Customer Reviews

The Mummy: A History of the Extraordinary Practices of Ancient Egypt

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This handbook is a good reference to keep on one's desk about ancient Egypt. Good overview of hieroglyphics, funeral practices and the fundamental tenets of Egyptian religion. Be warned that is not a "popular" history; it's clearly aimed at the graduate student/professional level. That being said, the book could definitely use a new edition-the one I have says first edition 1893 second edition 1925. The prose reflects this as well: long passages in Greek and French, indicative of British scholastic writing at this time. I'm thinking there's an excellent project here for a doctoral candidate- a new edition reflecting scholarship from the last 75 years, along with appropriate translations (original texts could be appendices so the pedantic can perform their own translations). All in all, the results are worth the reader's effort.

Although quite academic and dry this book brings out some great points on the archeology of funerary in ancient egypt. Beginning with a history on egypt, to a consise history of hyroglyphics and the history of writting in eqypt on to the meaty stuff of mummies and all the gory details. He concludes with a nice summary of major talismans and seals. Although this book is not a complete book in any right it is a good beginner book to read before delving into the macabre world of ancient Egypt

Although we've learned a lot over the last century about life and culture in Ancient Egypt, this 1893 classic remains one of the best introductions to the field. Covering all the dynasties from Narmer through to the post-Cleopatra Roman occupation, this book contains enough detailed explanation to enable interested readers to teach themselves the basics of reading hieroglyphic inscriptions and wall texts. As fresh today as when it appeared.

While this text has its usefullness for scholars in the field, those with a more casual interest can find a plethora of more appropriate books covering funerary texts, mummies, religion and ritual, and various other aspects of Egyptian funerary practices. Much of Budge's work is quite dated - his translations certainly are, and so is his summary of Egyptian history. Certainly interesting from a history of the discipline standpoint - Budge provides a good example of the cognitive processes and widely held viewpoints of a mainstream scholar of his generation, and a detailed account of the decipherment of the Rosetta Stone (and thus, hieroglyphs in general). Overall, however, I would recommend a more modern text, especially for those with little or no background in the subject.

Reprinted from the 2nd edition dated to 1925, this book still stands as one of the most concise explanatory introduction to the arid world of funerary Egyptian Archaeology. Although not "everything" is touched upon, there are so many detailed comments and references to writings so-long forgotten and missing, that this alone makes this tile a necessary one for any one interested in the subject-matter. It is true that there are more updated - and equally important - "hand-books" on the same (such as the one by Dr. J. Spencer, "Death in Ancient Egypt" - long out-of-print), but this one has what the others lack. Buy it, you will not repent.