20 Best Books On Ancient Egypt (2023 Update)

From stories of resurrected mummies and thousand-year-old curses to powerful pharaohs and the coveted treasures of the great pyramids, ancient egypt has had an unfaltering grip on the modern imagination. now, in egyptian mythology, geraldine pinch offers a comprehensive introduction that untangles the mystery of egyptian myth. spanning ancient egyptian culture–from 3200 bc to ad 400–pinch opens a door to this hidden world and casts light on its often misunderstood belief system. she discusses the nature of myths and the history of egypt, from the predynastic to the postpharaonic period. she explains how egyptian culture developed around the flooding of the nile, or the "inundation," a phenomenon on which the whole welfare of the country depended, and how aspects of the inundation were personified as deities. she explains that the usually cloudless skies made for a preoccupation with the stars and planets. indeed, much early egyptian mythology may have developed to explain the movement of these celestial bodies. she provides a timeline covering the seven stages in the mythical history of egypt and outlining the major events of each stage, such as the reign of the sun god. a substantial a to z section covers the principal themes and concepts of egyptian mythology as well as the most important deities, demons, and other characters. for anyone who wants to know about anubis, the terrifying canine god who presided over the mummification of bodies and guarded burials, or hathor, the golden goddess who helped women to give birth and the dead to be reborn, or an explanation of the nun, the primeval ocean from which all life came, egyptian mythology is the place to look.

The egyptian book of the dead is an ancient collection of spells designed to guide the departed through the perils of the underworld, ultimately ensuring eternal life. this beautifully illustrated edition of one of the oldest and most influential texts in all history contains images from the exquisite book of the dead of ani, an ancient egyptian scribe. meticulously inscribed with hieroglyphics and illustrations of the rituals of the afterlife, the papyrus is shown alongside the translation by acclaimed egyptologist e.a wallis budge.

2014 reprint of original 1907 edition [two volumes in one]. exact facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with optical recognition software. massey was one of the first egyptologists in modern times to suggest that with the final eclipse of the old land of kam [a.k.a. ancient egypt], a brilliant light had been extinguished in world civilization. there was a small compensation in the often meteoric rise of other cultures subsequently, but the luminance of these later cultures was, massey suggests, a paler reflection of the nile valley sun that had set. in this, the most philosophical of his works on ancient egypt, massey leads a tour through thousands of years of sociological, cultural, and spiritual development, all the while pointing, with dazzling reason and persuasive prose, to a distant, common, egyptian origin. in the first volume massey was primarily interested in elaborating how the first humans emerging in africa created thought. what had been evident to him from the outset was that the myths, rituals and religion of ancient egypt–or old kam–had preserved virtually intact a record of the psycho-mythic evolution of humanity. in the second volume massey examines the celestial phenomenon known as the precession of the equinoxes. he believed that only by understanding this phenomenon was it possible to fathom nile valley history. the last half of the second volume is devoted to the kamite sources of christianity. massey sought to demonstrate the manner in which new testament christianity evolved directly out of osirian mysteries. one of the more important aspects of massey's writings were his assertions that there were parallels between jesus and the egyptian god horus. massey, for example, argued that: both horus and jesus were born of virgins on 25 december, raised men from the dead (massey speculates that the biblical lazarus, raised from the dead by jesus, has a parallel in el-asar-us, a title of osiris), died by crucifixion and were resurrected three days later. these assertions have influenced various later writers such as alvin boyd kuhn, tom harpur, yosef ben-jochannan, and d.m. murdock.

World-renowned egyptologist barbara mertz explores the reality behind the bestselling fiction she writes (as elizabeth peters) and casts a dazzling light on a remarkable civilization. afascinating chronicle of an extraordinary people—from the first stone age settlements through the reign of cleopatra and the roman invasions—temples, tombs, and hieroglyphs brings ancient egypt to life as never before. lavishly illustrated with pictures, maps, and photographs, it offers tantalizing glimpses into egyptian society; amazing stories of the pharaohs and the rise and fall of great dynasties; a sampling of culture, religion, and folklore; stories of explorers, scientists, and scoundrels who sought to unravel or exploit the ageless mysteries; and new insights into the architectural wonders that were raised along the banks of the nile.

