Searching for the Lost Tombs of Egypt

by Chris Naunton

Overview

An exciting archaeological exploration of the potential for discovering the remaining "lost" tombs of the pharaohs of ancient Egypt.

Where are the tombs of Alexander the Great or Cleopatra? Both rulers were buried in Egypt, but their tombs have never been found despite years of intensive research and excavation. Yet we have tantalizing clues. Searching for the Lost Tombs of Egypt describes the quest for these and other great "missing" tombs—those we know existed, but which have not yet been identified. It also discusses key moments of discovery that have yielded astonishing finds and created the archetypal image of the archaeologist poised at the threshold of a tomb left untouched for millennia.

In this gripping account, Chris Naunton explains the mysteries of the missing tombs and presents all the evidence, skillfully unraveling the tangled threads surrounding the burials of the heretic pharaoh Akhenaten and his son Tutankhamun, and the burial place of Imhotep, architect of the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, among others. Could other such tombs lie undiscovered in the Valley of the Kings? In fact, the Valley almost certainly does guard hidden treasures. Amazing finds of unsuspected tombs continue to occur there and elsewhere in Egypt, making headlines worldwide—all are covered in this book.

As well as immersing the reader, step by step, in the action of the search and the thrill of discovery, the book also explores the reasons why tombs remain such a central part of both the popular perception of Egyptology and the continuing allure of ancient Egypt.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780500295441
Publisher:	Thames & Hudson
Publication date:	09/03/2024
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	901,921
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.80(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Dr. Chris Naunton is an Egyptologist, writer, and broadcaster. An expert on Egypt in the first millennium BCE and the history of Egyptology, he has published extensively on both subjects, and has presented numerous related television documentaries, including Tutankhamun: The Mystery of the Burnt Mummy (2013) and King Tut’s Tomb: The Hidden Chamber (2016). He worked for many years at the Egypt Exploration Society, London, acting as its director between 2012 and 2016. From 2015 to 2019 he was president of the International Association of Egyptologists and in 2016 he became director of the Robert Anderson Trust, a charity that provides support for young scholars visiting London to further their studies and research.

Table of Contents

Introduction 7

1 Imhotep: The man who became a god 33

2 Visible To Invisible: Amenhotep 1 and the Valley of the Kings 57

3 The Missing Amarna Royals: The enduring mystery 91

4 Herihor: A tomb to 'make Tutankhamun look like Woolworths'? 136

5 A kingdom Divided: The royal tombs of the Third Intermediate Period 165

6 Buried Three Times in Egypt: The tombs of Alexander the Great 199

7 The Lost Tomb Of Cleopatra: A mausoleum lost underwater or a secret burial awaiting discovery? 227

Final Thoughts 249

Map 256

King list 257

Notes 262

Bibliography 270

Acknowledgments 277

Picture credits 279

Index 280

Editorial Reviews

"With the lure of ancient celebrities, Naunton beckons readers to Egyptology, and with abundant photographs and chronological guidance, he masterfully succeeds."

Booklist

11/15/2018

Naunton, current president of the International Association of Egyptologists and author of numerous scholarly articles, is best known as the presenter of TV documentaries, including King Tut's Tomb: the Hidden Chamber. Here, he explores the search for the yet-undiscovered tombs of some of the most famous people in ancient Egyptian history, from the early Dynastic Period to the Roman era: Imhotep, Third Dynasty architect of the Step Pyramid; Amenhotep I and Nefertiti of the 18th Dynasty; Herihor, high priest of Amun in Thebes during the 21st Dynasty; Alexander the Great; and Cleopatra VII. Also highlighted are archaeologists from the 19th century to the present, whose ongoing research missions and excavations have resulted in significant discoveries. A fascinating examination of the Amarna Period royal burials is included along with a survey of the royal cemeteries of the Third Intermediate Period in the Nile Delta. Naunton succeeds in his goal to get readers "excited by the possibility that there might be such extraordinary surprises yet to come." VERDICT This unique study is recommended for anyone interested in ancient Egyptian civilization or the history of Egyptology.—Edward K. Werner, formerly with St. Lucie Cty. Lib. Syst., FL

Library Journal

2018-08-27

A noted Egyptologist follows the search for burial sites.

Former director of the Egypt Exploration Society and president of the International Association of Egyptologists, Naunton has presented his research in several TV documentaries, most recently King Tut's Tomb: The Hidden Chamber (2016). He makes his book debut with an insightful, informative, and beautifully illustrated overview of archaeologists' quests to find the tombs of some of the most famous individuals of the ancient world—Imhotep, Nefertiti, Cleopatra, and the Macedonian leader Alexander the Great foremost among them—that so far have eluded discovery. Along with chronicling expeditions, Naunton provides colorful biographies of these major historical figures and the world they inhabited. The 19th-century craze for Egyptian antiquities resulted in major finds, but despite two centuries of efforts, much has not been revealed. Of the tombs that have been discovered over the years, the author notes that many have been found empty, plundered by robbers lusting after the considerable wealth buried with the mummified corpse. Some robberies, he speculates, were likely carried out by the same people who buried the deceased or by workers involved in the construction of a new tomb that opened accidentally into the old one. Naunton vividly describes the sumptuous riches of burial sites: In 1939, for example, a team under the direction of French archaeologist Pierre Montet discovered a royal tomb containing a "falcon-headed coffin of solid silver," a solid gold funerary mask, a scarab of lapis lazuli, and objects made of other precious materials. The following year, his team discovered a mummy "wrapped in almost unimaginable riches," including 22 bracelets, solid gold toe and finger rings, and jeweled weapons, amulets, and canes. While it seems mysterious that the tombs of famous individuals should remain hidden, Naunton suggests that ancient "waves of rebuilding," sieges, geological changes, and recent redevelopment have caused sites to be obscured. The tomb of Cleopatra and, perhaps, Marc Antony, for example, may lie buried in the sea, off the coast of Alexandria.

An authoritative guide leads an illuminating journey into the distant past.

Kirkus Reviews