This book is a significant contribution to the study of Egyptology and ancient art history, delivering the results of cutting-edge research in an area of central importance. Its essential focus is violence in Ancient Egypt which is a topic of increasing interest in current historical and cultural studies, and discusses a large corpus of images of great value, recognising the need for a more theoretical approach to the study of Egyptian artistic expression, and emphasising the critical importance of context in evaluating the function of representations. Throughout, the analysis shows a healthy awareness of the problem of evidence - or lack thereof. The book has a valuable cross-cultural dimension which makes it relevant not only to the Egyptological community, but also to art historians, ancient historians in general, and anthropologists. The result is a study which breaks much new ground and forces the reconsideration of entrenched views.
- Dr Alan Lloyd, Swansea University, UK
This book is a significant contribution to the study of Egyptology and ancient art history, delivering the results of cutting-edge research in an area of central importance. Its essential focus is violence in Ancient Egypt which is a topic of increasing interest in current historical and cultural studies, and discusses a large corpus of images of great value, recognising the need for a more theoretical approach to the study of Egyptian artistic expression, and emphasising the critical importance of context in evaluating the function of representations. Throughout, the analysis shows a healthy awareness of the problem of evidence - or lack thereof. The book has a valuable cross-cultural dimension which makes it relevant not only to the Egyptological community, but also to art historians, ancient historians in general, and anthropologists. The result is a study which breaks much new ground and forces the reconsideration of entrenched views.
- Dr Alan Lloyd, Swansea University, UK
"Violence and Power in Ancient Egypt. Image and Ideology before the New Kingdom" by Laurel Bestock is a new and exciting work on the representations of violence in ancient Egypt from the Early Dynastic Period until the end of the Middle Kingdom (c. 4000-1650 BC).
-Dr Uros Matic, Westfaelische Wilhelms-Universitaet Muenster