Product Description
This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1904 edition by Methuen & Co., London. ... Read more

Book Description
From the myths and legends of the ancient world to the verfied historical records of modern times, these inspiring volumes provide a window onto the past, enabling the reader to understand previous eras and the men and women who created them.

This authoritative work provides a visual guide to Egyptian legend and lore. Brilliant full-color and archival photographs chronicle the remains of this mysterious civilization and capture the beauty that is Egypt today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A REALLY bad book!
What is wrong:

First, the pictures: most of them are not photographs of existing tombs or papyrii but _seem_ to be paintings made for the book. (There is no information about the pictures!) There is one of Cleopatra in a costume no Egyptian or Greek woman (which is what she was) would ever have worn (a sort of bikini). It looks like a costume drawing for a Hollywood movie of the 1930s which was never made.

Then, opinions are presented as facts and facts are just wrong, for example:
"The pharaohs fostered this belief [that each was the son of the godRa] until the time of Alexander the Great."

On the contrary, Alexander, and the Ptolemies and Romans after him, always had themselves portrayed in the traditional Egyptian manner. Nor do we know that the kings 'fostered' a belief rather than truly believed it themselves.

"Queen Hatshepsut (a regent)...sent expeditions to the land of Punt...later abdicated".

Actually, she was regent for a short time, then was enthroned as _King_! in a religious ceremony which installs the 'ka' of the ruler into the current human on the throne, thus making her a living god! _Not_ something you can abdicate from!

In fact, no one knows what happened to her when her name is no longer found in the records - whether she died, naturally or not, or retired (still King but leaving the work of the state to the co-ruler, her stepson).

She sent only _one_ expedition to Punt and that was such a big deal that she recorded it on her tomb temple.

I could go on.

Very little in the book is either correct or honest. There are many, many better books on ancient Egypt, at all reading levels, and with much better illustrations.

Vibrant and meticulous work!
The ancentral and ancients myths and legends of Egypt comes alive through an incredible study supported with over 100 color and archival images. The information is valuable ; sumptuous edition , highlighted volume extraordinary detailed .
Acquire this issue of you are interested in the story and the costumes of that advanced and yet mysterious civilization.

This book is excellent
Hey I'm 14 and I got the book too.This book is a really good value.It has information about all aspects of ancient egyptian stuff, like the gods, daily life and all sorts of stuff.One of the biggest thing in it though is about religeon and gods and godesses which it explains in great detail.The pictures are beautifully done and it is in an easy-to-read format.You can probobly find out the info in it online but all in all it is a great book with lot's of information in it.It is well worth the price!

Egypt Rules!
I am 10 years old and I read this book after watching the movie 'The Mummy'. This book provided most of the answers to the questions I had about Ancient Eygpt. I found Imhotep was a great vizier and architect of Djoser.I looked for Hammanaptra but did not find it. My father said it was probalya make believe city. I loved the pictures in the book and I found it waseasy to read even at my age. I would recommend it to other children abovethe age of 9. I would also like to say that it was a great book and I amnow very interested in Eygpt. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Old book, new title
I was so disappointed to discover that this was the same book that I had already bought under another name. It used to be called "The Ancient Gods Speak: A guide to Egyptian religion." This book in turn consists of a compilation of all the articles related to religion that were initially published in the Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt.

For those who do not have access to either the book under its older name, or the excellent Encyclopdia, than this would be a worthwhile purchase.It covers many of the major aspects of Egytpian religion, though it also leaves out many.In terms of ease of reading, the type is really small!I found it extremely difficult to read. ... Read more

Product Description
T HERE is a charm in the name of ancient Greece j there
is glory in every page of her history; there is ;t fascination
in the remains of her literature, and a sense of unapproachable
beauty in her \;orks of art; there is a spcll in
her climate still, and a strange attraction in her ruins. Ve
are familiar with the praises of her beautiful.islands; our poets
sing of her lovely genial sky. There is not in aU the bnd a
mountain, plain, or river, nor a fountain, grove, or wood, that
is not hallowed by some legend or poetic tale. The names of
her artists, Pheidius, Praxiteles, ApcHes, and Zeuxis; of her
pocts, Homer, Pindar, LEschylus, Sophocles, Euripides; of her
philosophers, Socrates, 1'lato, Epicurus; the names of her statesmen
and orators, Pericles :lnd Dernosthencs; of her historians,
Herodotus, Thucydides, and Xenophon ; of her mathematicians,
Archimedes and Euclid, are familiar to 1S as household words.
V e look uack over a period of more than t"."O thousan

Table of Contents

ODt:CTIO~; CREEK A!'D RO!lIA~ MY:rHOLOGYThe; Creation of the 'Vorld; Deities of the Highest Order; Inferior Deities; Demigods or Heroes; XORSE At-:D OLD GERMAN MYTHOLOGY; MYTHOLOGY AND RELJGIO~ OF THE HINDOOSThe; Vedic Gods ; The Brahmanic Gods ; ~IYTHOLOGY AND RELICIO~ OF EGYPT; IXD£x; PAG~; 22; 26; I29; 200; 328; 337; 341; 353

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, History, Folklore and Mythology.

