For most ancient Egyptians; death was not an end; it was merely the entering of a new phase of being. The way to eternal paradise; however; was littered with obstacles; dangers and challenges; which could only be overcome with magical spells. Collections of these; known today as the Book of the Dead; were buried with the deceased to empower; protect and sustain him in the afterlife. Written on papyrus rolls and often beautifully illustrated; they provide a graphic and fascinating insight into ancient Egyptian funerary rituals and beliefs about the underworld. Among the known spells are those for obtaining air; food and water; for transforming your body into another form; for warding off hostile snakes and crocodiles; for preventing your heart from disclosing all your sins in a final judgement. Including details of the finely painted vignettes; this visually stunning book takes the reader on a remarkable journey from tomb to eternity. John H. Taylor is a curator at the British Museum specializing in ancient Egyptian funerary archaeology.
#2320556 in Books 1986-04-24Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 #File Name: 0710201672229 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An Excellent Book for both laymen and academicsBy Matthew LawrenceHart's dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses is a comprehensive and detailed book on Gods and Goddesses in Egypt. He provides a large amount of information worthy of reading and studying. Indeed Hart shows a great deal of care when coming to more popular gods of Egypt. Though two problems arise from this dictionary. One being it lacks images and statues for some of the gods and goddesses; even if we don't have their statues it would have been nice to have seen their hieroglyphic name. Two is the last of referencing in the entire book. Though Hart can be trusted cause of his position; the lack of references can make some people hesitant on how reliable his sources were. Even though that's the case; Hart provides bibliographies for further studies.Overall Hart's book is a recommendation.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Kids enjoyed.. ThankBy JDVery informative. Kids enjoyed..Thank You0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A great readBy Rhamy MarangoA very comprehensive guide to the Egyptian Gods/Goddesses. There are black white illustrations throughout the book. This book is pretty simple straightforward; not elaborate in color or layout. A great addition to my Ancient Egyptian book collection.
