| This article is a review of Temples, Tombs, and | | | | Tombs, and Hieroglyphs. Yet unlike many dry history |
| Hieroglyphs: A Popular History of Ancient Egypt by | | | | books much of this information is provided in story |
| Barbara Mertz. I am particularly reviewing the audio | | | | format when possible. This makes the text an |
| edition. | | | | enjoyable listen/read. |
| From the text, one can tell that Mertz is an outstanding | | | | The only weakness I perceived after finishing the text |
| scholar in the area of Egyptology. She recounts stories | | | | is that some of the material may be somewhat dated. |
| of studying at the Oriental Institute, a prestigious | | | | Admittedly, I downloaded the text because it was |
| institution in the field. She also exudes moderation, | | | | among the only audio book material that I could find on |
| which I consider to be one the best attributes to be | | | | Ancient Egypt and the date of the original text |
| found in a scholar. She is willing to point out where | | | | concerned me a bit (the original was published in the |
| there is uncertainty and a variety of scholarly opinion | | | | sixties, though I think it was updated in 1990). I left |
| (quite humorously at points) even when the opinions | | | | wondering if there were some developments that may |
| conflict with her own. | | | | have been left out. Yet I am also aware that |
| The material in the book covers the history of Ancient | | | | Archaeology and Egyptology are fields that often |
| Egypt from earliest times all of the way down to the | | | | move slowly. It takes a long to weigh and debate |
| Christian era. As the title of the text would suggest a | | | | evidence. Thus, it is likely that much of the information |
| significant amount of time is devoted to Temples, | | | | in the text still stands. |