Forgotten Books' Classic Reprint Series utilizes the latest technology to regenerate facsimiles of historically important writings. Careful attention ... Read more

Product Description
Who is Osiris? Which god was invoked by common folk to bring goodluck? Who is the patron of childbirth? Such questions are answered inthis updated and comprehensive dictionary of Egyptian mythology. Thisfascinating volume has alphabetically arranged entries on all themajor gods, goddesses, myths, and themes of Egyptian mythology. Inaddition, there are entries on such topics as amulets, mummies, andpyramids; a chronology of Egyptian dynasties; a detailed introduction;and a complete annotated bibliography. Fifty pen-and-ink drawings bythe author capture the spirit of ancient Egyptian art. In reworkingthis edition, Bianchi has attempted to retain Anthony Mercatante'ssensitive approach to the religion of ancient Egypt, but has modifiedhis treatment to bring it into conformity with more recent academicopinion. In addition, the annotated bibliography has been completelyrevised to eliminate outdated works and incorporate recentscholarship. The result should be useful to student and amateur alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A good introduction...
This book was written for the beginner in my opinion; however, it is a pretty good introduction. One thing I like about it are the "complete" myths. Many versions of the stories exist, and often they differ from one another. In this volume, all the existing stories are combined to form one story. But it's impossible to say how complete they actually are as there could still be other versions yet undiscovered.

The size is also nice. A lot of my Egyptian reference books are large and heavy which makes them hard to read in bed. For its size, this book has a lot of information which keeps me from having to lug out the big guns all the time.

I must say though, considering Amazon's $42.83 price tag for a new copy I was expecting a lot more. I bought a good used copy for $12 and I'm glad that's all I paid.

Filled cover to cover with condensed myths
Now in a revised and updated second edition, Who's Who In Egyptian Mythology compiled and co-authored by Antony S. Mercatante and Robert Steven Bianchi presents the Egyptian pantheon and a compendium of related topics, historical personages, and themes pertinent to it in and arranged in an alphabetical order, and an encyclopedia-style, from Akhenaten to Zehuti (another name for Thoth). A most fascinating reference filled cover to cover with condensed myths, history, and archaeological discoveries, Who's Who In Egyptian Mythology is a highly recommended addition to any personal, professional, academic, or community library Egyptology reference collection.

Egyptian tales are included in this book
Alphabetically organized, this dictionary lists numerous entries on the Egyptian pantheon of gods, mythology and religious beliefs. It also covers such subjects as mummies, pyramids, magic and calendar. The completetranslation of major Egyptian tales (The Tale of Sinuhe, the Tale of theMagicians and the Doomed Prince, among many others) are included in thisbook. Illustrated in black and white, it is mostly useful for students ofEgyptology.

A splendid reference for the Egyptian mythology enthusiast
I am always drawing the gods & godesses of Egyptian myth, but there are very few good books that give descriptions and/or pictures of a large amount of their dieties. This book proved to be the largest and best guideto the egyptian myths, folklore, and symbols that I have found. Thepictures are OK, but the information is WONDERFUL! I use it all the time. ... Read more

Product Description
In this guide to the cosmology of ancient Egypt, JeremyNaydler recreates the experience of living in another time andplace. Temple of the Cosmos explores Egypt's sacred geography andmythology; but more importantly, it reveals with unprecedented clarityan ancient consciousness in tune with the rhythms of the earth. Theancient Egyptians experienced their gods not as remote beings butrather as psychic and natural forces, transpersonal energies thatplayed a part in everyday life. This direct experience of the godsshaped the Egyptian concepts of human development, healing, magic, andthe soul's journey through the Underworld as described in the Books ofthe Dead. While building on the pioneering efforts of R. A. Schwallerde Lubicz and others, Temple of the Cosmos is much more than arecapitulation of previous theories of Egyptian spirituality. Rather,this book breaks new ground by placing the work of other Egyptologistsin an original, magical context. The result is a brilliant reimaginingof the Egyptian worldview and its sacred path of spiritual unfolding. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

The best book about Ancient Egyptian Sacred Science
Ancient Egypt's connection to the Sacred shoots through from the past to the present like lightning.The energy of its ancient structures is absolutely palpable.That ancient people, to my sense of things, is the most connected to the Way Things Are and if you surrender to its treasures and monuments it is obvious.So I came back home after my second and extended trip to Egypt wanting to know what They knew.I have a personal sense of the Sacred that I humbly believe is a fairly complete picture of God and the idea that an Ancient People also were in tune, and harmonizing with, the Universe meant that I had to know more.If nothing else, I needed to know where I was in my personal understanding.I felt a deep connection to this millenia old culture and was desperate for a translation of the Sacred texts and imagery of Egypt.

