Customer Reviews

Ancient Egyptian Religion: An Interpretation

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4 star:		(1)
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Don't get misled by the slim aspect of this book: it is a very good introduction - and, as the author himself said, more properly "an interpretation" - to ancient Egyptian religion. Very light to read and written in a simple language, it aims to provide a global overview of the beliefs and creeds of the dwellers on the Nile in times of the Pharaohs. For anyone interested in knowing more about this subject; for the learned, it is still a source for opening new-directed reseach.

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,... "one of the finest elucidations of these materials that we have anywhere." American Historical Review.



Not a Priori opinion:
Henri Frankfort published this pioneering study, interpreting ancient Egyptian religion in 1948, based on conclusion reached in his work on the subject which extended over many years.
This study is an enlarged version of lectures sponsored by the American Council of Learned societies, and were delivered at the universities of Chicago, Columbia, Oregon, Yale and other institutes and museums. In the book preface, after tracing the history of attempts to decipher the identity of Egyptian Religion, he summarizes the approach, methodology and conclusions that coherent Egyptian doctrines were rooted in a basic conviction of a stable changeless (essentially static) universe.

Study Approach:
The Egyptian gods: Cosmic gods and human Problems, Limitations of Religiosity,
The Egyptian State: State as Concept and Organization, Monarchy, Permanence in Maat,
The Egyptian way of Life: Absence of sin as a concept, and Significance of Tradition,
The Egyptian Hope: Preoccupation with death, in Cosmic circuit, Life is Eternal only by death,
Change & Permanence in literature and art: Myth in Folk tale, Absence of Drama

Henri Frankfort(d.1954):
The eminent American archaeologist, explorer and scholar, was professor of pre-classical antiquity at the University of London. He was born the Netherlands in 1897, became an American citizen in 1944. He directed the excavations of the Egypt Exploration Society (1925-29) of the Oriental Institute of the Univ. of Chicago at Tell Asmar. He taught at the Oriental Institute from 1932 to 1949, when he was appointed director of the Warburg Institute of the Univ. of London. Author and coauthor of many books, including The Intellectual Adventure of Ancient Man, U of Chicago Press, The Birth of Civilization in the Near East (1951), The Art and Architecture of the Ancient Orient, 1954, and Before Philosophy.


Frankfort Praised:
"... 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" Journal of Religion
" Fascinating book, explores the underlying concept of the changeless as the basis of Egyptian religion, and how it unifies what scholars had believed to be an unrelated jungle of weird myths, doctrines and practices generated by local cults. Relation of the idea of the changeless to moral and political philosophy, Egyptian government and society, literature and art." Editorial Review

this is a copy from the '60's that's a reprint from the '40's. the info is still good, if outdated

A worthwhile read from a very knowledgeable scholar. The religious views of the Egyptians impacted their entire life experiences.