Ancient egyptians held a rich and complex vision of the afterlife and codified their beliefs in books that were to be discovered more than two millennia later in royal tombs. erik hornung, the world's leading authority on these religious texts, surveys what is known about them today.the contents of the texts range from the collection of spells in the book of the dead, which was intended to offer practical assistance on the journey to the afterlife, to the detailed accounts of the hereafter provided in the books of the netherworld. hornung looks closely at these latter works, while summarizing the contents of the book of the dead and other widely studied examples of the genre. for each composition, he discusses the history of its ancient transmission and its decipherment in modern times, supplying bibliographic information for any text editions. he also seeks to determine whether this literature as a whole presents a monolithic conception of the afterlife. the volume features many drawings from the books themselves–drawings that illustrate the nocturnal course of the sun god through the realm of the dead.originally published in german and now available in a fluid english translation, this volume offers an accessible and enlightening introduction to a central element of ancient egyptian religion.

Take a journey through ancient egypt and see how the pharaohs once lived! an enticing and insightful guide that covers 3,000 years of life under the pharaohs (c. 3200-30 bce) from the early kings of egypt to the reign of cleopatra and the roman conquest, this book explains it all! written by a team of respected egyptologists, this book includes the following exciting things: – themed spreads explore developments in areas like religion, writing, painting, ceramics and medicine. – biography spreads feature the lives of the most influential pharaohs and queens. – detailed maps set the main sites in context, and show the growth of the civilization and its trade network. – an optional 80-page reference section provides a directory of the pharaohs and gods and goddesses. unlock every aspect of ancient egypt, from pharaohs and pyramids to ordinary people’s everyday lives and beliefs. with 31 egyptian dynasties and 3,000 years of history, from the time of narmer to that of cleopatra and so much more, this is the perfect comprehensive guide to egypt’s ancient civilization.there's so much to learn and experience with this up-to-date biography on ancient egypt. with more than 850 photos, illustrations and maps, this is the perfect book for thinkers, borrowers, life-long learners or anyone with an interest in ancient civilizations and egyptology.

The new national geographic treasury of egyptian mythology is a stunning tableau of egyptian myths, including those of pharaohs, queens, the boisterous sun god ra, and legendary creatures like the sphinx. the lyrical storytelling of award-winning author donna jo napoli dramatizes the timeless tales of ancient egypt in the year when angelina jolie will make cleopatra a multimedia star. and just like the popular national geographic treasury of greek mythology, the stories in this book will be beautifully illustrated to bring ancient characters vividly to life. the stories are embellished with sidebars that provide historical, cultural, and geographic context and a mapping feature that adds to the fun and fascination. resource notes and ample back matter direct readers to discover more about ancient egypt. with its attractive design and beautiful narrative, this accessible treasury stands out from all other mythology titles in the marketplace.

Mummies, pyramids, pharaohs, king tut! kids everywhere are fascinated by the wonders of ancient egypt, and this colorful reference book is jam-packed with 1,000 fascinating facts. from the great pyramid and the valley of the kings to the nile river and cleopatra, discover all you have ever wanted to know about this ancient civilization. unearth ancient hieroglyphs and their meanings; find out what was in king tut's tomb; and get insights about the science of mummification. learn about ancient egyptian gods and famous pharaohs, and follow egypt's battles for power in the world. after this deep dive into egyptology, you'll be able to dazzle your friends and family with your newfound knowledge.