I can tell you that most all of them are terrible.And here I am speaking of the academic, Egyptological cast.Their works have sucked the juice right out of Ancient Egyptian religious belief.The typical scholar has no personal connection to the esoteric and sacred and so they cannot begin to understand what it is that they are claiming to understand.On the other side of things you have ungrounded and unfounded New Age belief that comes across more as wishful thinking than actual connection to what the Ancient Egyptians believed themselves.Frankly, it has been a frustrating search for a work that harmonizes with my encounters with Ancient Egypt.

Enter "Temple of the Cosmos" by Jeremy Naydler, which is the 43rd book that I have read about Ancient Egypt since returning home (!).As I said, I have been looking for the appropriate translation of the Sacred Texts so that I could have a fuller understanding of Ancient Egypt's Understanding.Thank you Mr. Naydler for your excellent tome!This book is what I was looking for and had not found.Temple of the Cosmos evolves as it should, beginning with First Principles and then working its way through the Ancient Texts and Images as an aspiring Ancient Egyptian initiate would.This approach provides the underlying logic and unifying themes that help to elucidate and illuminate that which has been lost for so long.That is to say there is a wholly natural progression in Temple of the Cosmos's structure that serves the material and the reader equally well.

The book's Contents are as follows:

1A Metaphysical Landscape
2Interpenetrating Worlds
3Myths of Cosmogenesis
4The Marking of Time
5The Marriage of Myth and History
6The Theology of Magic
7The Practice of Magic
8The Soul Incarnate
9The Soul Discarnate
10 Orientating in the Underworld
11 The Travails of the Underworld
12 The End of the Underworld Journey

Chapters 1-3 lay the foundations for an understanding of how the Egyptians viewed their world.Naydler does an excellent job of explaining the ancient consciousness as compared to the modern consciousness.He then provides essential language that allows the reader to reconnect one's mind with the ancient mind.This is no small achievement!Chapters 4-5 describe how the Ancient Egyptians' beliefs interacted with the Cosmos and their perception of the Cosmos.Chapters 6-7 describe the world of psychic phenomena as understood by Ancient Egyptians and how they used their connection to the Powers That Be in order to have better, more enlightened lives.The final chapters, 8-12 reenact the path walked by initiates into the Sacred Science of the Ancient Egyptians.These latter chapters sew everything in Temple of the Cosmos together into a beautiful, scintillating, multi-dimensional tapestry.The essence of the Ancient Egyptian Sacred as been effectively restored.Furthermore, these latter chapters have the most clear explanation I have ever read of the khat, ka, ba, akh and of Maat.For deeply personal reasons the explanations of the ka and Maat were absolutely essential and exquisite.

The majesty of Mr. Naydler's accomplishment is such that it, in my mind, should serve as the basis for all future understanding and scholarly research into Ancient Egyptian belief.Unlike the other tomes that I have read, I have no disagreements with any of its contents.There was nothing contained within that did not "feel right."I must add that there are other excellent texts, including the works of R.A. Schwaller de Lubicz and Rosemary Clark, too.However, for sheer "cut to the chase" readability Temple of the Cosmos is the best.

To describe Mr. Naydler's work the best I want to rely upon his own words. From page 277:

"One of the reasons why ancient Egyptian religion has been so frequently misunderstood is because the gods have been conceived as almost entirely removed from the domain of human experience.Once it is grasped that the gods are interwoven with states of consciousness, and that they accompany and guide the development of consciousness, the religion of ancient Egypt assumes something of its original power.The Book of the Dead and the many other texts that concern the Underworld are not the products of some wishful fantasy about life after death, but are guides to the unfolding of ever more refined and elevated levels of spiritual awareness."

And from page 283:

"...the way in which the ancient Egyptians saw their world has been misunderstood.For example, modern scholarship can describe ancient Egyptian cosmology as if it were the outcome of a similar aspiration to that which lies behind modern cosmology but has simply been proved false, thereby ignoring the question of how such a cosmology could be true for the ancient Egyptians.Ancient Egyptian history is studied as if it were possible to extraploate our modern reality principle backward in time ad infinitum, without any conception that the very nature of a historical event might have been different in ancient times from what it is today.In much modern Egyptology there is both a lack of psychological sophistication and an ignorance both of metaphysics and esotericism, which has the inevitable consequence that the spirituality of the ancient Egyptians must remain a closed book."

If I may conclude by humbly thanking Mr. Naydler for his loving and masterful "Temple of the Cosmos" and by saying to the author: the book is no longer closed!Thank you!

Jason Voss

Best book on the ancient Egyptian theological vision
Temple of the Cosmos presents the most well-rounded, thorough explication of the ancient Egyptian religious vision currently in print. Jeremy Naydler sees into the deeper significance of this ancient religion, but without diluting it and without oversimplification. This is as it should be for a spiritual tradition that sustained people for well over 3,500 years. He approaches it with respect as well as insight, not allowing modern conceptions to cloud the original distinctly Egyptian vision. The author's style is very readable and yet based on solid research. I highly recommend this book.

