Product Description
The tyrannical monster Zahhak upon whose shoulder grew serpents that feasted daily on the brains of Iran's youth; the giant hero Rostam who vanquished entire armies with his immense strength and military prowess; the inept Shah Kay Kavus whose greed and vanity brought incessant warfare and misery to the land he ruled; the bold princess Rudabe who defied two armies to pledge her love to the Iranian hero Zal - these are but a few of the characters who inhabit the world of the great Persian classic known as the "Shahname" or "Book of Kings".Completed in the eleventh century A.D. by the poet Abol-Qasem Ferdowsi, the "Shahname" describes in more than 80,000 lines of verse the pre-Islamic history of Persia from mythological times down to the invasion of the armies of Islam in the mid-seventh century A.D. From this long saga, Jerome Clinton has translated into English blank verse the most famous episode, the story of Rostam and Sohrab. It is a stark and classic tragedy set against the exotic backdrop of a mythological Persia where feasting, hunting, and warring are accomplished on the most magnificent scale.Matching the English translation line by line on the facing pages is the Persian text of the poem, based on the earliest complete manuscript of the "Shahname", which is preserved in the British Museum.This lyrical translation of the tragedy of Sohrab and Rostam captures the narrative power and driving rhythm of the "Shahname" as no other English translation has. His rendering into modern blank verse is both faithful to the original and pleasing to the ear of the contemporary reader. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

First class translation
This book is surely a must for any student of classical Persian literature.The original Persian along side the English translation of the tragedy of Sohrab and Rostam from the Persian epic the Shahname.For anyone who is not acquainted with the Shahname it is a Persian epic tracing history of the Persian kings to the fall of the Persian empire and the Arab invasion.The Shahname (or book of kings) is just that; it is an epic tale similar to the Greek epics of the rise and fall of kings, mythical tales, epic battles and tragedy.Amongst other predominantly Muslim people we have the stories of Antar for the Arabs or Dede Korkut for the Turks.It is quite possible that all of these works influenced Shorta Rustaveli in his writing of the 'Knight in the panther skin' the Georgian epic.

The author provides an introduction to the Shahname, its origins and development.He further explains the importance of the Shahname to the Persian people and Persian culture and continues with the history of the Shahname post Firdosi (The author) The author continues giving an introduction to the text that he is translating and the editions of the Shahname he has used.

The text is flowing and retains much of its poetical style thus, keeping it in its correct historical context.For students of Persian that there is a corresponding Persian text on the opposite page is also of benefit.There are notes at the end of the book explaining parts of the text that the reader may find difficult to understand.

Not the complete Shahname but an excellent introduction and one I would recommend. ... Read more

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This important contribution to the study of Phrygian religious practice and spatial conceptualizations examines the role of the rock-cut monuments in Iron Age Anatolian and provides the reader with new aspects and theories of Phrygian cult and the Mother goddess Kybele. ... Read more

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Gods in the Desert explores the fascinating religious cultures of the ancient Near East. From the mysterious pyramids, tombs, and temples of Egypt to the powerful heroes, gods, and legends of Mesopotamia, Glenn Holland guides readers through the early religions that are the root of many of today's major faiths.

Holland compares the religions of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Syria-Palestine, including Israel and Judah, from the Neolithic era through the conquest of Alexander the Great. He provides a historical survey of each region, then discusses the gods, the rulers, the afterlife, and the worship rituals. This accessible overview makes clear how these religions converged and diverged, and are intimately connected to many of the religions we recognize today, sometimes in surprising ways. ... Read more

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Tales of Troy and its heroesAchilles and Hector, Paris and the legendary beauty Helenhave fired the human imagination for 3,000 years. With In Search of the Trojan War, Michael Wood brings vividly to life the legend and lore of the Heroic Age in an archaeological adventure that sifts through the myths and speculation to provide a fresh view of the riches and the reality of ancient Troy.This gripping story shows why the legend of Troy forms the bedrock of Western culture and why its past is a paradigm of human history. Wood's meticulous scholarly sleuthing yields fascinating evidence about the continuity and development of human civilization in the Aegean and Asia Minor. With its 50 feet of debris resulting from constant rebuilding, human destruction, earthquake, and abandonment, the mound of Troy contains the beginnings and ends of new races and civilizations.This edition includes a new preface, a new final chapter, and an addendum to the bibliography that take account of dramatic new developments in the search for Troy with the rediscovery, in Moscow, of the so-called Jewels of Helen and the re-excavation of the site of Troy, which began in 1988 and is yielding new evidence about the historical city. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Great book but get the DVD too!
This is the up-dated edition of Michael Wood's classic work on the Trojan War.The new material is important in light of recent excavations at Troy.As always, Wood's books are exceptionally interesting to anyone keen on history, archaeology and travel.But, as good as the book is, the DVD of the original television series that the book accompanied is even better.I wouldn't be without either.

A sublime tour de force !
It results less than impossibleavoid to offer resistance this legendary story , which has become in the spark which has illuminated the radiant imagination of the mankind . Michael Wood literally engages and transports us to the insights of this powerful (legend?) and sets us in the own spirit of his personal adventure that sifts through the myths and speculations to provide a eloquent view of the riches , the reality and portentous spirit of the ancient Troy .
I simply can not imagine that one only human being around the world may remain indifferent with that fantastic story .
Please prepare to make a journey in the time and install in the middle of the facts the effects and consequences of this glorious combat where the rivalities , ancestral hates and pacts will be the essential clues to rediscover the marvelous grandiosity of this timeless and unequal battle .

Interesting cover
If you have an interest in learning more about the Trojan War and the archeology involved in proving it wasn't a myth, then this isn't the book for you. I'm not sure who this book was written for. I've a feeling there was a good mind behind a pen that couldn't write in this case.

