Egyptian architecture as cultural expression

1938·23.2 MB·English

by  Smith, E. Baldwin

EGYPTIAN
ARCHITECTUKl
AS CULTURAL EXPRESSION
EBALDWINSMITH
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Illustrated, $6,00
Egyptian Architecture
As Cultural Expression
By E. WATT^wrTM c-A,fTTH
Of this important volum< irst compre-
hensive book on Egyptian archicecture in any
language, WilliamC. Hayes of theMetropolitan
Museum of Art says: "The book is excellent.
Its value both to the Egyptologist and to the
intelligent general reader is so incontestable as
to make its publication not only highly desir-
at!:, uut even mandatory. In Dr. Smith's book
we at last have a work which deals in a thor-
ou^.-o ''" ""id intelhgent mannf- with the sub-
ject. For so cic.li, io well organized, and so
readable a book it is amazingly exact and com-
plete. The latter is particularly true of the
illustrations, which in themselves are of the ut-
most interest and value. The ability of the
author to see botV- '' L' ,.nd the 'trees' is
an achievement ^^ .,.. ' ^ •-^Kibly no other liv-
ing Egyptologist is capable. To my mind the
book is the most valuable contribution to our
hterature on ancient Egypt since the publica-
tion of Breasted's History."
Dr. Smith's book presents a synthesized and
graphic picture of the development of the first
great stone architecture in the history of the
world, from its most primitive begininngs
through the Roman period. He treats the sub-
ject primarily from the point of view of cul-
tural expression, not only tracing the chrono-
logical development of Egyptian architecture in
all its forms, but interpreting it as a reflection
of the life, environment, beliefs, and customs of
its makers. This theme gives unity and vivid-
ness to the author's masterly discussion of all
that modern archseological research has revealed
regarding the origin and evolution of Egyptian
houses, palaces, temples, tombs, and cities. Dr.
Smith describes how theEgyptian architects did
their work, and illuminates the attitude of the
Egyptians toward their structures by drawing
freely upon the large body of building inscrip-
tions now extant. Illustrated with seventy-
eight magnificent plates of drawings by the
author, this book is so comprehensive in its
scope, so brilliantly and authoritatively written,
that it will take Its place as one of the classics
of American archasologlcal scholarship.
D. APPLETON-CENTURY COMPANY
New York London
I
I
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2012 with funding from
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IVIetropolitan York Library Council -
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EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
AS CULTURAL EXPRESSION

EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
AS CULTURAL EXPRESSION
by
BALDWIN
E. SMITH, Ph.D., L.H.D.
Howard Crosby ButlerProfessor ofthe
History ofArchitecture, Princeton University
ILLUSTRATIONS BY
THE AUTHOR
APPLETON-CENTURY COMPANY
D.
INCORPORATED
NEW YORK LONDON
1938
Copyright, 1938, by
D. APPLETON-CENTURY COMPANY, INC.
All rights reserved. This boo\, or parts
thereof, must not be reproduced in any
form without permission of the publisher.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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TO
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WHOSE DEVOTED COOPERATION
MADE TOMBS AND TEMPLES
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