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The first in Thames and Hudson's series of information books that educate as they entertain, "mazing Facts about Ancient Egypt" reveals: that Howard Carter's pet canary was swallowed by a cobra on the day Tutankhamun's tomb was opened; that the Egyptians were the first people to hatch eggs artificially; that ritual false beards were worn by queens as well as kings. These are just some of the hundr... More

The first in Thames and Hudson's series of information books that educate as they entertain, "mazing Facts about Ancient Egypt" reveals: that Howard Carter's pet canary was swallowed by a cobra on the day Tutankhamun's tomb was opened; that the Egyptians were the first people to hatch eggs artificially; that ritual false beards were worn by queens as well as kings. These are just some of the hundreds of curious, extraordinary, zany, hilarious, but true facts that James Putnam has unearthed and Jeremy Pemberton has illustrated in this book. Did you know that the Egyptians possessed more underwear than any other clothing? That Pepi II's was the longest reign in recorded history? That the biggest blocks used to build the Great Pyramid each weigh more than two African bull elephants? Our image of the supposedly demure and death-obsessed ancient Egyptians may be transformed forever by the revelation that they got drunk on lumpy beer - the national beverage - tattooed their bodies, and used crocodile dung as a contraceptive. From King Tut to Cleopatra, from health and beauty to magic, myth and mystery, the cornucopia of true but incredible facts in this book is simply amazing. James Putnam is a Curator in the British Museum's Department of Egyptian Antiquities. Jeremy Pemberton is Executive Creative Director of a large London advertising agency; his interest in Egyptology stems from his wife Anna, who co-edits the magazine "Egyptian Archaeology".

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