All about Michael...
Michael Wood's account of the "search for the Trojan war" is distinguished by one central feature.He has an astounding gift for saying in 250 words what could be better said in 10.To say that this book is verbose is like saying that Mt. Everest is pretty darn high.This book is the model of hyperventilated verbosity...droning on and on about granular details that are at least unimportant if not downright irrelevant.In the end, it seems that Michael is more interested in hearing himself make noise than in telling the story of Troy.That is very sad, since the story is one worth telling.Moreover, the many interesting photos in the book tantalize the reader with the promise of information which Mr. Wood cannot deliver...or at least carefully hides in one truly huge mound of trivia.This story deserves an author who can tell it.But Michael Wood is not the one.If you are a reader who enjoys flipping through the pictures without really understanding what they mean, then this book may suit you well.But if you seek actual knowledge of the subject, look elsewhere.Look, in particular, for an author who can distinguish the essential from the inconsequential while telling a story that moves straightforwardly from its beginning to its end.Michael Wood is not that author.

Excellent View Into the Dawn of Western Culture
In this excellent book, Michael Wood covers the history of the modern search for the Troy of Homer's Iliad, and makes a strong case for the Trojan War being a historical occurrence, with most of the details in the Iliad being likewise historical.

About half the book is devoted to the major archeological digs at Hisarlik, a site in northwest Turkey, that is the likely site of Troy.Wood puts the discoveries at these digs in a broad context, both geographically and economically, for example in terms of archeological discoveries about contemporaneous sites in Greece and Crete and their implications about trade and warfare, and historically, in terms of the development of the archeologists' own theories over the last century and a half.He also pinpoints which archeological layer is most likely the city that was sacked by the Greeks - specifically, a layer called Troy VI, with n grand, imposing city wall surrounding a stately central city of broad avenues.

What I found most interesting, though, was the discussion of historical accounts from the various major powers of the day - the linear B tablets from the Greek city states, the diplomatic archives of the Hittite empire in what is now Turkey, and accounts from the Egypt of Rameses II and III.To me, these really brought to life the late bronze age civilization of the Eastern Mediterranean - arguably a higher civilization than the early iron age civilization that followed.

Overall, this book does a terrific job of not only showing when and how the Trojan War actually occurred, but also why, in terms of the dynamics between the 'great powers' of the day. ... Read more

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An all-new translation of the most important ancient Near East documents that share parallel themes and issues with biblical stories. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Nice little anthology
*Old Testament Parallels* is indeed a useful anthology of ANE texts with perspicuous translations for the casual reader. The selections, short albeit, are actually very enjoyable, and as I read them I was reminded of just how beautiful, crude, wise, and diverse the world of ANE literature can be; from the raw vagaries of the Baal cycle, through the mundane social interactions of the Nuzi Texts, to the practical and epigrammatic sapience of Anksheshonq...the parallels are engaging enough on their own without minding their comparisons with the Old Testament at all. Many of the bible passages adjacent to the lines in the ANE selections often don't seem to relate or to be of any real consequence anyway.

Nevertheless it is still a delight when they do. The selections follow the order of the books of the Old Testament, although some of them are misplaced. The 'Stories of Sinuhe' contain striking parallels to Moses' exile in Midianite territory from Egypt and to David and Goliath, but nothing apparently from Joshua-Judges, the section it's found under. Likewise with the 'Gezer Almanac'. And I certainly can't discover what the 'Yavne-Yam Letter' is doing under the prophets section. The authors were also remiss to inform the reader where it is preserved today. I'm inclined to withhold a star, but I'd recommend to anyone.

The book includes three brief outlines of Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Israelite history, bibliography for each text and for the pictures, and an index of over 1,300 Old Testament parallels.


Fun Facts:

* Yes, I counted the items in the index out of boredom!

* The island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean is conspicuously missing from the map on p. 177.

Putting Bible history into perspective
If you or your friends think that the bible is a miraculous, one-of-a-kind book full of dictation directly from the lips of god...you really need to read this book. It explains in factual detail how most of the myths and legends of the Old Testament are not original material.

The psalms of David are a collection of lyrics from his time period, but he only wrote those songs in the sense that Stephen Foster wrote "Camptown Racetrack." Stories collected in the Old Testament were "borrowed" or re-written from existing myths and legends of other cultures in that region. It is true that there is original material in the OT, butthe stories about The Flood, human sacrifice (Abraham), creation, the origin of languages (Babel) and other similar tales were shared by many cultures.

I am not terribly concerned about unraveling all this plagiarism, just doing a reality check on "god's holy word."

Old Testament Parallels
This is an excellent source to keep handy.It identifies the common ancestry of
much of the biblical stories, and gives their derivation.Truly, there is nothing new under the sun, and originality is a word with little meaning when
ancient tales are told and retold.While the plots remain the same, the characters are different.Proverbs and maxims translate quite readily across cultural lines.An ideal book for the serious student of ancient literature of the near east.

Interesting Compilation
I first read this text when I was taking a course in surveying Ancient Middle Eastern languages and texts.I have however found it to be more interesting for study of ancient religion than linguistics.Many of the myths contain the imagery that Lovecraft should have used to make his terrors more terrible.The authors voices breath the dusts of their deserts and antiquity. They give a window on civilized homes haunted by the twin shades of starvation and inexplicable disease.They show us a world where warfare really meant covering your hands in the blood and entrails of your enemies. As a Sunday School teacher I have turned back to this text often to provide context for understanding the ancient Hebrew's captors, allies, enemies, and neighbors and to understand the wrath of their God's intense jealousy.

OT Clarifications in Adoptions, Parallels or Allusions

"How manifold are thy works! They are hidden before men,
Oh sole God, beside whom there is no other. Thou didst create earth according to thy heart."(Akhenaten hymn /Psalm 104)



TaNaKh in Ancient Texts:
Many ancient texts from Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Persia discovered recently as a result of archaeological excavations, shed light and give various sorts of background information for OT books. Many of these texts provide historical information that clarify our knowledge of ancient biblical times. Some of the ancient texts have literary parallels to biblical narratives and could help students understand literary genres, and reconstruct the parallel culture and thought of ancient east Mediterranean peoples with whom the Hebrews had sojourned.
Those adoptions, parallels or allusions are only confirmations of the active role those Semites developed ultimately their religious thought to monotheism. This faith journey, with numerous contributors from Akhenaten, to Moses, to the prophets is exegetically described as: The history of Salvation.