Beyond Archeology
I wonderful book that does a noble job of attempting the impossibe -- the task of understanding the psychology of the ancient Egyptian. Strongly infuenced by Schawaller de Lubicz and Campbell, he does often part company with these thinkers in the face of real archeological evidence. Personally, I most enjoyed his notions about the manner in which the Nile Basin ecology gave rise to their politics, mythology and world-view.I must read for lovers of the esoteric side of Egypt.

Ancient Egypt is alive
Jeremy Naydler beckons us to a distant horizon, somewhere inside our mind.He turns the light on ancient Egypt.We gaze at the world as an Egyptian might have done.The landscape and heavenscape of the ancient mind rushes in with his scholarship which is mesmerizing and illuminating. We have gone far astray of the cosmic temple, but Naydler allows us to recall the ancient majesty of cosmically integrated thinking.

for open-minded readers
This is an ambitious book which attempts to explore the controversial issue of the Ancient Egyptian consciousness, their thought processes and patterns, and how it manifested itself in both their daily lives and thematerial remains. In recounting this 'sacred culture,' the author alsolooks at their medical abilities. Many authors have contended that theorigins of Western civilisation and beliefs did not lie in classical Greeceand in Judeo-Christianity, but in ancient Egypt. This book has black andwhite illustrations, with footnotes providing both orthodox and unorthodoxbibliographic references. It is recommended for the open-minded and theinterested. ... Read more

Product Description
For millennia, the culture and philosophy of the ancient Egyptians have fascinated artists, historians, and spiritual seekers throughout the world. Now, this reissue of a Chronicle Books classic brings to light once more the legendary 3,500-year-old Papyrus of Ani—the most beautiful of the Egyptian funerary scrolls ever discovered. Restored to its original sequences, the elaborately bordered papyrus conveys its intended sense of motion and meaning in a way no other book on the subject can match. From mysticism and philosophy to anthropology and astronomy, this sumptuous volume will appeal to casual readers, serious scholars, and the generally inquisitive mind. The translation of the text of each image is placed on the page directly below the image, allowing the reader, for the first time in 3500 years, to gaze on the images while reading the words of the papyrus. Uncluttered with footnotes or other extraneous matter, the papyrus is displayed with the intent of allowing the modern reader to experience the full depth of the original. The restoration of the unity of word and image in this publication of the Papyrus of Ani has brought to life one of the most important early spiritual treasures of mankind. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A Beautiful and Enriching Edition
If you have never before seen or read any version of the Egyptian Book of the Dead (more properly called The Book of Going Forth By Day) -- even if you have -- this is the version which you must have.The translation by Dr. Raymond Faulkner is both clear and lyrical.The illustrations taken from the original papyrus are magnificent and beautifully enhance our understanding of the text.A warning however:If you leave this book on your coffee table, your visitors may become too involved looking through it to be bothered with you. But, the coffee table is a good place for this book because it should be somewhere where you and any other inhabitants of your abode can easily get to it.The other reviewers of the book have adequately described its contents, so all I want to do is urge you to get the book and enjoy it.If you ever thought that ancient history was boring -- an attitude which you might have acquired in school -- then you are in for a very pleasing surprise.Old fables, old traditions, old thought, and old wisdom can bring a new birth of curiosity and new horizons for you.If I haven't mentioned it before, get this book.

Excellent for the novice (and for the pros and intermediates, too!)
I own a copy of the prior edition of the book but having glanced over this one it appears to be virtually the same. This text is an excellent addition to one's library, particularly if one is interested in such things or even slightly curious.

I love its arrangement but a number of the images have been so computerized that they almost look cartoonish. While a book of pictures and text is no substitute for the originals, this is about as close as one can get for the price.

And, the price is not bad. The great thing is that those readers who cannot read Egyptian will find in this text a window to ancient Egypt. Even for those who can read the text for themselves without the English translation will find this work of use in beefing up their skills in reading Egyptian due to the fact that most of the images are so clear as to allow actual reading of the Egyptian text from the photos and then checking their work by the translation below.

But, beware! The English text does not match up with the Egyptian text in all places. Faulkner's English translation of an "ideal text" concatinated from a number of texts as the result of textual criticism is what is used in the book throughout. This "ideal text" does not, of course, really exist and so there are places where there will be no English translation representing parts of the Egyptian text and other places where there will be English translation for which there is no Egyptian text.

Yes, there will be differences of opinion in how certain of the passages have been rendered, and certainly we know more about the language than was known at the time this volume was originally released. But, these do not really matter in light of the fact that one can conveniently look over this text without having to travel to the British Museum to do it, and one does not have to rely on the works which transcribe the text of the Payrus of Ani and render them into English.

Although I prefer to look at the originals of texts (because sometimes photos can obscure certain elements of the texts and the medium beneath), this book forms a prized possession on my shelf of things Egyptian.

Colorful
The book is much larger than i expected. The pages are very good quality and the photos are vivid. I like how the papyrus photos run along the top of the page as the interpretation is sorted to fit underneath the photo. I still use other sources for some interpretations though. Anything by Moustafa Gadalla is good for the layman like myself.