Spend a year in the company of the ancient egyptians, during the twenty-sixth and final year of the reign of amenhotep ii (c.1400 bc), which saw a royal transition bringing thutmose iv to the throne of upper and lower egypt. while builders from the secluded village of royal tomb workers rush to complete amenhotep's tomb, and craftsmen labor to finish the numerous extravagant objects to accompany the god-king in his burial, most egyptians go about their daily lives in ways unchanged for eons. perfect for: – readers interested in history, particularly ancient egypt – readers of the 24 hours series – taking advantage of a potential uptick in interest in ancient egypt with the 100th anniversary of the discovery of king tut's tomb

Taking readers back 4,000 years, to the fertile land around the nile river, the ancient egyptian world tells the stories of the kings, queens, pharaohs, gods, tomb builders, and ordinary citizens who lived there. using papyri, scarabs, tomb inscriptions, mummies, and a rich variety of other primary sources, eric h. cline and jill rubalcaba uncover the fascinating history of ancient egypt. scarabs, which scholars call "imperial news bulletins," record important moments in a pharaoh's reign. the edwin smith papyrus details the injuries sustained by the builders of the great pyramids, and the remedies used to treat them. for a worker who has had a stone fall on his head, it suggests: "bind it with fresh meat . . . and treat afterward with grease, honey and lint." a complex recipe for a top-of-the-line mummy describes a process that could take 70 days and involved drawing the brain out through the nose with a crooked piece of iron. these primary sources also tell the stories of the people of ancient egypt: pepi ii, the six-year-old boy king who commanded armies; ramesses ii, whose mortuary temple boasts of his expertise in battle against the hittites; queen hatshepsut, the only woman to rule egypt as pharaoh; and cleopatra, who courted roman statesman mark antony as part of her quest to extend the egyptian empire. the ancient egyptian world honors the history of a civilization whose monuments and tombs still capture the imagination of the world thousands of years later.

The tomb of tutankhamun, with its treasures, has exerted a hold over the popular imagination ever since its discovery in 1922. this book is a detailed and comprehensive account of this great archaeological discovery. the story of the boy-king, buried in splendour at the height of egyptian civilization; the determined quest for his tomb by howard carter and lord carnarvon; the unforeseen riches eventually revealed – these are important events in the history of archaeology. however, despite the publicity at the time of the discovery and since – made more intriguing by the linking of carnarvon's early death with the legend of the pharoah's curse – it remains a story only partly told. carter never produced a complete account of his excavations. the tutankhamun exhibitions of the 1960's and 1970's generated a spate of books but none added significantly to what carter had already published about the tomb. this book is a revealing account of the subject.

In the early period of ancient egyptian history, earlier than in any other culture, before the hindus, buddhists, kabbalists and taoists, there was a teaching of the tree of life. this was a special teaching describing the secret wisdom about the nature of the universe and of the soul as well as a path to make the journey, through varied phases of spiritual evolution, from mortal to immortal and from earth to heaven and beyond. the goal is to regain one's divine stature and transcendental place. in its earliest form, originated in ancient egypt, it was related to theurgical religious system developed in the priests and priestesses of the ancient egyptian city of anu and the tree was seen as the source of life. this book explains that teaching, which has been available to all, but missed by those who did not possess the keys to unlock its mystic formula. in this volume the creation teaching of anu, the tree of life metaphysical teachings, disciplines and techniques, from the hieroglyphic texts, for activating the tree, are given.

The book of the dead is the name now given to a collection of religious and magical texts known to the ancient egyptians as the chapters of coming-forth by day. their principal aim was to secure for the deceased a satisfactory afterlife and to give him the power to leave his tomb when necessary. copies of the book of the dead written on papyrus rolls were placed in the tombs of important egyptians, each roll containing a selection of chapters. many examples have survived from antiquity, dating mostly from c. 1500 bce-250 bce. in this volume, the text translated by the late dr. faulkner is that found in the papyrus prepared for the scribe ani which is one of the greatest treasures in the british museum. the vignettes are taken from the many finely illustrated copies which are preserved in the collections of the british museum.

