Writing in a clear comprehensive style, the author relates the history of Thebes, giving much detailed information about its tombs and their decoration. She also tells the story of the rediscovery of those tombs and briefly describes the early travelers' journeys to the Theban area. Illustrated with black and white photographs and line drawings, including many unpublished until now, this book is a fascinating and useful source for anyone interested in Ancient Egypt.

Yet again Prof. Manniche manages to poduce an excellent work. This book makes an excellent addition to Musicians and Musical Instruments in Ancient Egypt, Ancient Egyptian Herbal, and Sacred Luxuries. I am anxious to get a copy of Sexual Life in Ancient Egypt. City of the Dead is oriented toward the student or professional archaeologist. There are plenty of interesting facts that would intrigue the armchair historian as well. I recommend this book and all of the other works this author has created.

I loved this book. I was very fun and interesting

This book (published by the British Museum) is the most comprehensive treatment of Egyptian music and musicians I've ever seen in one place (at least for the general reader). It uses no footnotes, but it does give a bibilography of the massive academic tomes on which it draws. Special mention is given to the use of chironomy (gestures of the hand, arm and fingers) to represent and to conduct music, to the role of music in every aspect of Egyptian life, and to the connection between the erotic and the spiritual in Egyptian thought. My only disappointment is that she ignores the musical scale (again, based on chironomy) reconstructed by one of her sources, the late Hans Hickmann.

I had no idea Dr. Mannische had written so many other books as well, though I should've guessed this would be so. Until this gets back into print, I'd say any book by this author would be a good bet.

I was first drawn to this by the title and the wonderful line drawing reproductions throughout. The photos and text are incredibly interesting. I especially liked the 'recipes' for perfumes, hair restorers...lots of things. My son did a project for his Humanities class based on the book. He followed the instructions for making a necklace of persea leaves and lotus flowers like found on King Tut. Only he used laurel leaves and petunias. He also made up one of the perfume recipes (although substituting slightly) and the deodorant cakes made of carob and clay. He got an 'A' on the project and the teacher said 'good research'. I really liked the listing at the end, for herbals and foods.

This is one of my all-time favorite research books on ancient Egypt. For anyone interested in the use of plants, perfumes, cosmetics, and/or medicines in ancient Egypt, this book is a must! Dr. Manniche talks about every plant used in ancient Egypt that has been identified, and also talks about the gardens so beloved by the ancient Egyptian people. I developed a talk on Egyptian cosmetics for use as a museum docent, and much of it is heavily based on Dr. Manniche's book.

An ancient egyptian herbal by Dr. Lise Manniche, is a delightfull piece of litterature for both everyday people and egyptologist. It has a nice introduction concerning various aspects of plant usage in different areas of the egyptian society. The herbal itself is a goldmine for any egyptologi reader, and every plant type is supplied with name/names in english, latin, Modern arabic and where the names are reasoneble recogniced also in ancient egyptien, coptic and greek.

The author did a wonderful job of covering the use of essential oil (perfumes) and botanicals in ancient Egypt (and at times other areas) from a archaeological standpoint. Many of the well known ancient perfume recipes are included and it is interesting to see how Pliny and others suggested medicinal use. I will say however people wishing Aromatherapy content, as the title denotes, will be very disappointed as there really is none. Lack of training in herbology, Aromatherapy or even botany also serves to limit the authors grasp and ability to expound. Altogether I feel the book is a great reference work and well researched.

This exceeded my expectations. Incredibly beautiful photographs thanks to Werner Forman. Ancient recipes from the Pharoahs and goddesses temples, myths, legends and Egyptian herbalism. Lise Manniche digs deep to find the original use for many essential oils that are in use today. She sticks with reputable research rather than presenting erroneous information yet the tone is lively and engaging. This book serves as an inspiration and will undoubtably make the reader want to know more about this fascinating era.

Anything by Manniche about ancient Egyptian herbs, plants or perfumes is a treat! If you have an interest in the perfumes used in the ancient world - what was used, where they came from, the hows and whys - you must get this book. Includes reconstructed recipes for the most famous perfumes in the ancient world - a real eye-opener. Accompanied by gorgeous illustrations. Well worth the price.

On the positive side, Lise Manniche has her bases covered as far as evidence goes. In her book Sexual Life in Ancient Egypt she has found and photgraphed rarely seen artifacts, and she quotes texts from archaeological sites that are hardly ever used due to their content. This book is excellent for the Manniche's support alone.
In contemporary Western society we tend to look down upon the sexual practices of other cultures, excusing what we don't like as a "strange" cultural practice, and openly mocking what we feel comfortable with. I see a little of this in Lise Manniche's book. By taking two examples of homosexuality in ancient Egypt, she writes it off entirely, falling prey to Western sex hierarchies. She also fails to take into account that the authors of many texts she uses, and the artisans behind the sculptures are men. Regarding Egyptian love poetry she makes the comment that it is young men and women writing to each other, when it is more likely that it is older, more learned men, writing what they would have the ideal woman respond as. And the pictoral representations which she uses frequently are also idealized from a male perspective, a fact that I don't recall her mentioning with any emphasis.
Her sources are good, but her theories are highly suspect. I recommend reading this book after reading a book like "Archaeologies of Sexuality."

This slim volume by Lise Manniche sheds some light onto a topic seldom addressed in Ancient Egyptian studies. Manniche gleans a great deal of information from the slender remains surrounding this subject, but proves by the evidence, that the ancient Egyptians were no prudes, but like all peoples had a sexual side, sometimes joking and pruient, sometimes romantic - often concerned with fertility and health issues. It is illustrated with rare glimpses of objects that are often hidden away in museum basements and private collections due to their sexual nature.

It leads me to wonder how many of these objects were lost or destroyed by Victorian adventurers upon discovery - most of them are small: amulets and ostraca, showing the very personal nature of the topic. While ancient Egyptians seem to have been frank (consider their hieroglyphs dealing with parts of the body and the god Min), their remains are mainly concerned with their afterlife beliefs. Glimpsing this more humble human aspect was intriguing and satisfying.