#1 Source for Hieroglyphic Learning
If you only get one book for learning Egyptian hieroglyphic, I this one.Here's others in order of importance:

1.This book.It's a complete authentic text in the language you seek.I recommend getting it first because I think the best way to learn this language is by seeing it in its glory, something intro books don't do."The Book of the Dead" is actually the Bible of Ancient Egypt, as famous Egyptologist Barry Kemp says in Book Buy this book, read its translation, and save up for the following:
2. "Papyrus" has a faulty interlinear translation of The Book of the Dead.If you don't know what an 'interlinear translation' is, you really should find out.It means that Budge translates this book word-for word using hierolgyphic and Roman alphabet.
2.5 "How to Read the Book of the Dead" by Barry Kemp.Cutting-edge and super-short, very readable.
3.Faulkner's Egyptian-English.The small blue one.Use it to check Budge's translations.
4.James Allen's 2000 "Middle Eygptian".It's a reference grammar and not much of a "How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphic".For that, I recommend:
5. Either of E.A. Wallis Budge's intro works or that one guy, Samuel A. B. Mercer.Budge is probably better.He's just a damned good writer!He's totally not P.C., but he's erudite, old-school, and funky as hell!
5.For Catholics, get "Religions of the Ancient East" from that 1960s 'Encyclopedia of Catholicism'.The last 1/3 is anti-Catholic and clearly un-scholarly but the rest is unique in that it's not blatantly ignorant of miracles, history, and all the other over-looked things that cause most scholars to mis-interpret ancient religions against Catholicism.Both old-school and modern Near Eastern studies is over-run by atheists and apostasized Protestants who wouldn't know a thing about un-prejudiced comparitive religion study, let alone the dogmatic atheism that passes for comparative religion study today in universities across the world.

The Egyptian Book of the Dead
Primary texts are a bit of a love-hate thing with me. They are of course some of the most interesting pieces of text available in the world, yet at the same time, when you are new to the subject, a good commentary is vital. This particular laaaarge (physically) book suffers a bit from its somewhat limited commentary. That being said, it is a wonderful and beautiful book, although somewhat cumbersome to handle due to its size. The book was once written to a certain Ani, a person in the upper echelons of society in ancient Egypt, for his success in the forthcoming afterlife in the West. Strange to think about that it is several millennia old, yet I'm holding it in my hand filled throughout with lively colours and beautifully rendered hieroglyphs and paintings. I'd go so far as to say that the book is worth buying for the ancient art alone, made in that ancient Mediterranean-Aryan kingdom of Egypt.

It contains a lot of religious wisdom, although a lot of is, as I've mentioned, hard to understand for the uninitiated. Of course, a lot of it connects to magic and is hence not meant to be understood by uninitiated. The translation of the hieroglyphs is written at the bottom of each side, so it is easy to follow. Sadly, the commentary should have been much more extensive, so us mortals without extensive knowledge on the Egyptian mythos of the dead could gain some more from it. That being said, it is a wonderful book yet the short commentary at the end is simply too lacking. 4,5 stars. ... Read more

Product Description
The knowledge and art of the ancient Egyptians is still enigmatic. The Egyptian view of creation, life, and death can be understood only in the light of other traditions of spiritual growth and development, and in that of modern science. Size D. 173 illustrations, 14 in color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Ancient wisdom made accessible
The world of ancient Egypt was home to a deep and richly intricatespiritual tradition.This is readily apparent in ancient Egyptianiconography, but for most people, those arcane symbols remain a closedbook.Lucy Lamy's book is a masterpiece that opens these ancient vaults ofwisdom to the modern reader.I found extraordinary spiritual insights inwhat I have previously seen as a dry and opaque tradition.After the essayin part one, part two ("Plates") and part three ("Themes") present imageswith text explaining where they fit into Ms. Lamy's analysis.Having readthe essay, the images made sense - I understood where they fit in thiselaborate mythological system.If you have ever been captivated by, buthave failed to understand, Egyptian iconography, this is the perfect bookfor you.I also highly recommend this book to anyone interested in thehistory of esoteric spiritual traditions. ... Read more

Product Description
1918. The text is intended to fill the demand for a reliable popular treatise on the title subject and advance the understanding of Egypt's most interesting bequest to posterity. Contents include: The Local Gods; The Worship of the Sun; Other Gods Connected with Nature; Some Cosmic and Cosmogonic Myths; The Osirian Circle; Some Texts Referring to Osiris-Myths; The Other Principal Gods; Foreign Gods; Worship of Animals and Men; Life After Death; Ethics and Cult; Magic; and Development and Propagation of Egyptian Religion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Outdated but fun
This book is yet another reprint from Dover and their seemingly endless stream of outdated books on ancient Egypt. It was written in 1917. Though there is much information, it will be difficult for the lay person to identify many gods and themes the author is refering to. Names, places and ideas are outdated by todays knowledge and understanding of the subject. All this said, it's still fun to read what scholars were writing about almost a century ago.