2013 reprint of 1963 edition in two volumes bound into one. full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with optical recognition software. burgoyne, an astrologer and founder of the hermetic brotherhood of luxor, was born april 14, 1855, and grew up in his native scotland. spontaneously psychic, he claimed that as a child he came into contact with the brotherhood of light, a group of discarnate, advanced beings who attempt to guide the destiny of humankind. today that group continues as the church of light. at a later date he met a m. theon, purported to be an earthly representative of the brotherhood who taught burgoyne about the brotherhood. burgoyne moved to the united states around 1880 and soon afterward his writings began to appear in various periodicals. he was brought into contact with norman astley of carmel, california, who also claimed to be in contact with the brotherhood of light. astley suggested that burgoyne write a set of lessons to introduce the brotherhood's teachings to the public, and burgoyne accepted astley's hospitality at carmel while he worked on the lessons. they were published in 1889 as "the light of egypt." the writing of the lessons occasioned the establishment of the hermetic brotherhood of luxor as an esoteric occult order and outer expression of the brotherhood of light. the hermetic brotherhood was structured with three leaders, a seer, a scribe/secretary, and an astrologer. burgoyne became the scribe. as burgoyne understood it, the brotherhood of light was an occult order formed to oppose the dominant religious powers of the day in ancient egypt. as the members died, they continued the brotherhood from their new plane of being.

A modern foundational text for those interested in egyptian spirituality "anyone reading this work cannot help but be moved by it. it comes as close to an appreciation of the themes of the soul's journey portrayed in the egyptian book of the dead as any modern interpretation has, and with a poetry unmatched anywhere in the literature thus far". –kmt: a modern journal of ancient egypt the egyptian book of the dead is one of the oldest and greatest classics of western spirituality. until now, the available translations have treated these writings as historical curiosities with little relevance to our contemporary situation. this new version, made from the hieroglyphs, approaches the book of the dead as a profound spiritual text capable of speaking to us today. awakening osiris is a beautiful and engaging rendering of the egyptian book of the dead as a series of meditations that reveals the soul of egypt like no book before. these writings suggest that the divine realm and the human realm are not altogether separate–they remind us that the natural world, and the substance of our lives, is fashioned from the stuff of the gods. devoted like an egyptian scribe to the principle of "effective utterance", normandi ellis has produced a prose translation that reads like pure, diaphanous verse.

All pages present and not written on couple of dings and scratches on hardcover, rubbing on corners.

All pages present and not written on couple of dings and scratches on hardcover, rubbing on corners.

Readers assume the role of archaeologists, uncovering secrets of ancient civilizations. stunning photographs and illustrations, plus detailed cutaways, maps and diagrams.

Readers assume the role of archaeologists, uncovering secrets of ancient civilizations. stunning photographs and illustrations, plus detailed cutaways, maps and diagrams.

Explore the entire history of the ancient egyptian state from 3000 b.c. to 400 a.d. with this authoritative volume the newly revised second edition of a history of ancient egypt delivers an up-to-date survey of ancient egypt's history from its origins to the roman empire's banning of hieroglyphics in the fourth century a.d. the book covers developments in all aspects of egypt's history and their historical sources, considering the social and economic life and the rich culture of ancient egypt. freshly updated to take into account recent discoveries, the book makes the latest scholarship accessible to a wide audience, including introductory undergraduate students. a history of ancient egypt outlines major political and cultural events and places egypt's history within its regional context and detailing interactions with western asia and africa. each period of history receives equal attention and a discussion of the problems scholars face in its study. the book offers a foundation for all students interested in egyptian culture by providing coverage of topics like: a thorough introduction to the formation of the egyptian state between the years of 3400 b.c. and 2686 b.c. an exploration of the end of the old kingdom and first intermediate period, from 2345 b.c. to 2055 b.c. an analysis of the second intermediate period and the hyksos between 1700 b.c. and 1550 b.c. a discussion of greek and roman egypt between 332 b.c. and a.d. 395. perfect for students of introductory courses in ancient egyptian history and as background material for students of courses in egyptian art, archaeology, and culture, a history of ancient egypt will also earn a place in the libraries of students taking surveys of the ancient world and those seeking a companion volume to a history of the ancient near east.