REVIEW BY ALAN L JEFFREYS
Emily Teeter’s book, which accompanies a recent exhibition at the ISAC Museum (see ‘Exhibitions’ in AE 145), relates the story of the University of Chicago’s Epigraphic Survey expedition to Egypt, and the team’s efforts to save endangered texts and reliefs on the ancient monuments.
Chicago House was the dream of James Henry Breasted who, from the early 1900s, determined that all ancient Egyptian inscriptions should be recorded before wear and tear, vandalism, and a host of other factors destroyed them. Without doubt, his relationship with multimillionaire John D Rockefeller Jr was vital, for without the latter’s staggeringly generous support, nothing would have come of Breasted’s plans.
With access to reams of carefully archived papers and correspondence, Teeter describes the progress, joys, angst, politics, and achievements under a dynasty of esteemed field directors, including internal squabbles, personality clashes, financial problems, and the almost inevitable struggle to produce publications of the work carried out. Since the principal aim was accurately recording inscriptions, detailed accounts of the various methods that were used open fascinating windows on methodology – in the early days, not without risk. Several staff members incurred injury by falling off ladders, or tripping over ruins. Suffering dust clouds, bothersome flies, and heat, artists laboured to produce fine facsimiles with endless discussion over the best method for portraying the temple decoration.