So much new information is available making this volume very obsolete. The author does, however, recognize that future work will bring to light much unknown or misunderstood information.One example (of many) is the description of a goddess "Sekhautet." She wears a leopard skin with identifying symbols of upside-down horns with a multi-rayed "star" between them which "..we do not understand yet."In actuality, we now know the author has described the goddess "Sashet" and the "star" is a lotus flower. So his methodology in describing her as a "celestial being" is incorrect. This type of data is typical throughout the whole book.

If you want to understand some basic information it can be found here, but it's dangerous to rely on. The line drawings are interesting but come from all places and times in Egyptian history and artifacts, and are not properly identified, making it impossible to put things in a proper contextual perspective.

This is a fun read for those who are already familiar with Egyptian mythologhy and how to decipher fact from fiction.

More current books of value to help all readers with the subject of Egyptian mythology are:
The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptian Magic
By understanding the pantheon of gods you will discover the mythology behind them.

Find another book
I'm looking for mythology books on egypt for a historical fiction novel I'm working on. This looked good on the web, but in reality it's a confusing mess. It's missing a complete list of Gods. The author rambles off uninteresting information. I was better off with wikipedia. I'd give this 0 stars if I could. Next time I'm going to an actual book store so I can properly preview books.

An amazing mythology collection
I suppose that some of the work in this book, one of a 13 volume set written between 1916 and 1932 (reprinted in the 1960s), has been changed by more recent scholarship, but there is still nothing to equal this fantastic achievement. The set includes not only the more familiar myths such as Greek and Roman, but pretty well succeeds in its goal to include all of humanity. The text is extremely detailed but very readable; none of the turgid prose so often associated with academia. The volumes contain numerous illustrations, both in the text and as plates (mostly black & white.)
One of the most useful parts of the set is the final volume, an extremely detailed index, which allows the reader to pursue a theme, or even a topic as specific as the significance of belts, across all the volumes.The individual volumes do not have their own indices, but the tables of contents are fairly detailed. The books appear to have been issued without dust jackets.
... Read more

Product Description
The most famous of all ancient Egyptian texts—with an introduction by one of the most celebrated Egyptologists of our time

AMONG THE MOST WIDELY read and studied of all ancient writings, The Egyptian Book of the Dead consists of funerary texts that ancient Egyptian scribes composed for the benefit of the dead. This astonishing array of spells, hymns and litanies, magical formulae and names, and words of power and prayers were all found cut or painted on walls of pyramids and tombs, and painted on coffins, sarcophagi, and rolls of papyri. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

This edition is a twofold classic!
This Penguin Classics edition is, in effect, a twofold classic: It comprises the ancient text collectively known as "The Egyptian Book of the Dead", while faithfully reproducing the "classic" presentation of the translation by Budge. As such, it is a thoroughly enjoyable book!

Not again
I saw this in the bookstore and was excited that someone had decided to finally produce a new version of this ancient collection of spells and other funerary miscellany.Sadly, I looked closer and found it was yet another presentation of musty old Budge's 19th century translations.Penguin could have commissioned a new or adapted a recent translation, but I guess that would have actually cost something.Why not put out some antiquated public domain junk instead?This version does have a new introduction attempting justify their choice, but it would have been far simpler and more honest to replace it with the phrase, "CUZ IT DON'T COST NUTHIN!"

I suggest seeking out the Raymond Faulkner book, which is marginally harder to find, but not only has a more recent translation but also features mountains of beautiful color photos and illustrations.

Great and insightful
I love this book. Definitely a mature read, it is extremely helpful in understanding antient egyptian faith. Great notations too. I suggest a glossary or other accompanied book to better understand all the gods and their roles.

3 times larger than the Papyrus of Ani edition
This edition of Budge's book of the Dead is not the same as the Dover edition (the Papyrus of Ani). It's in fact an edition Budge published a few years later (The Chapters of Coming Forth by Day), and it's a compilation of all the papyri available at the time, making this the most complete edition of the Book of the Dead available today. The translation itself has over 3 times the material in the earlier edition, and the translation is more polished than Budge's earlier work. If you have the Papyrus of Ani, I recommend you get this as well, as you're missing out on a ton of material. While the binding and presentation is not as good as the Dover, in terms of contents it is unbeatable.

Not impressed, Penguin
I am neither reviewing the Book of the Dead--its reputation is well known and deserved--nor the translation offered here. I am merely disappointed in the quality of this offering from Penguin Classics. This purportedly new edition is a quite literal reprint of the original edition of E.A. Wallis Budge's 1899 translation, with a new introduction tacked onto the beginning.

This wouldn't necessarily be a problem--Budge's translation is good enough--but the presentation is particularly shoddy and far below the standards usually upheld by Penguin. The book has not even been reset in modern type, but is a virtual photocopy of the original. Precisely the same translation--minus the new introduction--has been available from the more economic Dover Publications for years. Budge's translation is now presumably in the public domain, and this "new" printing by Penguin looks like a money grab. Very little effort has been put into this edition.

