This study of Pura Besakih--the paramount Hindu temple on Bali; which has developed over more than a thousand years into a great complex of 22 separate temples--combines an analysis of textual and historical sources with the fieldwork methods of anthropology to create a unified interpretation of this great temple.
#14051064 in Books 2005-12-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.68 x 1.39 x 6.47l; 2.17 #File Name: 9004137777481 pages
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Readable Egyptological Treatise---Excellent Scholarship!By John E.D.P. MalinProfessor James P. Allen has given us a readable edition of the Pyramid Texts. He is one of the handful of living scholarly Egyptologists who has carefully reflected on this ancient text. It is a pity that one cannot peer inside the text. It would have increased sales of it.What is needed now is a comprehensive philological commentary and historical monograph that captures the actual 24 century B.C.E. mentality of the Egyptian pharaonic culture. It should not beforgotten that these Old Kingdom texts are the oldest collection of a considerable quantity that actually captures the Stone Age magico-religious mentality. One needs to transport oneself back in time before mental logic; with its distinctions; has erupted into human consciousness. The notion of Heka [Eg. 'magic'] is simultaneously a concept; a God; and a title [Eg. Heka-semsu 'Eldest Magician'].Heka [Eg. magician]; in the form of the lector-priest (usually a member of the Royal inner family); was the manifestation of the primordial God Atum. Spell 261 in the Coffin Texts asserts; "I am he whom the 'Unique Lord' made before two things had yet come into being [i.e.; the notion of duality: Lush Nile valley/red desert; Horus/Seth; Upper Land (south)/Lower Land (north); gods-pharaoh/common people; etc.] in this land by sending forth his unique eye [very important complex theological notion] when he was alone; by the going forth from his mouth...when he put HU [St. John's 'Logos' concept] upon his mouth. I am indeed the son of Him who gave birth to the universe ["The All"]; who was born before his mother yet existed. I am the protection of that which the 'Unique Lord' has ordained. I am he who caused the Ennead [the Eight gods produced by Atum's initiating act of masturbation] to live...I have seated myself; O bulls of heaven [explicit symbol of violent sexual potency]; in this my great dignity as Lord of 'kas' [No proper translation exists in English]; heir of Re-Atum."Furthermore; Coffin Texts Spell 648 asserts; "It was Heka...who created the mountains and knit the firmanent together." The first god born of the hidden Atum [behind the scenes deified reality of absolute; rectified reality] was Heka; hence his epithet; 'Eldest Magician.'I have made these observations; since it is time for Egyptologists to syntensize all their knowledge of the last thirty years; and produce a scholarly edition of these Pyramid texts that effectively capture the actual mentality of the Stone Age; without intruding scholarly polemics into their narrative. Professor James P. Allen has made a brilliant start in this formidable undertaking by the publication of this treatise. For the complete texts the readership of can review [...]. Professors J. Assmann; Colleen Manassa James P. Allen have started the project with their more recent publications.John E.D.P. Malin;Chairman of the Board CEOInformatica Corporation[...]See my Facebook page 'John Edward Malin' for my photo
