Aidan Dodson Books

"Excellent biographical history of ancient Egypt’s royal families from the Early Dynastic period to Egypt’s absorption into the Roman Empire. . . . Highly recommended."― Choice This groundbreaking book illuminates the lives of some 1,300 kings, queens, princes, and princesses of ancient Egypt, unraveling family relationships and exploring the parts they played in politics, cultural life, and religion.The authors begin with a basic summary of the structure of the pharaonic state, including the nature of ancient Egyptian kingship itself, and then introduce key members of the royal family. This is followed by a chronological survey of the royal family from c. 3100 BC to the last Cleopatra. For each dynasty, or significant part of a dynasty, the authors provide an historical overview of the period, a summary listing of the kings, and a discussion of their families’ relationships.This superb biographical history of ancient Egypt is handsomely illustrated with hundreds of photographs, line drawings, and genealogical trees. 90 color and 210+ black-and-white illustrations

This new book traces the histories of navies and ships of the defeated powers from the months leading up to the relevant armistices or surrenders through to the final execution of the appropriate post-war settlements.

The full story of the four capital ships taken over from foreign orders during the First World War. Insights into the Latin-American and Balkan naval races that preceded the First World War. The first overview of the naval export trade in Europe and the United States at the beginning of the twentieth century.

A detailed account suitable for students of Egyptology, enthusiasts and anyone with more than a passing interest in Ancient Egypt.

Royal 8vo. Hardback. Lavishly illustrated in colour

A scholarly examination of burial rites and tomb development explains how Egyptian mummies were preserved, wrapped, decorated, and sheltered for eternity

Set in the region of Nubia, now straddling modern Egypt and Sudan, the narrative explores the dramatic shift in power during the eighth century BC when the kings of Kush ruled over Egypt for nearly a century. This period of Kushite dominance was eventually challenged by Assyrian invasions, leading to their withdrawal. Despite this, the Kushite kingdom thrived for another millennium, leaving behind a rich legacy, including the iconic pyramid-tombs that reflect its historical connection to Egypt.

Egypt's sun queen magnificently revealed in a new book by renowned Egyptologist, Aidan Dodson Nefertiti's name and face are perhaps the best known of any royal woman of ancient Egypt, yet for many she is little more than an icon or archetype of ancient beauty. However, recent research has fleshed out our knowledge--or at least credible hypotheses--about her life and career, pointing to her being an important political figure in her own right, rather than simply the principal spouse of the so-called "heretic king," Akhenaten, and mother-in-law (if not mother) of Tutankhamun. In Nefertiti, Queen and Pharaoh of Egypt, Aidan Dodson explores what we actually know about Nefertiti, and what we can realistically extrapolate about her from the diverse and often incomplete data that survives regarding her life from the late fourteenth century BC. In doing so, he sketches a career that saw Nefertiti begin as a scion of a royally connected provincial military family and end as a fully-fledged female pharaoh, who played a crucial role in the first stages of the return to orthodoxy from her late husband's religious revolution. All indications are that her final fate was a tragic one, but although every effort was made to wipe out Nefertiti's memory after her death, modern archaeology has rescued the queen-pharaoh from obscurity and set her on the road to the status of a modern cultural icon.

A chronological overview of the funerary monuments of Egypt, beginning with the last pyramids and ending with the tombs of the Ptolemaic Periods in the Nile Delta. The architecture and decoration of the tombs, along with their contents, are discussed in detail, including the results of more recent excavation in the Valley of the Kings. The discussion is accompanied by numerous photographs of the tombs, their artwork and plans of the funerary complexes which show the development of both architectural styles and religious beliefs.

The narrative centers on Thutmose III and Hatshepsut, significant figures in ancient Egypt, highlighting their military achievements and monumental contributions. Thutmose, likened to Napoleon, expanded Egypt's territories, while Hatshepsut, a rare female pharaoh, is noted for her trading expeditions and co-reign with Thutmose. The book delves into their joint legacy, the destruction of Hatshepsut's images by Thutmose, and their enduring influence on future rulers. Richly illustrated, it also recounts their rediscovery in the 19th century, restoring their historical significance.

