In this compelling guide and sourcebook, renowned author and scholar Michael Rice introduces us to the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt, allowing us to encounter their world through their own eyes. Here are the great and the famous, from Cleopatra to Tutankhamun, but also here are the grave-robber Amenwah, Nakht the gardener and Sebastet the hairdresser. The whole arena of Egyptian life is expressed in these pages. Not only are there nearly a thousand biographies, there's also a chapter on "Encountering the Ancient Egyptians", sections on kingship and on religion, a chronology, and explanation of key terms such as calendars or pyramid texts. With a combination of erudite scholarship and a clear and accessible style, this volume opens up the world of the Ancient Egyptians to all those with an interest in the subject in a way that has never been done before.