Hebrew Bible Parallels:
The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) did not come to expression 'Ex Nihil,' even if still an unconscious belief of many orthodox Jews and fundamental Christians, to come close to the idea of revelation as mechanical dictation. The debate over who wrote the books of the Old Testament and when they were written has raged for over two centuries. While tradition plays a role in answering these questions. Scripture itself makes certain claims about authorship and date. Given in the light of the Exodus, a historical events for Israel; e.g., the Decalogue, when compared with the much older Egyptian Book of the Dead, 'Not have I despised God...Not have I killed...Not have I fornicated...Not have I despoiled the thing of the God...not have I defiled the wife of a man...Not have I cursed God...Not have I borne false witness,' clarifies how humanity pronounced the words of God.

Archaeological finds:
There have been astounding archaeological finds in the regions of Syria and Palestine, Egypt, and Arabia, since the early twentieth century. In relation to religious sites, there has been the identification of temples and shrines. There are several sources for understanding Middle Eastern life and religion, in particular the Egyptian, Canaanite pantheon. Israel was under the powerful influence of Egypt, and later in constant positive and negative contact, with her neighbors, Syria and Babylonia.These sources include the Old Testament, and the discoveries of Tall el-Amarna and Ras Shamra. The studious faithful should not be detracted from seriously considering proven historical data provided by scholars and archaeological finds, to avoid fall off the other side of their hermeneutical vehicle, examining ancient resources availed to us by archaeologists to uncover the ancient thought-world and religious milieu.

The Documents:
I came across those parallels early on, in my dad's catechist style replies to my teenage questions, which I suspect 'The Dawn of Conscience' was his prime source.D. Winton Thomas translated and edited OT scholars in, 'Documents from OT Times' in 1958, and M. coogan rendered, 'stories from ancient Canaan' two decades later. In this expanded edition, Matthews and Benjamin, updated their fresh translation of some famous stories, songs, and laws, in a Biblical chronological order with the OT books, providing some hundred scenes and figures, supplemented by notes that clarify common concepts, and identify where the ancient text was found; few are selected herein:

Story of Balaam:
During 1967 two fragmentary inscriptions, were recovered by H. Franken while excavating in the Jordan valley. 'The story of Balaam,' written in Aramaic, of southern Canaan, in around 700 BC. Balaam, son of Beor appears as a prophet in the Book of Numbers (22:5 - 24:25).

Egyptian Moral Teachings:
Two thousand years separate Ptah-hotep and Amen-em-ope, but their teachings demonstrate the consistency of the Ancient Egyptian world view. The wise was not perfect, only the gods are acknowledged to possess perfection. You could enjoy reading the 'Thirty Chapters' of admonition and knowledge in matthews/ Benjamin; O.T. Parallels.

The Thirty sayings of Amenemope:
Professor Lange of Copenhagen was a pioneer in comparing the teachings of the Egyptian moralist Amenemope (Tenth Century BC), before any of the Old Testament was written, with the Book of Proverbs. In his book 'The Dawn of Conscience', Breasted gives parallels between prophet Jeremiah, who lived in Egypt for sometime, and ancient sayings ofAmenemtope. Archaeologists now know that his sayings were translated into Hebrew, and read by the Jewish scribes, before it found its way into the book of Proverbs (22.17 to 24.22)

Hymn to Aton:
James H. Breasted, an outstanding Egyptologist, was the first to compare the 'Hymn to the Sun' written by prophetic Pharaoh Akhenaten, Ca 1300 BC, with Psalm 104 of the Hebrew psalmody, showing the striking parallels.

... Read more

Product Description
Describes the origins and purpose of mummification, clears up misconceptions about mummies, and looks at recent scientific studies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

What a Buy!
This book looks like new! I saved money and the book is in great condition. The seller was very helpful.

Fascinating!
This book is fascinating to say the least!When I first got it I spent an hour flipping though looking at pictures and reading the captions.When I finally got around to reading the 'book part' it was even more intriguing.Some might be unnerved by the pictures of the mummies, and its hard not to be with some of them (pg 66 for example ;)But I was glad to finally see what alot of other books only describe.This book is an excellent buy for the price.Great for those with an interest in Egyptian traditions/history and in mummies in general.Strong stomach recommended ;)

Fascinating, Scholarly Study with Amazing Photos
I looked for a book on mummies after seeing the excellent television documentary hosted by Egyptologist Dr. Bob Brier. I saw this book and was a little skeptical. The title "Mummies, Myth, and Magic" sounded like a book that may sacrifice scholarship for a more mainstream account to appeal to those wanting to read about mummy curses, etc. I could not resist the fascinating photos in this book, so I bought it despite my reluctance over the title. I soon realized I was wrong to be the least bit skeptical. It is a very scholarly account by an obvious expert in the field. Christine El Mahdy details how mummies were buried during different periods; the mummification techniques; how Egyptians bargained with, communicated with, and regarded their various gods; animal cults, etc. A short section on the "curse" of the tombs is included at the end and is expertly written: "...the dead positively welcomed the living. Their immortality depended on the survival of their name..." (174). The author assumes nothing in her analysis and gives a clear, erudite account of every subject examined.She offers an excellent description of what it was like for a robber or collector like Giovanni Belzoni to enter a tomb.She also explains what information can be gathered from mummies; from age and health to the duties Egyptians had under certain titles. The illustrations in this book make it a must for the serious Egyptologist to the casual enthusiast. Symbolism and the design of sample tombs are clearly diagrammed. The photos and x-rays of mummies are fascinating. There is a disturbing photo of an unknown mummy that some witnesses to its discovery believe was buried alive that will stick with you long after you put down this book. In addition, a chronology of the different dynasties is included at the beginning of this book which is essential for readers like me who have a very limited background on Egyptian history.What impressed me most of all was the deep respect the author demonstrated towards this subject:"Few of the living were ever permitted even to gaze for long upon the face of a pharaoh--so perhaps it is presumptuous to demand more of them dead than they gave when alive" (91).

great
This book is worth 10 stars. there is so much info in this book and it is very easy to understand. when i first looked at this book of 192 pages i thought i would never get through it all but it was so easy once i picked it up i couldn't put it down. if you are interested in learning about ancient egypt this is the book to buy.

