Walking Among Pharaohs: George Reisner and the Dawn of Modern Egyptology

Egyptologist Peter Der Manuelian explores the life and work of George Reisner, America's greatest archaeologist, in his biography "Walking Among Pharaohs." Reisner's forty-three years of excavations in Egypt and Sudan revolutionized archaeological method and uncovered stunning artifacts, including hidden burial chambers, royal statues, and hieroglyphic inscriptions. His career intersected with aspects of colonialism, racism, and nationalism, as Western powers imposed their influence on Egypt and exported its treasures. The book presents unpublished documents to present a fascinating and intimate biography of one of the founding fathers of modern Egyptology.

Format: Hardback
Length: 1008 pages
Publication date: 09 February 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

In this comprehensive new biography of George Reisner, Egyptologist Peter Der Manuelian delves into the life and work of America's foremost archaeologist. Manuelian explores Reisner's indisputable impact and contextualizes his life within the framework of Western colonialism, racism, and nationalism. Throughout his forty-three years of groundbreaking excavations at twenty-three diverse archaeological sites in Egypt and Sudan (ancient Nubia), Reisner uncovered a wealth of remarkable artifacts. These include hidden burial chambers within pyramids, colossal royal statues, and delicate gold jewelry. Decorated tomb chapels, temples, settlements, fortresses, ceramics, furniture, stone vessels, and hieroglyphic inscriptions were ubiquitous, leaving an enduring legacy. George Reisner (1867-1942) embarked on a remarkable career that revolutionized archaeological methods in both the Old World and the New. As the leader of the Harvard University-Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition, Reisner brought American Egyptology to the global forefront. Despite British control over Egyptian politics, French dominance over Egyptian antiquities, and the Egyptian desire for independence, Reisner's success story unfolded uniquely in the United States. His Egyptian teams achieved remarkable fieldwork results and honed the art of recording and documentation. Reisner's lifespan spans the birth of modern archaeology, intersecting powerfully with aspects of colonialism, racism, and nationalism. During the two World Wars, Western powers exerted significant influence on Egypt, particularly through the wholesale export of dynastic Egypt's treasures to European and American museums. This raised important issues related to repatriation and cultural patrimony, which have since become prominent topics of discussion. Walking Among Pharaohs, authored by distinguished Egyptologist Peter Der Manuelian, is a compilation of unpublished documents from various parts of the world. These materials provide a deeper understanding of Reisner's life and work, shedding light on his achievements and challenges. Through his meticulous research and analysis, Manuelian offers a fresh perspective on the contributions of George Reisner to the field of archaeology, highlighting his enduring legacy and the profound impact he had on the study of ancient Egypt.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197628935