Rameses III--often dubbed the "last great pharaoh"--lived and ruled during the first half of the twelfth century bc, a tumultuous time that saw the almost complete overthrow of established order in the eastern Mediterranean. Among Rameses's achievements was the preservation of Egypt as a nation-state in the face of external assault. However, his reign also saw increasing dissatisfaction, which culminated in his assassination. This richly illustrated book follows the king from his birth to his resurrection, describing the key events of the reign, his major monuments, and the people and events that led to these becoming once again known to the world.

This book presents a concise account of the lives and times of some of the more significant occupants of the Egyptian throne, from the unification of the country around 3000 BC down to the extinction of native rule just under three millennia later. Some, such as Thutmose III, had a major impact on their time, and were remembered by their own people until the very civilization collapsed. Others, such as Tutankhamun, were soon forgotten by the Egyptians themselves, only to burst into popular culture thousands of years after their deaths, as a result of the labors of modern archaeologists.

During the half-millennium from the eleventh through the sixth centuries BC, the power and the glory of the imperial pharaohs of the New Kingdom crumbled in the face of internal crises and external pressures, ultimately reversed by invaders from Nubia and consolidated by natives of the Nile Delta following a series of Assyrian invasions. Much of this era remains obscure, with little consensus among Egyptologists. Against this background, Aidan Dodson reconsiders the evidence and proposes a number of new solutions to the problems of the period. He also considers the era's art, architecture, and archaeology, including the royal tombs of Tanis, one of which yielded the intact burials of no fewer than five pharaohs. Afterglow of Empire is extensively illustrated with images of this material, much of which is little known to non-specialists. By the author of the bestselling Amarna Sunset and Poisoned Legacy.

King Sethy I (also transcribed as Seti, Sethi and Sethos) ruled for around a decade in the early thirteenth century BC. His lifetime coincided with a crucial point in Egyptian history, following the ill-starred religious revolution of Akhenaten, and heralding the last phase of Egypt's imperial splendor. As the second scion of a wholly new royal family, his reign did much to set the agenda for the coming decades, both at home and abroad. Sethy was also a great builder, apparently with exquisite artistic taste, to judge from the unique quality of the decoration of his celebrated monuments at Abydos and Thebes. This richly illustrated book tells the story of Sethy's career and monuments, not only in ancient times, but in modern history, and the impact of his legacy on today's understanding and appreciation of ancient Egypt.

Set against the backdrop of the First World War, this book explores the development of the Royal Navy's first modern heavy cruisers, which were crucial in shaping naval construction in the 1920s. It details the varied careers of these ships, including their transformation from cruisers to aircraft carriers and training ships, as well as their roles in both World Wars. The narrative intertwines technical advancements, international naval treaties, and the strategic importance of these vessels in maintaining trade routes and supporting military operations, complemented by extensive visual documentation.

The first book-length treatment of the topic in English.

Knížka britského egyptologa A. Dodsona je poutavou, bohatě ilustrovanou publikací věnovanou staroegyptským hieroglyfům a širokému spektru příbuzných témat. Věnuje se počátkům staroegyptského písma a jazyka. Vysvětluje dosud kontroverzní otázku vzniku písma v Egyptě. Obsahuje jednoduchý úvod do základů egyptského jazyka a představuje jednotlivé typy egyptského písma. Čtenáři jsou představeny náboženské nápisy, zásvětní texty, životopisné nápisy, historické nápisy, administrativní texty, záznamy z výprav a jednotlivé typy literárníchtextů. Vše je vysvětleno ilustrativními přiklady. Poslední kapitola pak obsahuje přehled staroegyptských dynastií a panovníků, zcela unikátně je však u jednotlivých panovníků vždy uvedena hieroglyfická podoba jejich jména.