At Empire's Edge: Exploring Rome's Egyptian Frontier

Oman-based historian Robert Jackson has spent a lot of time over some two decades tramping through the deserts of Egypt. His favorite historical period is the Graeco-Roman - specifically from about 29 B.C. to the start of the Byzantine period in the late fifth century.He has tracked down an amazing collection of ruins and sites from this period, and compiled them in this appealing book, which is part history, part gazetteer, part explorer's adventure. It is packed with Jackson's fine photos of Roman ruins from across Egypt, most of which cover sites you've probably never seen.Jackson divides his subject into three geographical areas: the Eastern Desert, the Upper Nile Valley and the Western Desert. He explores the Red Sea coast, Roman stone quarries, the Porphyry Road, the desert trade routes. He visits the temples and fortresses of Roman Nubia. He catalogues Roman ruins in the inhabited depressions or oases of the Western Desert: the Great Oasis (Rome's term for the united oases of Kharga and Dakhleh), the Small Oasis (the united oases of Bahariya and Farafra) and of course Siwa, home of the famed oracle.Two aspects of the book stand out. First, it covers a lot of territory, and gives you a good idea of just how extensive the Roman presence in Egypt actually was. Second, Jackson manages to keep us entertained along the way, supplementing his impressive array of hard facts with a good sprinkling of anecdotes, oddities and historical mysteries.[A version of this review appeared in Saudi Aramco World, Sep/Oct 2003.]

Here is a splendid recounting of histories (the old and the older) and anecdotes of explorations in the deserts and oases of what was once Roman Egypt. In addition, credible summations of existing research and excavations provide the reader with a distanced understanding of some curious spaces. The images in this book, all black and white, seem both numinous and stunning. The maps present the only bit of chaos with their insect-like sprawlings and unorganized keys. One must scan all names of the key to find the number and location for the places described. Clearer maps would have been lovely, but since it is unlikely I'll need such maps, the existing suffice. The reading is compelling, the topics heterogenous. On the whole, this book provides significant information and pleasure.

I'm basing my next vacation in the Western desert to include a few oasis. He keeps the gritty details to a comfortable level, which makes the reading pleasant.