Just read it! :)
"Mummies, Myth, and Magic" explores practically all facets of its chosen subject matter: burial, preparation, symbolism, even the excavators charged with elaborating on all of the above.The essays spenton modern mummy examinations are fascinating, not to mention the fabulousphotography.The affect of various periods in Egyptian history--such asthe Intermediate periods and the Amarna period--on the country's religiousbeliefs/expectations is also discussed. Oh, enough with my beingwell-spoken.... Just read it! :) ... Read more

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The first philological edition of the longest and best-preserved Hittite prayer. The discussion places the prayer in its historical and theological context and considers the devlopment of Hittite and Near Eastern religion and mythology. ... Read more

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This book examines the worship in ancient Egypt of Hathor, the goddess of women and of foreign places, and the contribution which votive offerings can make to the study of a traditional religion. The first part of the book covers the main sites at which large groups of votive offerings to Hathor have been found, and for each site the history of the temple or shrine is outlined and the evidence for the find-places of the votive offerings is assembled from excavation reports and archival material. The second part examines the main types of votive object, with illustrations and discussion of their possible symbolism. The final part examines the offerings in the general context of popular religion and in the light of comparative material from other cultures. ... Read more

Product Description
The formula `for the life of' is often found in votive inscriptions, castin Aramaic and other languages, which originate from the Syrian-Mesopotamiandesert and adjacent areas and which roughly date from the first threecenturies A.D. They belong to objects like statues and altars that usuallywere erected in temples and other structures with a ritual or sacred function.The inscriptions establish a relationship between the dedicator andone ormore beneficiaries, those persons for whose life the dedication was made.Since the social context evidently bears on both the meaning of theinscriptions as well as the status of the dedications, this volume deals withthe nature of the relationships and the socio-religious function thededications perform. ... Read more

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When we think of "The Sphinx," two notions come to mind: the massive carving at the edge of the Libyan desert by Cairo and the fearful creature of classical myth who posed high-stakes riddles to passers by. While this book focuses squarely on the former sphinx, the very existence of this formidable monument poses riddles all its own.

Customer Reviews (4)

missing late 90's discoveries
I am shocked this book was published without mention of very important recent discoveries, such as the alignment of the pyramidsbeing identical to the alignment of the stars in the Belt of Orion.Sound silly?There are multiple recent discoveries, easily verifiable, not mentioned in this book.

Good coffee table book!
I'm sure Mr. Jordan did not have in mind to write a coffee table book -- he seems to have a specific thought in mind regarding some of the books that have been released over the past 30 to 40 years regarding the mysterious Sphinx.However, the photography and other illustrations make this book one that you would want visitors to see.I enjoyed the writing as well as the photographs, regardless of Mr. Jordan's obvious biases.(Actually, from a professional historian's view, Mr. Jordan's biases are not at all biases.)

excellent introduction about the Sphinx
Despite having a bad choice for a title, the twelve chapters of this book offer excellent information on the Ancient Egyptian sphinx. The author provides accurate description, dimensions, excavations and conditions ofthe monument. He discusses several theories regarding its constructiondates and the reason for its construction. Chapters also present thehistory of Ancient Egypt from predynastic to Old Kingdom times. Accompaniedby excellent black-and white illustrations and color photographs, it is abeautiful study of this monument, recommended to have in a personallibrary.

Informative and valuable
There are perhaps two ways in which Paul Jordan's "Riddles of the Sphinx" should be viewed.First and foremost, Jordan details everything we know about the Sphinx--its structure, its geology, its placein Egyptian history, the cultural context in which it was made, the placeof the Sphinx in Egyptian society thereafter, etc. etc.In this sense, thebook is especially valuable in explaining in a highly readable fashion thescientific and historical basis for placing the origin of the Sphinx atabout 2500 BCE.You will not find a clearer account of how such scientificreasoning works.At the same time, Jordan is quite fair in admitting wherescientists and historians are simply guessing, or where they know nothingat all.

Second, this book provides a fine counterpoint to the recentspate of speculations--carried on by the likes of Graham Hancock, RobertBauval, John Anthony West, Robert Schoch, Zecharia Sitchin, et. al.--thatthe Sphinx dates from a far more ancient time and represents evidence of along-lost civilization predating even ancient Egypt and Sumer.WhileJordan argues persuasively against such wild theorizing, and isimmeasurably helped by his careful summary of conventional Egyptology, I dowish he had been less offhand in his criticisms of the "alternativeSphinx."Only Schoch is ever mentioned by name or referenced, andthen only because he is a trained geologist, and as such is deserving ofbeing "taken seriously."While in some sense this might becorrect, and certainly is in an academic context, in a work of popularnonfiction this is downright haughty.Someone, someday needs to addressthe Hancocks, the Bauvals and the Wests in the same way that, for example,Philip Klass and Robert Sheaffer deal with UFOlogists.In an academiccontext, it is perhaps appropriate to laugh Graham Hancock out of the room;in the popular arena, his claims need to be addressedspecifically.

