Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt's Ancient Temples from Destruction

"Not Only does it provide a behind-the-scenes view of archeological work, but it also gives a detailed account of an extraordinary female pioneer in Egyptology. Ordinarily, when one considers a book about ancient Egypt, one might think about discussions surrounding the culture, language, religion, and surviving architecture. Not so, in this case. Empress of the Nile: The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypt's Ancient Temples from Destruction discusses the beginnings of modern Egyptology and how"

"This is not a conventional biography. The protagonist, Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt, the daughter of a lawyer, became fascinated at the age of nine by the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun by Howard Carter. She would eventually receive encouragement to study at the École du Louvre and went on to receive a Diploma in Archeology. Olson weaves all these dramatic narratives together in an engaging tapestry without being pedantic."

Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt emerged as a pioneering Egyptologist who prevented the destruction of Egypt's ancient temples through scholarship, advocacy, and decisive preservation campaigns. Fascinated at age nine by the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, she pursued formal training at the École du Louvre and the Sorbonne and earned a diploma in archaeology. Her career broke gender barriers in the 1920s as she entered a male-dominated field and navigated institutional obstacles. The narrative combines behind-the-scenes accounts of archaeological practice with detailed episodes of political maneuvering, public persuasion, and cultural stewardship that shaped the beginnings of modern Egyptology and temple conservation.

Read at World History Encyclopedia