Book – Symbol & magic in Egyptian art

Book – Symbol & magic in Egyptian art

Author : Richard H. Wilkinson

Score: 9/10

Year: 1999

Publisher:  Thames and Hudson LTD (London) 

ISBN 0-500-28070-3

Pages 224

Language: English 

Dimensions : 18.4X1.9x24.1 cm

As suggested in its title, this nonfiction book proposes symbols of Egyptian art, at least to the best of current knowledge through decades and even two centuries of archeologicl research since the advent of Egyptology.  

It is enriched by 160 illustrations, maps and photographs, 10 of them in color, and is divided into 9 chapters. 

Despite being a scholarly book, it's fairly easy and fluid to read, and uses rather basic language to describe everything. I only had to check a few architectural terms, but as I'm quite familiar with Egytian myths & deities, as well as well versed in symbols, my reading was made even easier. 

The book's layout and presentation are very well made and constructed.

The book explores symbols in Egyptian art, in form, size, location, material, color, numbers, words, action and gestures, each in a chapter. 

The term 'magic' here has to be taken to mean all those symbolic representations, acts and rituals that Egyptian society had and lead in view of their religious beliefs, to either attract good fortune and luck, victories against enemies, or to ward off any danger, including appeasing the gods. 

Let me detail the table of content, which in the book is presented really well, in columns, each with its titles, a chapter number is encircled and the page number starting is is specified. 

Thus, :

Acknowledgements (p. 6) ; Introduction (7) & chronological table (14) 

1.      Through Egyptian Eyes: The symbolism of Form (16)

2.      Measure and Meaning: Size (38)

3.      Position and placement : the symbolism of Location (60)

4.      Signifiance in substance: the symbolism of Material (82)

5.      The appearance of the world: the symbolism of color (104)

6.      Meaning in many: the symbolism of numbers (126)

7.      Words as magic, words as art: the symbolism of Hieroglyphs (148)

8.      Significant activity: the symbolism of Action (170)

9.       Language of the body: the symbolism of Gestures (192)

Glossary (212) ; Notes on the text (215) ; Further reading (218) ; Index (222)

I love that majority of text comprised in each chapter is continuous and not interrupted by illustrations, which are either placed somewhere in the margins when small, or at the end of the chapter when bigger, set together side by side and numbered, as all of them are referenced throughout the chapters. 

These illustrations are all credited, either to specific museums, or are by the author himself. 

While reading, I noticed 3 or 4 instances where illustration numbers were erroneous, and only the repeated descriptions within chapter and at the illustration section helped to pin-point the actual references - but I sadly didn't think to note which ones. 

The chapters are themselves sub-divided, with titles, and each of them send to several of the illustrations, which are also titled the same way, so the reader can see clearly to which portion of the chapter they pertain. 

Chapter 5 the only one that has illustrations continued by 1 page of main-text, whereas all others respect the basic formula of text, subdivision and illustrations.

I like reading a portion and holding the finger on the page of relevant illustrations ; I look at them when they are mentioned, and when I finish the segment, I look more closely at the illustrations and read their full descriptions, which sometimes repeat information but often expands. 

The book is very well designed in each of its portions  : it's very easy to use with its visual aspect, right from the start, as it has the best table of contents, presented in columns and easy to read. 

The book is easy to hold with its format, and explores all that which renders Egyptian art so unique in its symbolism, or possible interpretations of it when the intention doesn't seem to clear. 

This art in all its forms including architecture and object design relies heavily on social status, as well as fully dependent on religious beliefs, including that of the afterlife. 

Thus after the introduction shortly discusses the aspects in which Egyptian art can be viewed, each of the subsequent chapters develops one of these aspects, such as color, size, etc. 

I liked that the author doesn't assert only his own opinions but also presents other egyptologists views and some areas of uncertain interpretation or disagreement within the community of scholars. 

The only complaints I had were those few erroneous illustration references ; some of these illustrations were quite small and thus not easy to study closely, and lastly, others are mentioned but not presented in illustration or photos, thus one must find them online.