Nevertheless, as "Riddles of the Sphinx" is theonly book I have yet found that does treat the most recent wave ofearly-Sphinx speculation directly, as of this writing it stands as the mostvaluable book on the subject for the general reader.It is written welland a surfeit of excellent photographs are included, though theyundoubtedly contribute to its rather high price tag. ... Read more

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Little is known of the Luri dialect of Khurramabad, but Professor Amanolahi of Shiraz University has collected various stories from his native town in the local language. Together with Wheeler Thackston of Harvard he has prepared a compact volume covering the tales in transcription, translations into English, a short grammatical sketch, and a Luri-English vocabulary (Luristan is a province of western Iran in the Zagros Mountains). The traditional grammatical analysis of the dialect is easy to follow and the translations of both poetry and prose closely follow the original, a tribute to the close collaboration of the two scholars. This unique volume will be of great interest to students of the folklore, linguistics, and customs of the inhabitants of the center of Luristan.

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Armenian and Iranian Studies brings together select articles published in disparate journals and volumes over the past two decades. Some deal exclusively with either Armeniaca (ancient, medieval, and modern) or Iranica (pre-Islamic); in the case of the former, there is an emphasis on the sources and religious material of heroic epic and of folklore. A number of studies also deal with the visionaries of the Armenian tradition--Mashtots', Narekats'i, Ch'arents'. In the Iranian area, there are publications on Irano-Judaica and the culture of the Parsi Zoroastrians of India.

The majority of the articles here have to do with Armeno-Iranica. In some cases they serve to supplement the findings of the author's Zoroastrianism in Armenia (Harvard Iranian Series 5, 1987). Several articles deal with witchcraft and magic and relate to ancient Armenian pre- and non-Christian religion. With the same interest, the author examines some legendry belonging to the categories of belief condemned by the Armenian Church as heresy; translation and commentary on medieval lyric poetry enliven these glimpses into the life of the past.

Customer Reviews (1)

A collection of 91 articles on Armenian and Iranian Studies.
The Dolores Zohrab Liebman Foundation, the Clark Fund of Harvard University and the Armenian General Benevolent Union are to be congratulated on their endeavour to honour a rare and erudite scholar, James Robert Russell (Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA)by funding a venture to publish a book titled "Armenian and Iranian Studies" which is a collection of 91 articles published by Professor James R. Russell in disparate journals and volumes since 1980.Few scholars in the prime of their career are honoured with a compilation of their past publications, and this voluminous tome (xxix, 1462 pages) brings together publications from rare and not easily accessible/available journals and festschrifts and conference proceedings.Also the field of Armenian and Iranian studies and especially Armeno-Iranica studies have attracted few scholars and so this collection of articles has an even greater academic value, making it almost one of a kind tome.
Professor Russells' areas of academic interests have, and continue to be Armenica, concentrating on the sources and religious materials of heroic epics and folk-lore-material ancillary to the "official" Christian clerical culture, and in the Iranian area his work encompasses studies in Irano-Judaica and the religious culture of the 'Parsi Zoroastrians' of India.The majority of articles in this compilation deal with Armeno-Iranica.They continue and serve to supplement studies, he had previously published in his magnum opus "Zoroastrians in Armenia" (Harvard Iranian Series, Cambridge, MA, 1987) where he emphasizes that the pre-Christian religion of the majority of the Armenians, was (despite special local features), the Zarathushtrian faith of the Parthian Arsacids.
Zarathushtrians and Parsis the world over, may find at a minimum of 52 articles of religious and cultural values of importance to them in this compilation.I urge them to read them with undivided attention.They are unique and thought provoking, even if one does not agree with Prof. Russell all the time.
I wish Prof. Russell a long and productive career in Armeno-Iraniaca at Harvard University as I read year after year his scholarly publications in various Armenian jounals, notably Revue des Etudes Armeniennes.
A book every Zarathushtrian oragnization, society, library and academics must have on their shelves. ... Read more

Product Description
Although a belief in magic predated a belief in God in ancient Egypt, study of the religious texts has revealed that for the Egyptians, religion and magic were inseparable. Throughout their development into one of the most highly intellectual peoples, the Egyptians had a widespread belief in spells, magical names, amuletes and enchantments that gave them the reputation of being at once the most religious and the most superstitious of races. In this study, the author examines the close connection between magic and religion in ancient Egypt and describes many of the religious-magical ceremonies and practices, including details of spells, formulae and so on. This book covers all aspects of magic - dreams, ghosts, lucky and unlucky days, horoscopes and a great deal more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Basic knowledge
COmparing to other books about ancient egyptain magick, this one is just okay.It does have it good qualities, but there are better one out there.

A good introduction to the Egyptian mysteries.
Unlike most of Budge's other works, this is written for the layman to understand. Though he still cannot resist showing off his skills as a scholar, one doesn't need a vast knowledge of Hebrew, Greek, Coptic, and Arabic alphabets to gain the book's full value (I often wonder if at some point in his career Budge didn't "sell out," writing books that people outside Oxford and Cambridge would want to read.). Virtually every amulet and talisman is covered, along with their proper use and materials they were made from. As always, the introduction and stories Budge gives are fascinating as well, giving tales not generally told in modern times and the various mechanics of how the Egyptian priests and magicians performed their magic. One can see why Budge's work is still in print, as he offers the reader a maximum of research and scholarship with none of the new-age BS that is so common in such books written today.

interesting
Obviously this book is not a complete record of the uses, and sources. When taken in the context that the author is writing at the end of the Victorian era(source of all the thees an thous in the translation) and thatthe English, at least at that time, had most of the artifacts, the book isreally good for giving a feeling of how Egyptian "stuff" fit intothe world structure at that point in time. (remember the writer is a"Sir" an part of the citadel gang). Sometimes the errors inearlier works provide greater insight than facts. (most religions) Asidefrom the "stiff upper lip" the reader found the book fun. And ifyou wanted to get Jungian how the four sons of Horus coincide with thepsyco analytic stuff and the 4 goveners in Mayan mythology provide andinteresting comparison.

Outdated but Interesting
This book was originality published in 1901 in a series called "Books on Egypt and Chaldaea". Needless to say, the information in this book is quit outdated. There are numerous errors in the text and some quiteobvious. With that said, I think the book was interesting, and especiallylike the explanation of some of the spells in the "Egyptian Book ofthe Dead".

