interpreted for the reader. I particularly found interesting the story of Caracalla and the telling of the slaughter of the Alexandrian's by that Emperor's forces.
The author deals with among the most beautiful artifacts found the statue of a priest of Isis found laying near two sphinx's. We are told about the Portus Magnus coastline in ancient times and are introduced to two remarkable animal statues which include a very unusual coiled snake.
A number of other sculptured stones and columns are identified and fitted in to the ancient landscape of the Ptolemies including many reused blocks from ancient Heliopolis. Particularly of interest are the inscriptions gathered from the harbor floor and a colossal head.
The author talks about the buildings which historic writers mentioned as part of the ancient harbor complex, these include the Timonium, Poseidium and numerous ports. The book ends with a chapter on the Pharos, Alexandria's famous lighthouse, the chapter is a good read on this one of the ancient seven wonders of the world.
The conclusion is an impressive array of accomplishments by Franck Goddio and his team which will no doubt be discussed by archaeologists long into the future.
I knew from the beginning of the book that it would not be for a child and this was confirmed by part one which due to my lack of interest in the minutia of technical information, I was unable to appreciate. Part two was an entirely different and enjoyable read with important historical documentation presented.
This book will be a treasured addition to my collection filled with the best information on the harbor and its monuments, a volume I will definitely never read back to front again.
- Ten Books +1 For Summer Or Winter Days
As usual I find myself in the middle of a hot summer with little energy to do much except read and would suggest these eleven books are likely to not only pass time but to inspire the thoughts of the reader back into days of drifting sand and elegance...
- Cleopatra: From History To Legend
Edith Flamarion Thames and Hudson New York 1997 ISBN 0-500-30073-9 This small 159 page book is filled with numerous coloured pictures of Cleopatra and her time including 8 full pages at the start of the book. I must first admit I know only a basic rundown...
- The Egyptian Book Of The Dead
James Wasserman Chronical Books San Francisco, CA 1998 ISBN 978-0-8118-6489-3 This large Chronicle book is the complete papyrus of Ani in the collection of the British museum with a preface by Carol A. R. Andrews and an introduction by Dr. Ogden Goelet....
- Chronicle Of The Pharaohs
Peter A. Clayton Thames and Hudson New York 1994 ISBN-13: 978-0-500-28628-9 The book opens with the usual background information on Pharaonic Egypt including the authors intentions of tracing Egyptian history through kingship. The introduction deals...
- The Royal Mummies, Immortality In Ancient Egypt
Francis Janot White Star Publishers Italy 2008 ISBN: 978-88-544-0389-5 "What a thrill it is when the portable lamps are lowered down a deep shaft and their light dispels the darkness of a tomb forgotten...
Egypt
Sunken Egypt: Alexandria
Franck Goddio, Andre Bernand
Periplus Publishing London Ltd.
2004
London
ISBN: 1-902699-51-3
This handsome volume is large but not unruly, the size rather is an enhancement to the many beautiful coloured pictures within. The book opens with an introduction to Mr. Franck Goddio and his background including the preparations made in order to do the job put before him.
We find the history of archaeological work which predates Mr Goddio in the harbor of Alexandria and are presented with a number of maps created of it from the 18th and 19th century including a current map. The author introduces members of the team, their specialties and technologies including how they work, unfortunately.
The technical detail appear in minutia throughout the text, detail that I would have expected in the scholarly publication but not in a mainstream book. If you are a scuba diving scientist who enjoys archaeology this book may be for you.
This maybe a little presumptuous on my part as sadly I am only half way through the book. Truly the pictures are wonderful but the read has been very dry so far and probably unsuitable for a young person or an old person.
The second half of the book is "The Portus Magnus of Alexandria", gone is the technical jargon replaced by a look at the finds accompanied by text descriptions in ancient times of the site. The maps are helpful in envisioning the layout of the ancient harbor while the pictures are a ghostly assemblage of objects testifying to the sites lost importance.
I loved the Ptolemaic family tree on two full pages from Lagos and Arsinoe to Caesarion, a murderous bunch indeed. The archaeological sites within the Portus Magnus are individually examined beginning with the island of Antirhodos.
Exceptional finds certainly include any inscriptions which are thankfully presented and interpreted for the reader. I particularly found interesting the story of Caracalla and the telling of the slaughter of the Alexandrian's by that Emperor's forces.
The author deals with among the most beautiful artifacts found the statue of a priest of Isis found laying near two sphinx's. We are told about the Portus Magnus coastline in ancient times and are introduced to two remarkable animal statues which include a very unusual coiled snake.
A number of other sculptured stones and columns are identified and fitted in to the ancient landscape of the Ptolemies including many reused blocks from ancient Heliopolis. Particularly of interest are the inscriptions gathered from the harbor floor and a colossal head.
The author talks about the buildings which historic writers mentioned as part of the ancient harbor complex, these include the Timonium, Poseidium and numerous ports. The book ends with a chapter on the Pharos, Alexandria's famous lighthouse, the chapter is a good read on this one of the ancient seven wonders of the world.
The conclusion is an impressive array of accomplishments by Franck Goddio and his team which will no doubt be discussed by archaeologists long into the future.
I knew from the beginning of the book that it would not be for a child and this was confirmed by part one which due to my lack of interest in the minutia of technical information, I was unable to appreciate. Part two was an entirely different and enjoyable read with important historical documentation presented.
This book will be a treasured addition to my collection filled with the best information on the harbor and its monuments, a volume I will definitely never read back to front again.
- Ten Books +1 For Summer Or Winter Days
As usual I find myself in the middle of a hot summer with little energy to do much except read and would suggest these eleven books are likely to not only pass time but to inspire the thoughts of the reader back into days of drifting sand and elegance...
- Cleopatra: From History To Legend
Edith Flamarion Thames and Hudson New York 1997 ISBN 0-500-30073-9 This small 159 page book is filled with numerous coloured pictures of Cleopatra and her time including 8 full pages at the start of the book. I must first admit I know only a basic rundown...
- The Egyptian Book Of The Dead
James Wasserman Chronical Books San Francisco, CA 1998 ISBN 978-0-8118-6489-3 This large Chronicle book is the complete papyrus of Ani in the collection of the British museum with a preface by Carol A. R. Andrews and an introduction by Dr. Ogden Goelet....
- Chronicle Of The Pharaohs
Peter A. Clayton Thames and Hudson New York 1994 ISBN-13: 978-0-500-28628-9 The book opens with the usual background information on Pharaonic Egypt including the authors intentions of tracing Egyptian history through kingship. The introduction deals...
- The Royal Mummies, Immortality In Ancient Egypt
Francis Janot White Star Publishers Italy 2008 ISBN: 978-88-544-0389-5 "What a thrill it is when the portable lamps are lowered down a deep shaft and their light dispels the darkness of a tomb forgotten...