Book Review - Searching for the Lost Tombs of Egypt by Chris Naunton
Review
Author: Petros Koutoupis
There is something to be said about the mysterious or the undiscovered. It grabs the attention of our imagination as we start to wonder what could be. In the context of history and more specifically, ancient Egyptian history, the idea of lost tombs is always an intriguing one.
I don’t currently recall how I stumbled onto Dr. Chris Naunton’s book, Searching for the Lost Tombs of Egypt but at some point I did and eventually got around to reading it. First and foremost, as the title implies, the primary focus of this publication are the yet-to-be discovered tombs of Egyptian history’s most important figures ranging from the legendary Imhotep, to the royal family of the Amarna Period, Alexander the Great, Cleopatra and so many more in-between.
For years, I have seen Dr. Naunton, an Egyptologist by profession, featured on various ancient Egyptian themed documentaries. I imagine that his experiences as a broadcaster have provided him with the ability [and skill] to speak to an audience interested in Egyptian history and this exact ability translates well to this publication; making it an easy read.
Many of the historical figures highlighted in this publication should be familiar to most individuals with some knowledge of ancient Egypt and even if they are not, Naunton provides just enough detail and context to ensure that the readers are well informed and do not get lost on the journey he takes us.
For instance, midway through the book, the author talks about Herihor, a chief priest of Amun who was in “office” during the 20th dynasty and during the reign of Ramesses XI. Most readers are very likely not going to be familiar with this individual (myself included) and what I appreciated was the [background] build-up to understanding how the priesthood had gained its power, reducing that of the Pharaoh. This was at a time of turmoil for the entire Mediterranean; when the region was transitioning to the Iron Age from the Late Bronze Age collapse, destabilizing world powers and economies.
The book also did a wonderful job of answering questions I didn’t know I had. For instance, I never realized that King Tutankhamun’s tomb was entered before Carter; that is, by tomb robbers. You would not think that to be the case seeing how when Tut’s tomb was eventually discovered, it was with treasures inside.
I found this book to be both informative and extremely entertaining. It did a great job of keeping my attention and is a title I would definitely recommend for anyone and everyone with an interest in ancient Egyptian history.
You can purchase a copy of Searching for the Lost Tombs of Egypt on Amazon.
