Rape of Egypt

France ( Flora and Fauna in the Bible ) traces the fate of Egypt's archeological treasures from Napoleon's invasion in 1798 to the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb by Howard Carter in the 1920s. Throughout the 19th century, Egyptian antiquities were highly prized; many Europeans plundered ancient tombs either for personal gain or to enrich their countries' museums. France points out that there were also Egyptians involved in the pillage and Europeans who tried to stop it. Recounting the tug-of-war between unscrupulous collectors--such as the personally acquisitive Auguste Mariette, and Wallis Budge, who illegally obtained scores of objects for the British Museum--the author also cites Amelia Edwards, a founder of the Egyptian Exploration Fund, and others opposed to the removal of Egypt's heritage. This fine general introduction to the history of Egyptology is somewhat mistitled--as the author demonstrates that not only Europeans were to blame for the ``rape.'' (June)