To be read with its companion
To get complete satisfaction from this book you need to read it along with its companion book Egyptian Religion. These two books together go a lot further in explaining the myths, the reasons for and the usage of Egyptian artefacts than many other books which would cost you twice as much for half the pleasure. ... Read more

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Geschichte der hethitischen Religion presents the first comprehensiverepresentation of the religious history of the Hittites, using both cuneiformand archaeological sources of the Ancient Near East, as from the beginning ofthe Neolithic until the end of the era of the Hittite Great Kingdom around1150 B.C.Special attention will be paid to Ancient Near Eastern cosmologies, theHittite Kingship and the world of the gods. The book will lead the reader from`national' to regional divinities and from `types' of gods, local numina,divine attributes and symbols to the cultic inventory. A fascinating insightin sacrificial practices, in myths and popular religious customs renders thereader a comprehensive overview of the Hittite festive calendar.A historical survey will give the reader the essential reference. FR Mit diesem Werk liegt die erste umfassende Darstellung derreligionsgeschichtlichen Uberlieferung der keilinschriftlichen undarchaologischen Quellen des Vorderen Orients vor. In einem weitgespanntenBogen fuhrt das Werk vom Beginn des Neolithikums im 10. Jahrtausend bis zumEnde der hethitischen Grossreichszeit um 1150 v.Chr.Im Vordergrund der Darstellung stehen die altorientalischen Kosmologien, dashethitische Konigtum und die Gotterwelt; sie fuhrt von den uberregionalen zuden regionalen Gottheiten und von den "Gottertypen", lokalen Numina,Gotterattributen und Symbolen zu dem Kultinventar. Einen faszinierendenEinblick in das opferwesen, in die Mythen und in das volkstumliche religioseBrauchtum gewahrt eine ausfuhrliche Darstellung des hethitischenFestkalenders.Der in der Einleitung gegebene historische Uberblick gibt dem Leser dienotwendige Orientierung.CURRIC.Volkert Haas ist professor fur Altorientalische Philologie an derFreien Universitat Berlin. Seine Forschungsschwerpunkte sind die Hethitologieund Hurritologie. ... Read more

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Ancient Israel did not emerge within a vacuum but rather came to exist alongside various peoples, including Canaanites, Egyptians, and Philistines. Indeed, Israel’s very proximity to these groups has made it difficult—until now—to distinguish the archaeological traces of early Israel and other contemporary groups. Through an analysis of the results from recent excavations in light of relevant historical and later biblical texts, this book proposes that it is possible to identify these peoples and trace culturally or ethnically defined boundaries in the archaeological record. Features of late second-millennium B.C.E. culture are critically examined in their historical and biblical contexts in order to define the complex social boundaries of the early Iron Age and reconstruct the diverse material world of these four peoples. Of particular value to scholars, archaeologists, and historians, this volume will also be a standard reference and resource for students and other readers interested in the emergence of early Israel. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

BEST AND MOST CURRENT INFO ON ANCIENT ISRAEL
I have read many books on the history of ancient Israel.This book is clearly the best consolidation of both facts and relevant sources.Unlike other authors (Dever/Finkelstein) Killebrew gives a very balanced analysis of Israelite, Canaanite, and Philistine origins without criticizing individual archeologists.The endnotes and bibliography constitute nearly a third of the book.There are also many photos and diagrams of pottery styles relating to these three ethnic groups.If you were to buy only one book on this topic, this should be the one.

Biblical People & Ethnicity
In terms of the history of settlement in the holy land the book does a good job of describing three groups, the Canaanites, the Philistines, and the Egyptians' influence. These groups are well described. If however you are looking for the Israelites in this volume you are going to have difficulty finding them. The author comes to the conclusion that Israel arose from existing Canaanite groups or a combination of Canaanites and transient immigrant groups. The book approaches the subject from a scientific and archeological perspective. The fact that early Israel was semi nomadic presents a problem for this approach because of limited fixed Israelite settlement, predating the period of the kings, available for excavation of archeological evidence.

Interesting look at a topic of growing interest
Killebrew's book attempts to sift archaeological, historical and biblical data to discover what distincitves can be known about some of the ancient people groups of the Levant, specifically the Egyptians, Canaanites, Israelites, and Philistines.

Egyptian presence in Canaan is seen as an imperial link rather than aggressive domination (total control). The author disagrees with the view that Canaanites were attempting to emulate Egyptian styles and sees cultural artifacts as evidence of Egyptian enclaves, some especially set up as administrative districts for regulation and the collection of taxes. The Philistine occupation of the Levant is understood by the author as one of intentional colonization rather than a group of invaders or migrating conquerors and much of the author's writing moves in support of that view.For the Canaanites, mostly data from composite archaeological findings is presented, including temples, burials, housing, & especially pottery. Defining the Canaanites is a struggle and so they are identified primarily by date and region. Little is said about the Transjordanian Edomites, Moabites and Ammonites in the book.

Killebrew's acceptance of the current position that Israel emerged from native Canaanites makes her identification of Israel a bit speculative. Israel is seen as a mixed people group derived from the native Canaanite population under the influence of Egyptian politics. Briefly discussed are some of the ethnic identifiers for Israel that have been suggested previously, for example, the four room house or the collared rim storage jar. The author is sensitive to the biblical story but rejects much of the biblical record as having any historical value.

The book is a bit more orientated toward ethnic interchange or cultural migration than an examination of ethnic identity. It is well documented and Killebrew supports her views with ample reference to archaeological data, especially pottery, and there is little emphasis on linguistic material. Her discussions of pottery will be perceived as a bit tedious to some but they provide helpful material in support of her points and reduce perceptions of speculation. The emphasis on pottery is an expression of the author's expertise in that area but also a reminder of how little physical evidence for a discussion of ethnicity really exists.

