Review of Egyptology: The Missing Millennium, Ancient Egypt in Medieval Arabic

[elqurssan]

"… Ibn Tulun made the exploitations of these gold resources a state monopoly (Rabie 1972: 169) and decreed that nobody was to be allowed to dig anywhere without first seeking permission from the authorities and then being accompanied by a state official (Al-Balawi Sirat:195). This is perhaps the oldest official attempt to organise the profession of ‘Treasure Hunters’…" (p.

34


http://www.maktoobblog.com/redirectL...im_al_Saba.JPG


http://www.maktoobblog.com/redirectL...tic_values.JPG

their contributions to today’s studies through effective descriptions of
monuments and successful archaeological explorations
employing efficient methods developed by geographers
such as Al-Hamadani. The Arabic scholars also shine in their great interest and sound efforts to decipher the Egyptian scripts,
with the author criticising the lack of recognition and
appreciation of these works:

"Nowhere in recently published Egyptological literature do we see any recognition or
investigation of the contributions made by
medieval Arabic scholars to the decipherment
of Egyptian scripts." (p. 57)

He also states the artistic and religious reasons
for Arab interest in ancient scripts arguing that
Muslim artists were greatly inspired by Egyptian
art as well as by the monuments of ancient Egypt.
Another significant topic covered by El Daly includes
the Islamic attitude to ancient Egyptian religion with
the temple domain, role of magic, superstitious beliefs,
deities and prophets and a number of important pilgrimage
sites like Heliopolis discussed at length
and the suggestion that the Egyptian
religion influenced the development of Sufism
in Islam is put forward.
Mummification and burial
practices
were also of great interest to
Arabic scholars with accurate
descriptions produced of
the process and details of the
potential medical uses of
natural mummia identified