Astrid Desbordes

Astrid Desbordes is a French author and archaeological historian who specializes in the study of Ancient Egypt. She has written several books about the history and culture of Egypt, focusing on topics such as its ancient royal line, its mythology, and the archaic writing system of Hieroglyphics. Astrid Desbordes was born in Paris in 1955 and completed her undergraduate degree in archaeology and Egyptology at the Institute of Egyptology in Alexandria.

After completing her studies, she moved back to Paris and began working as a researcher at the Louvre Museum in 1980. During her time there she published her first book, Pharaohs and Pyramid Builders, a comprehensive look at the lives of different generations of Ancient Egyptian rulers. Astrid Desbordes has since been prolific in her publishing, and her following books have sought to bring even more detail to her beloved subject of Egypt.

In 1988, Desbordes published In the Footsteps of the Great Pharaohs, an extensive and sweeping overview of Ancient Egypt’s history and culture. This book is notable for its use of contemporary art and philosophy, which further allowed Desbordes to explain abstract concepts such as the Ancient Egyptians’ concept of afterlife. Desbordes also included a wealth of information on the enthralling hieroglyphics written in rock, papyrus, and wooden tablets.

Desbordes’ next work was a biography of King Ramses II, the famed ruler of 19th dynasty of Egypt, entitled Return of the Great Pharaoh: Arena of the Fox. This work covers the intricate life of Ramses II, examining both his personal relationships and his reign over the kingdom. In 1998, Desbordes published Immortals, a fictionalized account of Ancient Egypt based on the same facts and customs she researched for her previous non-fiction works. Desbordes brought to life the ever-changing stories of pharaohs and their sworn protectors, the all-male Acrobats.

In 2003, Desbordes released The Great Pyramid: From the Tomb of Pharaoh to the Pyramids of the Sun, exploring the centuries-long process of this hallowed structure’s construction. This book reflects her zenith of egyptological research, and provides a detailed look into the practices of Ancient Egypt’s pyramid builders. Her most recent work, The Joys of Osiris, offers a look into the mysteries of the ancient gods. The Joys of Osiris intertwines its historical accounts with modernizations, as to providing a contemporary look at the eons-long legacies of these powerful gods.

Astrid Desbordes continues to write works on ancient Egypt and is often cited for her comprehensive and scholarly approach. She has gained tremendous respect for the depth and detail of her research, and many readers of her works have gone on to pursue their own studies in the field.