I. E. S. Edwards
I. E. S. Edwards, born on July 21, 1909, in London, England, was a prominent British archaeologist and author known for his expertise in ancient Egypt. He pursued his education at Conville and Caius College, Cambridge, where he obtained his B.A. and M.A., later earning a doctorate in 1962. Edwards began his career at the British Museum in 1934, working in the department of Egyptian and Assyrian antiquities. His experiences during World War II in Cairo enhanced his knowledge of ancient Egyptian culture, leading to the publication of his significant work, *The Pyramids of Egypt.* He played a vital role in popularizing the legacy of King Tutankhamun, notably curating the famous Tutankhamun exhibition at the British Museum in 1977 and authoring celebrated books such as *Tutankhamun: His Tomb and Its Treasures.* Throughout his career, Edwards received several accolades, including being appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire. His writings remain influential, characterized by their accessible style and rich illustrations, making them invaluable to both scholars and enthusiasts of ancient history. I. E. S. Edwards passed away on September 24, 1996, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of Egyptology.
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Subject Terms
I. E. S. Edwards
Nonfiction Writer
- Born: July 21, 1909
- Birthplace: London, England
- Died: September 24, 1996
- Place of death: London, England
Biography
Iowerth Eiddon Stephen Edwards was born July 21, 1909, in London, England, the son of Edward and Ellen Jane (Higgs) Edwards. He was educated at Conville and Caius College in Cambridge and received his B.A. in 1931 and his M.A. in 1935. He married Annie Elizabeth Lisle in 1938. They had two children: Philip Reynold Lisle (deceased) and Lucy Elizabeth Rosalind. He received a doctorate from Cambridge University in 1962. He died in London on September 24, 1996.
An archeologist and author, Edwards worked in the British Museum’s department of Egyptian and Assyrian antiquities in 1934. During World War II, he served in Britain’s Foreign Office in Cairo, a position that allowed him to become an expert on ancient Egypt. While in Cairo, he studied the pyramids, and shortly after the war ended he wrote The Pyramids of Egypt, which has been translated into numerous languages. Edwards worked his way up to keeper at the British Museum, a position he held until 1974. He is said to have made King Tut a household name, and he was the main force behind the Tutankhamun exhibit at the British Museum; the exhibition toured the United States in 1977.
He also wrote Treasures of Tutankhamun, published in 1972, and Tutankhamun’s Jewelry, published in 1976. But he is most noted for Tutankhamun: His Tomb and Its Treasures (1976). This book recounts the discovery and opening of the tomb of King Tutankhamun in 1922. Reviewers hailed it as a treasury of photographs, documents, and commentary. It has been translated into four languages and is considered both an entertaining and instructive book.
Edwards received the T. E. Peet Prize from the University of Liverpool in 1947. In 1968 he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire and, in 1973, the Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. Edwards was not only acknowledged as an authority on ancient Egypt and the pyramids, but he was also able to share his passion for this time period in accessible texts that are still considered vital additions to library and personal collections.