Customer Reviews

Ancient Egyptain Religion

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This book covers Egyptian religion from pre-historic times to Christianity. It covers the gods and the basic myths, the Horus-Isis-Osiris myths, the cult of the Pharoahs, spells and amulets of protection and healing and fertility, beliefs about the afterlife, and the spread of Egyptian religion in classical times. The illustrations are very helpful, and I feel I have learned from this book the basic elements of Egyptian iconography. I have also learned the basic significance of the main Egyptian gods and goddesses. Quirke is very good at identifying common misperceptions and correcting them. I recommend this book to people who are curious about the basics of Egyptian religion as well as to people who are travelling to Egypt and want to prepare themselves for the sights and museums. Unfortunately, it doesn't cover history or archaeology very well--i.e. it moves thematically rather than chronologically, and doesn't describe the main temples or ruins--and it can get a little dense in the middle. If you're more interested in history or archaeology than in fertility amulets, maybe there's a better book.

I haven't read "The Search for God in Ancient Egypt" by Jan Assmann, but I hear it's important for people who want to understand Egyptian religion.

The multiple gods and goddesses, the temple rituals, the burial practices and the religious rules of Ancient Egypt seem very mysterious to us. The author places these mysteries in the context of Ancient Egyptian life. He explains them as a response to normal human needs and fears. Divided in 5 chapters, this book talks about all the gods - both the lesser known and the important ones - and their influence in the Ancient Near East and Greece. Well illustrated in black and white, this proves to be quite useful for travelers and students of Egyptology.