The book is a helpful summary of archaeological data, especially pottery, and a helpful presentation of the many issues involved in seeking the ethnicity of ancient peoples. Her presuppositions about the origins of Israel and the biblical narrative shape her conclusions about Israel. ... Read more

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This book examines one of the most intriguing figures inthe religious life of the ancient Mediterranean world, the PhrygianMother Goddess, known to the Greeks and Romans as Cybele or MagnaMater, the Great Mother. Her cult was particularly prominent incentral Anatolia (modern Turkey), and spread from there through theGreek and Roman world. She was an enormously popular figure,attracting devotion from common people and potentates alike. This bookis the first comprehensive assembly and discussion of the entireextant evidence concerning the worship of the Phrygian Mother Goddess,from her earliest appearance in the prehistoric record to the earlycenturies of the Roman Empire.

Lynn E. Roller presents and analyzes literary, historiographic, andarchaeological data with equal acuity and flair. While previousstudies have tended to emphasize the more outrageous aspects of theMother Goddess's cult, such as her orgiastic rituals and the eunuchpriests who attended her, this book places a special focus on Cybele'sposition in Anatolia and the ways in which the identity of the goddesschanged as her cult was transmitted to Greece and Rome. Roller gives adetailed account of the growth, spread, and evolution of her cult, herceremonies, and her meaning for her adherents.

This book will introduce students of Classical antiquity to manyaspects of the Great Mother which have been previously unexamined, andwill interest anyone who has ever been piqued by curiosity about theMother Goddess of the ancient Western world. ... Read more

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First rate research.
Prof. Roller's scholarship and research is first rate.She goes further than any prior work on Cybele in the deconstruction of the misunderstandings and poor research that has dominated this subject for more than a hundred years.

While I feel she misses many important connections in her effort to undo the poor research of the past, her book stands today as the single best source of accurate information on the subject of Magna Mater, Cybele to date.This book is the place to start a personal inquiry on the subject. ... Read more

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This first volume in the series "Studies in Hellenistic Civilization", published for the Danish Research Council for the Humanities, covers all aspects of religion and religious practice in the Seleucid kingdom. ... Read more

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Originally published as the Hibbert Lectures of 1887, this series of essays covers more than the title suggests.The work of an early explorer of Assyriology, this book traces many of the more familiar motifs and themes from ancient religion back to the ancient Babylonians. ... Read more

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In his Timaeus and Critias dialogues, Plato wrote of two ancient civilizations that flourished more than 9000 years before his time. Socrates accepted the account as true, and modern archaeological techniques may yet prove him right. In a synthesis of classical and archaeological scholarship, Mary Settegast takes us from the cave paintings of Lascaux to the shrines of Catal Huyuk, demonstrating correspondences both to Plato's tale and to the mystery religions of antiquity. She then traces the mid-seventh millennium impulse that revitalized the spiritual life of Catal Huyuk and spread agriculture from Iran to the Greek peninsula -- at precisely the time given by Aristotle for the legendary Persian prophet Zarathustra, for whom cultivation of the earth was a religious imperative. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

One of the Ten Best Books About Mythology Ever Written
Fewer and fewer scholars these days have either the nerve or the temerity to speculate about culture, particularly when such speculations are based upon archaeological data from pre-literate civilizations. Fortunately, Mary Settegast is not one of the more timid sort of scholar, but a brave and insightful visionary who is capable of handling concrete data with the eye of a literary artist. Academics, these days, do not like generalists, for such imaginative individuals are a threat to their so-called specialties; and academics are nothing if not power hungry. They sit guarding their little turf hills like slobbering devils out of a Bosch painting, and anyone who gets too close is likely to come away missing a finger or a two.
But Ms. Settegast doesn't care about such turf wars, for she is one of those rare individuals with enough imagination to see that the trees do in fact make up a forest, and if you don't see the forest as a totality, then you will not gain an understanding of its emergent properties as an ecosystem.
Plato Prehistorian begins, as do all such great tomes, like Frazer's Golden Bough, or Graves's White Goddess or even Hertha von Dechend's Hamlet's Mill, with a question: is it possible that Plato's myth of Atlantis, which takes place in roughly 10,000 bc, is an actual record of a real conflict that took place between two cultures that flourished at about that time in the Mesolithic Mediterannean? Settegast assumes that the answer might be a yes, and that a search for a sunken continent is not so much the issue, as a search for vanished and forgotten cultures. For the war of the Greeks vs. the Atlanteans, Settegast substitutes a mysterious European culture whose tool industries were known as 'tanged' arrowheads and which appear in Paleolithic Europe at just about the time of the decline of Magdalenian culture circa 10,000 bc. Settegast supposes that the Magdalenians--who may have tamed the horse, and may have been seafaring folk--correspond to the horse-riding and Poseidon-worshipping Atlanteans. She traces the possible migration of these Magdalenians in two directions: one going down through Spain to North Africa, where they become the so-called Iberomarusian peoples who may have domesticated the Barbary sheep as early as 18,000 bc, and onward into Egypt at Helwan and up into Palestine; in the other direction, across Europe as the Gravettian culture which may have migrated from Neolithic Greece across the eastern basin of the Mediterranean to mix with the populations of Palestine, where they may have become the Natufians. The appearance of a stone tower at Jericho circa 8500 bc seems to have coincided with the abandonment of Natufian sites and the appearance of a whole panoply of arrowheads indicative of a possible war. In the so-called 'Battling Bowmen" of the Spanish-Levantine rock art, furthermore, she sees a possible commemorative record of such a war that may have been Mediterranean-wide, since rock art from caves at Levanzo and Addaura in Sicily record similar conflicts, as does the art from Ukrainian Kobystan.
But as one reads this surprising and fascinating narrative, the story begins to metamorphose with the dream logic of Finnegans Wake, and becomes an extended meditation on the Neolithic origins of the mythological systems of the Bronze Age High Civilizations. Gradually, the scaffolding of the Atlantean narrative begins to fall away, as a larger, more important narrative emerges in which Settegast flies like a shaman bird from one Neolithic site to the next, identifying this or that peculiarity and idiosyncracy while fathoming the earliest origins of higher, and more well-known mythololgies from the literate civilizations. We find, for instance, that the origins of the Dionysus cult may lie in the leopard boy imagery of Catal Huyuk, or that Demeter and Persephone may have a similar origin in the motif of the Twin Goddess from that village; we ponder the possible origins of the Mithraic mythology in the Shaft of the Dead Man at Lascaux, in which the eviscerated bull which may have been gored by the rhino corresponds to Angra Mainyu's assault on the Primordial Ox at the beginning of creation (it so happens that there is an African tradition that rhinos are linked with the moon and the darkness of the night sky, like Angra Mainyu); or the smith god Hephaestus who may originate out of the obsidian trade and the early metallurgical industries which, with their connections to volcanoes and high temperature furnaces, may have ties with the volcanic linkages of this god; or Athena, the mistress of weaving, who may have an early connection with the imagery of the veiled goddess at Catal Huyuk. As the narrative proceeds, we begin to have the distinct feeling that the mythologies of the later Bronze--and even Iron--Ages have a deep and firmly rooted past in the Neolithic and Paleolithic traditions.
As Thomas Mann, at the start of his magnum opus Joseph and His Brothers wrote: "Very deep is the well of the past. Indeed, should we not call it bottomless?"

