Ancient Egyptian and Greek Looms

This study offers a close‑up look at the weaving tools that powered textile production in ancient Egypt and Greece, drawing on rare tomb paintings and museum specimens. The author untangles conflicting illustrations from 19th‑century scholars, presenting corrected images alongside new drawings supplied by a leading Egyptologist. It serves as a practical guide for anyone exploring the roots of the industry that later flourished in places like Halifax.

Readers will travel from the horizontal loom depicted in the tomb of Chnem‑hotep, where two women squat beside the moving warp, to the role of the overseer shown in the same scene. Detailed plates compare versions by Caillou, Wilkinson, Rosellini, Lepsius and more, highlighting subtle differences in technique such as warp preparation and shuttle use. By linking visual evidence with clear descriptions, the book brings the texture of ancient cloth‑making to life for modern listeners.