Guide to Plants of Ancient Egypt. 2010. Many col. figs. 223 p. Paper bd.

The Guide to Plants of Ancient Egypt documents forty-seven of the most common and important plants for the ancient Egyptians. From the dawn of Egyptian civilization, plants were a main constituent of the everyday life and religious rituals. Plants provided food for the living and for the dead and were presented as offering to the gods. They had medicinal and many other uses and were an inspiration for art, architecture, jewelry and mythology. More than 350 plant species are known and have been identified as remains from the various eras and many plants are distinguished as well through depictions on the walls of tombs and temples. Each of the 47 species selected for this book is described in a simple but accurate way to enable its recognition and identification. Information is given about its origin, distribution and uses in Egypt in the past and at present. The photographs accompanying each plant species include depictions or actual plant remains from ancient Egyptian sites as well as recent images of the plant in its natural habitat or use by Egyptians nowadays.