If you own no other copy of The Book of the Dead, by all means, buy this one. The Book of the Dead is worth owning. But if you're looking for a newer, updated, or otherwise revised edition than Budge's, which has been in print for a century now, skip it.

Not recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Hieroglyphs reveal how Osiris, the King of Egypt, became the King of the Dead.Follow his queen, Isis, as she restores the body of her murdered husband and helps him become king of the underworld. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent llittle book, beautifulpen and ink drawing
The gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt are nothing if not confusing to the non-scholar.Clive Barrett clarifies them, explains their histories and backgrounds, as they often changed and morphed into each other over millenia, and one that may have started out benign may have ended up associated with less benign aspects...remember, we're discussing 4000 years of history here...Its a great little book. It doesn't talk down to the reader, nor does it make it more confusing than it is simply by definition.For example, regarding the well known goddess Isis: "Isis is the Greek name of the goddess known to the Egyptians as 'Aset' or 'Eset'. The Greeks associated her with their earth goddesses Demeter and Hera and also the moon goddess Selene. She was one of the most popular of all Egyptian deities, and as time passed she began to absorb the traits, functions and personalites of practically all the other goddesses. Her fame spread far, she was worshipped in Rome, and the Romans carried her name throughout their Empire. Isis began as a local goddess in the north of Egypt, probably in Perehbet..."page71
Very thorough, with drawings of every god and goddess including their representativefacial appearance, clothing, head-gear, animal symbolism and so on.Really worth getting if you are interested in ancient Egypt, and can find it. The pen and ink drawings, simple and clear, and lovely and are worth the price of the book alone.

Authentic guidebook to the Gods of Egypt
I found this book on a remainder table several years ago and have learned much of Egypt(Kemet) from it. There are not many authentic books that deal with this subject in an accurate/mystical approach. Mr Barrett is a learned scholar and archologist from Britain. What could his take on Egypt mean to the explorer of the mystical side? Lots!

To begin, this book is filled with information about most of the gods I could think of and more. Many are all but obscured and forgotten. The very myths behind these wonderful illustations are profound. This complements, but is not required to study and use his great Ancient Egyptian Tarot. I cannot understand why the book is no longer in print. Not all books have to be a best seller. I suppose the publisher had some issues here.

As for myself, there are no critical marks regarding this historically accurate and beautifully illustrated text. I would recommend getting it used, as I can see the value go up over the years. ... Read more

Product Description
Immortality was the great central idea on which Egyptian religious and social life turned. In this volume, a noted Egyptologist offers a concise, scholarly exposition of Egyptian belief in Osiris, god of the resurrection; other "gods" of the Egyptians; the judgment of the dead and the resurrection; and immortality. Also, the meaning of the afterlife for ancient Egyptians and its ramifications for Egyptian society. 8 illustrations.
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Customer Reviews (1)

AGED BUT STILL REFRESHING FOR THE LEARNED ONE
This is one of the oldest books of Budge, so that not expect too much fromit. It mainly covers the Egyptian concepts about the Afterlife, so that itdeals mainly with the mythological characters and customs of the mortuaryrealm. Although very speculative in several discussions, it still containsuseful hints here and there, and its reading is a good source of ideas,whether for idle speculation or for researching forgotten aspects ofancient Egyptian religion. As always, if you are a beginner, in spite ofbeing a book addressed to the general public you must be extremely cautiousand check each and every quotation with other more reliable sources. ... Read more

Product Description
A handy reference guide to the rich pantheon of ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses. This pocket dictionary highlights thirty-five major gods and goddesses and shows how they function in family groupings. Readers can find deities like Atum and Ptah who feature in myths explaining the creation of the universe. They can journey across the sky with the great sun-god Ra-Horakhty and his cohorts and enter the underworld of Osiris. Powerful goddesses such as Isis, Hathor and the ferocious lioness-headed Sekhmet are featured, as are the deities who protected the pharaoh, and those who were responsible for mummification and funerary rituals. All the entries are fully cross-referred and an A-Z contents list enables the reader to find easily a particular god or goddess. Each one is illustrated with colour photographs of paintings, papyri and sculptures depicting the deity and the hieroglyphs of his or her name. The appearance, attributes, roles and responsibilities of each god and goddess are briefly and clearly described. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Perfect Introduction to Ancient Egypt
I love this book.As an American living in Egypt, I keep a supply of this book in the house.I give them to everyone who is about to take their first tour of Egypt.It helps identify the gods and goddesses they will see everywhere.An easy way to know which goddesses you are looking at when she is wearing a vulture headdress. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A concise, beautiful and impressive introduction to the Mysterious World of Ancient Egypt


The Ancient Egyptians:
To understand the everyday life of ancient Egyptians, Egyptologists drew on many valuable sources including tomb paintings, writings, and objects included in tombs that the Egyptians used in their daily life. Artifacts excavated and hundreds of documents written by the ancient Egyptians shed additional light on their life.
The fundamental social unit of ancient Egypt was the working family. While the father was responsible for the well-being of the family, the mother took care of the household and cared for the children, and their upbringing. Although Egyptian children are occasionally depicted at play with toys, their time was spent in preparing for their adulthood, by training on work. Farmer's children accompanied their parents into the fields; craftsmen got their male offspring helping as apprentices to their fathers. Scribes and officials children normally received formal education to become scribes or army officers.

