Ancient Records of Egypt (5 vols.)

by James Henry Breasted

Publisher:

University of Chicago Press

, 1906

Overview

James Henry Breasted (1865-1935) is considered the first American scholar to specialize in ancient Egyptian studies. In these five monumental volumes, Breasted documents and translates all the then-identified hieroglyphics from the first Dynasty through the twenty-sixth Dynasty. First published in 1906, Ancient Records of Egypt is still considered to be one of the most influential and complete sources of information on ancient Egypt. This collection is remarkable for its exact translations of sources, which is supplemented by Breasted’s commentary throughout.

Breasted’s compilation begins with a documentary source list, which serves as an overview of Egyptian history, as well as the nature of his sources. He cites tombs, papyri, reliefs, temple and royal records, and surviving architecture. Breasted then gives a summary of all twenty-six dynasties before beginning his account of the first Dynasty and its artifacts and hieroglyphics. Breasted’s work is perfect for students, professors, and anyone interested in gaining a thorough and technical understanding of ancient Egyptian culture and history.

Key Features

• Premier scholarly work on ancient Egypt
• Contains detailed summary of Egyptian history
• Each volume has in-depth table of contents
• Traces every known artifact and hieroglyphic from the turn of the nineteenth century
• Volume 5 contains extensive indices and bibliographies

Product Details

• Title: Ancient Records of Egypt
• Author: James Henry Breasted
• Publisher: University of Chicago
• Volumes: 5
• Pages: 1,952

Volume 1: The First through the Seventeenth Dynasties

• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Publication Date: 1906
• Pages: 400

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

This first volume in Breasted’s collection contains an preface by the author, a list of all documentary sources, a general history of ancient Egypt, a chronology of all twenty-six dynasties, as well as the archeological information from the first seventeen dynasties of Egypt. For the first five Dynasties, Breasted bases his information on the Palermo Stone, an important archeological find.

Volume 2: The Eighteenth Dynasty

• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Publication Date: 1906
• Pages: 456

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Breasted covers the events and key characters of the eighteenth Dynasty in his second volume. He focuses much of his attention on the reigns of Queen Hatshepsut and Thutmose III, who were major players in this time period. He lists the details of Hatshepsut’s birth and coronation, as well as the many war campaigns of Thutmose III. Breasted gives great attention to the architecture of the time, including obelisks and temple inscriptions. He ends this volume with a helpful list of figures and hieroglyphics.

Volume 3: The Nineteenth Dynasty

• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Publication Date: 1906
• Pages: 312

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

The third volume deals with the events of the nineteenth Dynasty. Breasted gathers much cultural information from this time period, including laws for the benefit of common citizens, accounts of the various wars, and dealings with prisoners of war. Each war is described in great detail, including battles with the Syria, Libya, and Kadesh. He finds his material from many of the temples and reliefs from that time period. There is also a list of helpful figures and hieroglyphics depicting some of the battle scenes and rulers of this time period.

Volume 4: The Twentieth through the Twenty-Sixth Dynasties

• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Publication Date: 1906
• Pages: 552

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

This volume documents the events and artifacts from the twentieth through the twenty-sixth Dynasties. Breasted covers the various wars under Ramses III, as well as the Harlem Conspiracy in the twentieth Dynasty. He then goes on to document the reign of the high priest in the twentieth Dynasty, where he lists records of royal mummification. Breasted ends his fourth volume with the kings of the twenty-sixth Dynasty.

Volume 5: Supplementary Bibliographies and Indices

• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Publication Date: 1906
• Pages: 232

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

The fifth volume of this collection is an essential list of bibliographies and indices for the first four volumes. It contains eleven indices ranging from divine kings to Hebrew references to geographical locations.

About James Henry Breasted

James Henry Breasted was a leading American scholar, historian, and archeologist around the turn of the nineteenth century. He focused in ancient Egyptian studies, as well as what became known as the Near East. He was a professor at the University of Chicago and director of the Haskell Oriental Museum in Chicago. He led several archeological expeditions throughout his career to Egypt and the Far East. Breasted was also among those who discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922.