A compelling and original portrait of ancient Egyptian society told through the lives of 12 people, rulers and ruled, famous and unknown, often miraculously preserved as "snapshots" by the desert. We even know some of their thoughts and dreams!
The 12 people in this book (the last five are linked) are:
- Imhotep, architect and sage, the Leonardo of Ancient Egypt
- Heqanakhte, a peasant farmer with problems
- Hatshepsut, female Pharaoh, Ancient Egypt's Elizabeth I
- Horemheb, self-made politician, general and Pharaoh, reformer or reactionary
- Khaemwise, a prince who was the first Egyptologist
- Petiese, a temple scribe with a grievance
- Nectanebo, last Pharaoh of an independent Egypt and legendary magician
- Ptolemaios, Greek-Egyptian recluse in the Serapeum temple complex
- Apollonios, his youngest brother, would-be soldier, and police informant
- Taous and Taw, twin sisters whose job is to impersonate goddesses
- Hor, minor priest and secretary at the ibis shrine of Thoth in the same complex
Embracing them all is the figure of the god Osiris.