Fascinating look at prehistoy
Prehistoric cultures have always been a mystery unto themselves. How "civilized" were they and what knowledge was passed on to the earliest civilizations of Egypt and Sumer (and in turn future civilizations like Greece) is debatable.
The purpose of this book is to show that Plato may have been referring to actual events that took place during the end of the last ice age. This is not a book about an Atlantis that was comprabable to 2002 technology. This book is about prehistoric cultures that were widespread throughout Europe that were more advanced than current thought would lead us to believe. How advanced is really the question as this book only refers to the possiblilities while presenting it's case. Anyway the belief is that at the end of the last ice age water levels were much lower, hence cultural meccas were wiped out leaving the lesser cultures to carry the torch, when the water levels began to rise to present day levels. These cultures were the Atlantians and the Greeks who fought, according to the priests of Egypt. There's much more to the story but that's the start of it.
This book is very well written and researched. You certainly get a sense of Miss Settegast opinions but she sticks to the facts when reviewing her case. I have read a dozen or so books on the subject and this is by far the best of the lot. If Plato's story is true (and I believe it was to Plato just because of the Solon reference alone), then this is a vey sound theory. Oh and one more thing.... Anyone who thinks that Egyptian and Sumerian civilizations appeared out of nowhere might have a differnt take after reading this book, especially the section about Catal Huyuk.

Best Book I've Read in Two Years
I'm currently reading the original (1986/87) edition of this book.Firstsaw it cited in Robert Schoch's "Voices of the Rocks" which Ialso highly recommend.Mary Settegast has produced a well written, wellreasoned, and well documented survey work.She builds a case for theidentification of the Magdalenian culture as the historical basis forPlato's Atlantis legend.This is analogous to Schliemann's use of Homer'sTrojan war accounts to locate the historical Troy.While not necessarilyaccurate in certain particulars (conversations between characters etc),each tale is a retelling and preservation of an historical event with manyverifiable facts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Dhimmis: Jew Christian in Islam - Muslim
This hardback is Vol. XVII of the "Israel Oriental Studies" with this 256-page book subtitled: "Dhimmis and Others: Jews and Christians and the World of Classical Islam."It is edited by Uri Rubin and David Wasserstein; and copyright by the Tel-Aviv University in Israel.Its chapters are: "On the words for 'Jew(s)' in Arabic" by Simon Hopkins (18 pgs); "Did Muhammad Conclude Treaties with the Jewish Tribes Nadir, Qurayza and Qaynuqa?" by Michael Lecker (9 pgs); "Les Trois Mensognes d'Abraham Dans la Tradition Interpretante Musulmane" by Claude Gillot (52 pgs, alas--this chapter is in the French language); "Apes, Pigs, and the Islamic Identity" by Uri Rubin(18 pgs); "Sirk and 'Idolatry' in Monotheist Polemic" by Gerald Hawting (20 pgs); "Sahrastani on the Magariyya" by Steven Wasserstrom (30 pgs); "Christian Success and Muslim Fear in Andalusi Writings during the Almoravid and Almohad Periods" by Maribel Fierro (24 pgs); "The Muslims and the Golden Age of the Jews in al-Andalus" by David Wasserstein (18 pgs); "Excerpts from the Abridgment of al-Kitab al-Kati by Abu al-Farag Harun in Arabic Script" by Nasir Basal (20 pgs; in Arabic, Hebrew & English); "Jewish Converts to Islam in the Muslim West" by Mercedes Garcia-Arenal (24 pgs); and two book reviews: "Igor Diakonoff: Archaic Myths of the Orient and the Occident" by Daniel Gershenson (4 pgs); and "J.C.E. Watson: Sbahtu! A Course in San'ani Arabic" by Moshe Piamenta (3 pgs).Hey, lots of scholarly stuff here.{Another reviewer wrote about "Adapa and the South Wind" which apparently is really in Vol. 10 of some other unrelated series, because it isn't in this book.}

A great resource!
Every once in a while, a book comes along that surprises me with its excellence, and this is one of those books. An ancient Mesopotamian story is that of the sage Adapa, who with a curse broke the wing of the South Wind, and missed an opportunity at eternal life offered to him by the great god Anu. This book is an in-depth look at the story, what we know of it, and what its significance is.

The first chapter looks at the five surviving fragments of the tale; with a copy in the original language, the text translated into English, and then a list of line-by-line comments. The second chapter looks at the dating of the myth, while the third chapter looks at the myth as poetry. The final, and to my mind best, chapter looks at the myth itself and its meaning.

Overall, I found this to be a great resource. Though it was written for a scholarly audience, the book is still eminently readable, and quite fascinating, even to the general reader. So, if you are at all interested in Mesopotamian myths in general, and about the Adapa myth in particular, then you will find this to be a great book. I know I did! I highly recommend this book.
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