Religion in Ancient Egypt:
The religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians had a dominating influence in the development of their culture, although a unified theological system, was never intended to exist among them. Egyptian belief was based on a collection of ancient myths, ritual worship, and adoration of the innumerable local deities. Religion guided all aspects of ancient Egyptian daily life. Egyptian religion was based on polytheistic triads, or the worship of a pantheon of gods, abolished during the reign of King Akenaten. Egyptian gods and goddesses were represented as part human and part animal. Some, such as Amon, were worshipped nationwide, while others had only a local following.

Egyptian Creation Myths:
Ancient Egyptians had many mythical tales about the world beginning. According to one Myth, it started with an ocean in darkness, out of which dry land came up and the sun god Re appeared, creating light and all other things. Another version has the sun God appearing as a scarab beetle on the eastern horizon, or emerging from a sacred blue lotus, out of mud. Temples were everywhere, being dwelling places for the gods, so men could communicate with them. Later, tombs became a part of great temples.

Mummification & Burial:
Burying the dead was of main religious concern in Egypt, and Egyptian funerary rituals had become the most sophisticated the world has ever known. The Egyptians believed that the vital life-force was composed of several psych elements, of which the ka, was the principal. The ka, a twin duplicate of the body, accompanied it throughout life and, after death, when it departed from the body to take its place in the kingdom of the dead. However, the ka, vanished without its body; therefore, every effort was to be made, to preserve the dead body. After a person died, the priests recited prayers in an attempt to revive the deceased. The deceased body was then washed and perfumed before it was then taken to the embalmer's hall. All the organs were removed through a cut in the left side, and stored in special jars. The body was filled a mummifying salt, natrun for forty days. Thereafter, the body cavities were filled with linen and natron, then it was wrapped in bandages with amulets within the layers. A facial icon (portrait mask of the deceased) was placed over the head by the Embalmers, who wore a jackal mask to represent Anubis. The mummy, was then placed into a multi-layer coffin.

Ancient Egyptian Gods & Heros:
When a united state was created, by King Menas, a national religion grew out of the various local religions. There were still various inconsistencies as various priests attempted to unify and systematize the gods and their religious myths. The status of the local gods followed in the political power of their localities. Amon became Egypt's most prominent deity, and by similar shifts of political dominance of a city or regions others followed suit. Nevertheless, shifts and changes when occurred, made for new identifications and associations (Amen-Ra).
Great Egyptian Heroes, Doctors and Architects like Amenhotep rose to Eternity, after death. Egyptian religion was remarkable for its reconciliation and union of conflicting beliefs. Some scholars have held, in fact, that the syncretism of Egyptian religion reveals a basic trend toward monotheism. But only during the reign of Ikhnaton, who based his theology on the solar god Aton and denied recognition to all other god. That unique monotheistic cult proved not compatible with ancient Egyptian traditions; after Ikhnaton's death, polytheistic worship rituals were restored.

Major Worship Cults:
Of the many forms of Egyptian worship, the most prominent were that of Osiris and of Ra. Osiris was especially important as judge of the dead, but he was identified as well with the waters of the Nile, with the fertility of the earth, and with the moon. A bountiful and loving king, Osiris was the omni protector of everyone, the poor and the rich. His murder by his brother Set, and his restoration to life by his wife Isis made him the great symbol of the eternal persistence of life. His myth, portraying the highest ideals of family devotion, expressed aspirations that were valued by the people. The revenge exacted by his son and successor Horus showed the eternal triumph of good over evil.

Forty's presentation:
This book is a concise but beautiful and impressive introduction to the mysterious world of Ancient Egypt. Forty's presentation centered around the power of Egyptian mythology, which unlike Greek mythology took life, and religion seriously. The glory of the Pyramids, the Sphinx, and the temples with their colonnades and colossal needles depicted a highly organized life and an inspiring moral wisdom. The author introduced his view in an impressive clarity for a first encounter, his selection of plates is superb.
Illustrated Who was Who in Kemet is informative, while The Nomes, linking cities with their gods is unique, followed by an archaeological list of Egyptian temples. I wonder how could he pack the informative chapters in 64 pages so elegantly appealing. ... Read more

Product Description
Contains powerful tales from Egypt and West Asia with an immediately accesible A-Z structure, fully cross referenced throughout. Includes over 150 color pictures of sacred animals, gods, heroes, angels, djinn and holy places, all taken, wherever possible, from original sources. ... Read more