Customer Reviews

The Book of the Dead: The Hieroglyphic Transcript of the Papyrus of Ani, the Translation into English and an Introduction

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Being an archaeologist, I know better than to claim that there is such a thing as a wrong or right inference. They are all just interpretations of available information that can be translated differently by another person (I believe this is why Budge included the original text--in order to give the reader a chance to make hs own inferences). The best way to judge an interpretation based on artifacts and proveniences is by the background and experience of the academic doing the translation. Being a celebrated Egyptologist for such a long period of time ought to count for something. I know I wouldn't disparage a fellow Archy based on the words of a fictional man from a movie that claimed pyramids were built by aliens.

It's a given that serious egyptologists will roll their eyes at anything by Budge (there's a great moment at the beginning of the film "Stargate" where James Spader's character makes a quip about Budge's books).

However, if you are interested in 19th-century occultists (Blavatsky, Crowley, etc) then you probably should have this translation on your shelf next to a more modern one, because Budge is a primary source of their ideas about Egyptian gods and religion (which are interesting in their own right, though not historically accurate or scholarly). And again, at least Budge's stuff is widely and inexpensively available in Dover paperback editions....

I gave this book 5 stars simply for the reason being that Budge was the first to translate the Egyptian Text and offered a literal translation. In contrast, if anyone wants to read a mystical interpretation of the text the best available for this would be: (The Egyptian Book of the Dead : The Book of Coming Forth by Day by: Muata A. Ashbi)

This book was translated by the late Sir Ernest A. Wallis Budge, (aka E. A. Wallis Budge) from ancient hieroglyphic papyri, and is a classic in the field of Egyptology and a "must have" in the library's of those interested in ancient Egyptian Spirituality.

In this book you will find both the hieroglyphs as well as Sir Budge's translations.

Here is a short excerpt:
"Permit thou not me to be judged according to the mouths of
"the multitude. May my soul lift itself up before [Osiris], having
"been found to have been pure when on earth. May I come into "thy presence, O Lord of the gods; may I arrive at the Nome of "Maati (Truth)...."
(from the Turin Papyrus)

Sir Wallis Budge was the "Keeper of the Egyptian and Syrian Antiquities in the British Museum" in the late 1800's and early 1900's, and was a prolific translator of ancient Egyptian Spiritual papyri.

While some modern Egyptologists have found minor mistakes in Sir Wallis Budge's translations; his earnestness and sincerity can not be denied.
This is a "must have" book!

As a former student of Egyptology, I must inform all potential readers that Budge's translations are very poor, and that much better translations of the Papyrus of Ani now exist. Budge also tends to exaggerate and sensationalize. If this book was supposed to be a literal translation, this wouldn't be the case. The inferior translations are mostly due to the age of the book. Advances in the field of Egyptian grammar make this text obsolete.

Budge's translation of the Papryrus of Ani is well done, and understandable to even those who are not as learned in Ancient Egypt as he. There are detailed analysises of each Chapter and Vignette, as well as extensive prefaces, introductions, and appendices regarding some information that should be known before reading the papyrus. My only complaint is that the appendices are almost longer than the papyrus itself, although most of the info is completely useful. There are also many copies of the original heiroglyphic translations included, as well as nice copies of plates and drawings from the original papyrus.

As a long time fan of ancient Egyptian study, I wanted to pick this up to further understand a fascinating culture. This version is not for the casual reader and offers a rather in-depth look at the scrolls intended for burial and embalming of a body as prescribed in the 'Book of the Dead'. I tend to lean towards more educational depictions of historic cultures and this fit the bill. It is lengthy however and doesn't lean to the narrative, but will still give an enlightened view into ancient Egyptian funerary practices.

This book was an interesting read; a stepping stone for newcomers entering the world of Egyptology. The introduction into the Taut was displayed fairly well, and by the middle of the book i got a basic idea about most of the characters.

It was great to learn about the legend of Osiris, and the great Gods who were before him (ex.Tem, Ra), and also about how the early Coptic Christians adapted most of the ancient Egyptians belief into Christianity.

Overall it benefited my knowledge base.

This kindle version advertises itself as being 704 pages and thus the full translation of these texts: in fact it is only the same introduction as the free version with a brief blurb on Budge. Don't buy this unless Amazon fixes it!

Budge's book is just as good as the others who claim to be experts. The only people who have a problem with Budge, are those who believe the altered noses, lips and sand blasted colors of the remaining Egyptian statues...represent the African people who were originally the Kamitians. Budge and other white European scholars who 'told it like it was' are constantly being ridiculed for not joining the bogus scheme of alterations and forgeries in the effort of 'whitewashing Egypt' as is the trend today. Egypt is a name given to it by Alexander the Great, when he conquered the land and defeated the Persians. It was known as Kamit for thousands of years prior to the newer term of Egypt. The natives of Kamit identified themselves with the color of the Black Land as well.