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Books in Egypt series

  • The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Papyrus of Ani in the British Museum

    E. A. Wallis Budge

    Paperback (Dover Publications, June 1, 1967)
    The Egyptian Book of the Dead is unquestionably one of the most influential books in all history. Embodying a ritual to be performed for the dead, with detailed instructions for the behaviors of the disembodied spirit in the Land of the Gods, it served as the most important repository of religious authority for some three thousand years. Chapters were carved on the pyramids of the ancient 5th Dynasty, texts were written in papyrus, and selections were painted on mummy cases well into the Christian Era. In a certain sense it stood behind all Egyptian civilization.In the year 1888, Dr. E. Wallis Budge, then purchasing agent for the British Museum, followed rumors he heard of a spectacular archeological find in Upper Egypt, and found in an 18th Dynasty tomb near Luxor "the largest roll of papyrus I had ever seen, tied with a thick band of papyrus, and in a perfect state of preservation." It was a copy of the Egyptian Book of the Dead, written around 1500 B.C. for Ani, Royal Scribe of Thebes, Overseer of the Granaries of the Lords of Abydos, and Scribe of the Offerings of the Lord of Thebes.This Papyrus of Ani, a full version of the Theban recension, is presented here by Dr. Budge, who later became perhaps the world's most renowned Egyptologist. Reproduced in full are a clear copy of the Egyptian hieroglyphs, an interlinear transliteration of their sounds (as reconstructed), a word-for-word translation, and separately a complete smooth translation. All this is preceded by an introduction of more than 150 pages. As a result of this multiple apparatus the reader has a unique opportunity to savor all aspects of the Book of the Dead, or as it is otherwise known, The Book of the Great Awakening.
  • The Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamen

    Howard Carter, A. C. Mace

    Paperback (Dover Publications, June 1, 1977)
    November 4, 1922. For six seasons the legendary Valley of the Kings has yielded no secrets to Howard Carter and his archeological team: "We had almost made up our minds that we were beaten," he writes, "and were preparing to leave The Valley and try our luck elsewhere; and then β€” hardly had we set hoe to ground in our last despairing effort than we made a discovery that far exceeded our wildest dreams."Join Howard Carter in his fascinating odyssey toward the most dramatic archeological find of the century β€” the tomb of Tutankhamen. Written by Carter in 1923, only a year after the discovery, this book captures the overwhelming exhilaration of the find, the painstaking, step-by-step process of excavation, and the wonder of opening a treasure-filled inner chamber whose regal inhabitant had been dead for 3,000 years.104 on-the-spot photographs chronicle the phases of the discovery and the scrupulous cataloging of the treasures. The opening chapters discuss the life of Tutankhamen and earlier archeological work in the Valley of the Kings. An appendix contains fully captioned photographs of the objects obtained from the tomb. A new preface by Jon Manchip White adds information on Carter's career, recent opinions on Tutankhamen's reign, and the importance of Carter's discovery to Egyptologists.Millions have seen the stunning artifacts which came from the tomb β€” they are among the glories of the Cairo Museum, and have made triumphal tours to museums the world over. They are a testament to the enigmatic young king, and to the unwavering tenacity of the man who brought them to light as described in this remarkable narrative.
  • Egypt: In Spectacular Cross-section

    Stewart Ross, Stephen Biesty

    Hardcover (Scholastic Nonfiction, Sept. 1, 2005)
    Million-copy best-selling creator of the Incredible Cross-Sections series now brings his talent to a new challenge: ancient Egypt.The year is 1230 B.C., during the reign of Ramses the Great in ancient Egypt. Follow the thirty-day voyage of the eleven-year-old Dedia and his father as they sail down the Nile River.Travel along with father and son as they visit the bustling harbor at Elephantine; the massive stone quarry at Gebel el-Silsila; the temples at Karnak; underground tombs in The Valley of the Kings; a funeral and mummification; the step pyramid at Saqqara; and Ramses' lavish palace at Piramesse. Quite a journey!
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  • Ancient Egyptian Religion: An Interpretation

    Henri Frankfort

    Paperback (Dover Publications, Nov. 16, 2011)
    "[T]he author gives a well-integrated and thoughtful interpretation of Egyptian thought which endeavors to uncover the roots of Egyptian religion. It is at this point that Frankfort has made his great contribution." β€”Journal of ReligionUntil the publication of this masterly study, Egyptian religion was thought by most scholars to be a nearly impenetrable jungle of weird myths, doctrines, and practices, the product of numerous unrelated local cults existing side by side. Misconceptions were exacerbated by the monotheistic bias of Western thought. Henri Frankfort, former Research Professor of Oriental Archaeology at the University of Chicago and former Director of Excavations for the Egypt Exploration Society of London, presents formidable evidence to the contrary, by disregarding local differences in cults and dogmas and focusing instead on the trends and qualities that regularly recur in five important aspects of Egyptian life. Using this method, Dr. Frankfort concludes that there is one conviction underlying all Egyptian belief, i.e., that the universe is static and that only the changeless is ultimately significant.Delving into Egyptian theology, the author shows how that view informed not only religious beliefs, but also Egyptian moral and political philosophy, government and society, and literature and art. Enhanced with 32 illustrations, this book is "one of the finest elucidations of these materials that we have anywhere" (AmericanHistorical Review). Chronological Table. Index. Preface. 32 halftones.
  • The Splendor That Was Egypt

    Margaret A. Murray

    Paperback (Dover Publications, Jan. 19, 2004)
    Pioneering Egyptologist examines in detail such topics as food preparation, burial customs, and social rituals, creating a complete picture of achievements β€” from architecture and medicine to engineering and government. 122 black-and-white illustrations.
  • Everyday Life in Ancient Egypt;Egypt

    Jon Manchip White

    Paperback (Dover Publications, Nov. 10, 2011)
    Remarkably accurate picture of Egyptian life from the end of the third millenium BC to the Greek occupation in 330 BC examines the roles and tasks assigned to each section of the community and describes how people spent their leisure hours, how they dressed, what they ate and drank, and more. "A handy reference tool." €” Horn Book. 120 illustrations.
  • The Splendor That Was Egypt

    Margaret A. Murray

    Paperback (Dover Publications, Jan. 19, 2004)
    Pioneering Egyptologist examines in detail such topics as food preparation, burial customs, and social rituals, creating a complete picture of achievements Β— from architecture and medicine to engineering and government. 122 black-and-white illustrations.
  • Everyday Life in Ancient Egypt

    Jon Manchip White

    Hardcover (Dover Publications, Dec. 10, 2013)
    Drawing on a wealth of archeological evidence, author Jon Manchip White presents a remarkably accurate picture of Egyptian life throughout dynastic times β€” from the end of the third millennium to the Greek occupation in 330 BC. Because social conditions changed little during these 3,000 years, readers get a clear idea of the roles and tasks assigned to each section of the community β€” to the Pharaoh and his noblemen; priests and soldiers; scribes and artists; and peasants, who formed the bulk of the population. How these people spent their leisure hours, how they dressed, what they ate and drank, forms of transportation used, how homes were built and furnished, and the activities of women and children are also thoroughly examined. Special emphasis is placed on the importance of religion in daily life, including the social significance of temples, pyramids, and tombs. Accompanying a vivid text are more than 100 photographs and line drawings. "A handy reference tool." β€” Horn Book.