Manetho: History of Egypt and Other Works (Loeb Classical Library No. 350) [Hardcover]

Manetho (Author), W. G. Waddell (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0674993853 | ISBN-13: 978-0674993853 | Publication Date: January 1, 1940

Manetho was an Egyptian of the 3rd century BCE. Born probably at Sebennytus in the Delta, he became a priest or high priest at Heliopolis. Apparently he and a Greek Timotheus did much to establish the cult of Serapis in Egypt. Eight works or parts of works were ascribed to him, all on history and religion and all apparently in Greek: Aegyptiaca, on the history of Egypt; The Sacred Book on Egyptian religion; An Epitome of Physical Doctrines; On Festivals; On Ancient Ritual and Religion; On the Making of Kyphi (an incense); The Criticisms of Herodotus; and the spurious Book of Sôthis. These survive only as quoted by other writers. This volume also contains the doubtful Kings of Thebes (in Egypt) and the Old Chronicle.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Loeb Classical Library (January 1, 1940)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674993853
• ISBN-13: 978-0674993853
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,480 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Acceptable, August 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Manetho: History of Egypt and Other Works (Loeb Classical Library No. 350) (Hardcover)

Because it is not immediately evident from the information posted on this selection, prospective purchasers should know that this book is a part of the "standard" bilingual (Greek/English) Loeb Classical Library. As such, it is a fine academic work, and a decent addition to any classical library. However, potential buyers should also know that the writings of Manetho contained in this volume are only "as quoted by other writers" (e.g. Eusebius and Josephus). As such, the work reflects (often infuriatingly so) as much the opinions and biases of these ancient "reviewers" as it does of Manetho's actual words. Apart from this "caveat emptor," anyone interested in Egyptian history and religion as viewed by an Egyptian of the third century BC -- albeit re-viewed by sometimes antipathetical critics -- is advised to add this small volume to his or her collection.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Extracts from other writers tries to reconstruct Manetho, October 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Manetho: History of Egypt and Other Works (Loeb Classical Library No. 350) (Hardcover)

This is probably better for scholars than for the general reader. Manetho lived during the third century BC and wrote of ancient Egyptian history spanning 30 dynasties to the age of Alexander. But since the original has not survived, this attempts to reconstruct what Manetho may have been, but does so with three variants of his "History of Egypt", two are quoted from Syncellus who quotes from Ersebius and Africanus who quote from Manetho. These amount to lists of dynastic ages, showing - one after the other - how the sources record each (which are not identical). Also interspersed with probably corrupt versions of Manetho quoted by Josephus. Including confusing footnotes throughout. Also attempts to reconstruct "The Sacred Book", "An Epitome of Physical Doctrines", "On Festivals", "On Ancient Ritual and Religion", and "On the Making of Kyphi", in addition to a further appendix. Overall, the results are unimpressive and lack any attraction as literature. Of its 250 pages every other is in Greek. Includes one map of the Nile valley.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Egyptian version of the Exodus, June 11, 2004

By 

J. Buford (Troy Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Manetho: History of Egypt and Other Works (Loeb Classical Library No. 350) (Hardcover)

In history, Manetho was a 3rd century B.C.E. priest of Heliopolis commissioned to write a definitive work on the story of Egypt from its inception to the time of Alexander the Great. Disappointingly, Manetho's orignal work is lost. Tantalizingly, all we have are his various quotations from the likes of later writers including Josephus and Church historian Eusebius, Bishop of Caesaria. This work collects these various quotes in a few pages of its text and gives us a partial glimpse at that which was originally nothing less than the Egyptian version of the Exodus. This is critical because contemporary students of biblical history usually only find these quotes further removed from their source in other more contemporary works that themselves quote the earlier writers like Josephus or Eusebius (who themselves, of course, are only quoting). What this book reveals is that we only have a very bare bones and sketchy picture of the Exodus as Manetho saw it. From his perspective, the Hebrews did not bravely obtain their freedom but were forced from the land of Egypt. Proto historical spin doctoring aside, the account significantly does not deny the Exodus but rather attempts to caste it in a different light. As biblical archeology sifts the detritus of the Sinai for hard evidence of the Exodus, this book perhaps offers hope that the search is not in vain.