The Silver Pharaoh

Besides Art classes, History was always one of my favorite subjects in school. I’ve always prided myself as abit of a history buff, especially when the subject of ancient Egypt was concerned.

One of my favorite books is “Red Land, Black Land: Daily Life in Ancient Egypt “, by Barbra Mertz.

This book sets aside the well documented lives of famous pharaohs, and turns instead to the day-to-day lives of the ordinary people of Ancient Egypt.

But I have to admit I was humbled last Sunday night when I watched a program on PBS called, ”The Silver Pharaoh” . I had heard very little about Psusennis I and his silver coffin.

Below is an article about the show!

On Wednesday, November 3, 2010, Public Broadcasting will air The Silver Pharaoh, an hour-long video blending a tale of the history of archaeology in WWII and that of Psusennis I, the best known Pharaoh of the Third Intermediate Period (ca 1069-664 BC).

Portrait of Psusennes I by Melissa Dring, Forensic Artist. Photo Andy Webb © Blink Films
This powerful fellow illustrated above is a reconstructed drawing of Psusennis I, a king of Northern Egypt during the tumultuous times after the end of the New Kingdom.
The New Kingdom is the best known period of Egyptian history, that is to say, best known to the non-academic public: it is the period of Ramses II and Tutankhamen. Ramses II was the most powerful king, controlling all the Nile valley, but he made a fatal mistake that the Greeks would recognize as hubris: he built a third capital, Pi-Ramesses in the Nile Delta, dividing his forces and decreasing his ability to maintain control over the entire upper and lower Nile.
When the river changed course, Pi-Ramesses was abandoned, and Pharaoh Psusennis I moved many of the structures, stone by stone, to his capital Tanis: nearly 3,000 years later, Psusennis' collecting mentality would completely confuse archaeologist Pierre Montet.

Psusennes I silver coffin. Photo Andy Webb © Blink Films
The Silver Pharaoh recounts Montet's discoveries at Tanis, including the only untouched Egyptian pharaoh's tomb ever discovered: Psusennis I. Narrated by actor Leiv Schreiber, The Silver Pharaoh features commentary from archaeologists Salima Ikram, Peter Lacovara, Yasmin el Shazly and Fawzi Gaballah, and historical photographs and reconstructions of Montet's 1939-1940 excavations.

It’s was one of the most fascinating shows that I have seen in awhile. If you ever get the chance to view it, I promise you won’t be sorry!