Gifts for the Gods Images from Ancient Egyptian Temples

Throughout their long history, the ancient Egyptians crafted exquisite statues of bronze, copper, silver, and gold as offerings to their gods and for use in temples and shrines. This book is the first to focus on the art and significance of Egyptian metal statuary, presenting fresh insights and the most up-to-date information on this lustrous and precious work. With vivid texts, the authors trace continuities in the development of the statuary, illuminate how its production was integrated within artistic and social structures, and question its potential role in ritual practice. The extraordinary large bronzes of the Third Intermediate Period––the apogee of the tradition––are explored in depth, as is the technology that was inseparable from the artistry behind these treasures.

[This book was originally published in 2007 and has gone out of print. This edition is a print-on-demand version of the original book.]