Using as his sources the Egyptian texts and the testimony of classical authors, Serge Sauneron illuminates the role of the priesthood in Ancient Egypt.
'Man perishes; his corpse turns to dust; all his relatives pass away. But writings make him remembered' In ancient Egypt, words had magical power. Inscribed on tombs and temple walls, coffins and statues, or inked onto papyri, hieroglyphs give us a unique insight into the life of the Egyptian mind. Egyptologist Toby Wilkinson has freshly translated a rich and diverse range of ancient Egyptian writings into modern English, including tales of shipwreck and wonder, obelisk inscriptions, mortuary spells, funeral hymns, songs, satires and advice on life from a pharaoh to his son. Spanning over two millennia, this is the essential guide to a complex, sophisticated culture. Translated with an Introduction by Toby Wilkinson
The premise for this book is best summarized in the words of its author, who writes: "Plutarch, in his Life of Solon, informs us that Psenophis and Sonchis -- one a priest of Heliopolis, and the other of Sais -- told the Athenian legislator that 9,000 years before his visit to Egypt, on account of the submergence of the Island of Atlantis (Land of Mu of the Mayas) all communications had been interrupted with the Western countries. If the Egyptians learned the art of writing from the Mayas, as no doubt they did, it must have been in times anterior to the cataclysm. In this we would find the explanation of why identical characters are being found on the most ancient monuments of Egypt and those of Mayach, having the same meaning and containing the relation of the same cosmogonical traditions."
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Magisterial . . . [A] rich portrait of ancient Egypt’s complex evolution over the course of three millenniums.”—Los Angeles Times NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • Publishers Weekly In this landmark volume, one of the world’s most renowned Egyptologists tells the epic story of this great civilization, from its birth as the first nation-state to its absorption into the Roman Empire. Drawing upon forty years of archaeological research, award-winning scholar Toby Wilkinson takes us inside a tribal society with a pre-monetary economy and decadent, divine kings who ruled with all-too-recognizable human emotions. Here are the legendary leaders: Akhenaten, the “heretic king,” who with his wife Nefertiti brought about a revolution with a bold new religion; Tutankhamun, whose dazzling tomb would remain hidden for three millennia; and eleven pharaohs called Ramesses, the last of whom presided over the militarism, lawlessness, and corruption that caused a political and societal decline. Filled with new information and unique interpretations, The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt is a riveting and revelatory work of wild drama, bold spectacle, unforgettable characters, and sweeping history. “With a literary flair and a sense for a story well told, Mr. Wilkinson offers a highly readable, factually up-to-date account.”—The Wall Street Journal “[Wilkinson] writes with considerable verve. . . . [He] is nimble at conveying the sumptuous pageantry and cultural sophistication of pharaonic Egypt.”—The New York Times
The ancient world comes to life in the first volume in a two book series on the history of Egypt, spanning the first farmers to the construction of the pyramids. Famed archaeologist John Romer draws on a lifetime of research to tell one history's greatest stories; how, over more than a thousand years, a society of farmers created a rich, vivid world where one of the most astounding of all human-made landmarks, the Great Pyramid, was built. Immersing the reader in the Egypt of the past, Romer examines and challenges the long-held theories about what archaeological finds mean and what stories they tell about how the Egyptians lived. More than just an account of one of the most fascinating periods of history, this engrossing book asks readers to take a step back and question what they've learned about Egypt in the past. Fans of Stacy Schiff's Cleopatra and history buffs will be captivated by this re-telling of Egyptian history, written by one of the top Egyptologists in the world.
Discover the intimate details of life under the pharaohs--and their extraordinary legacy--in this fascinating e-guide to Egypt's ancient civilization. Encompassing 3,000 years and 31 Egyptian dynasties, from the time of Narmer to Cleopatra, this fresh appraisal of ancient treasures helps you navigate the political intrigues and cultural achievements of the Ancient Egyptians, from the Pyramids and the Sphinx of Giza to the Great Library and Lighthouse of Alexandria. You'll meet pharaohs such as King Tutankhamun--whose mummified remains and lavish grave goods reveal so much about the society and its beliefs--as well as influential women such as Hatshepsut and Nefertiti, and warriors including Alexander the Great. Lavish photographs reveal the exquisite craftsmanship of their scribes, artists, and metalworkers, and the tomb paintings and relief carvings that captured the everyday life of farmers, artisans, soldiers, and traders in exquisite detail. Exclusive CGI reconstructions use the latest scientific information to recreate the finest tombs, temples, and pyramids. Beautifully illustrated, and unparalleled in scope, Ancient Egypt is the perfect ebook for anyone with an interest in ancient civilizations and Egyptology.
A groundbreaking new translation of the only historical novel by noted Polish writer Boleslaw Prus. " . . . unique in world literature of the nineteenth century"--Czeslaw Milosz Imbued with poetry, leavened with humor, and graced with moments of transcendent beauty, Pharaoh offers a compelling picture of life at every level of ancient Egyptian society. As the story unfolds, Egypt is experiencing internal stresses and external threats that will culminate in the fall of its Twentieth Dynasty and New Kingdom. The young Pharaoh Ramses learns that challenging power leaves him vulnerable to seduction, defamation, intimidation and even assassination. The ultimate lesson learned by Ramses is the power of knowledge. Prus is a distinctive voice in world literature and was Joseph Conrad's favorite Polish writer. This new edition of Christopher Kasparek's translation of Pharaoh vividly brings this extraordinary novel to life. It includes a detailed foreword and annotations, based on extensive research and textual refinements, that will enhance the reader's appreciation not only for ancient Egypt, but also for Prus' composition process. Pharaoh has been translated into twenty-three languages and was adapted as a 1966 Polish feature film.
'An Account of Egypt' is the story of Greek historian Herodotus' travels through the Ptolemaic Kingdom. It is a richly descriptive tale of ancient Egyptian customs, rituals and daily life from the legendary writer whom Cicero labeled 'The Father of History.'
Excerpt from The Life, Travels, and Literary Career of Bayard Taylor The author cannot do less than acknowledge, in this place, his great obligations to the father and mother of Mr. Taylor, to Mrs. Annie Carey, his sister, and to Dr. Franklin Taylor, his cousin, for their generous courtesy and most important assistance in gathering the facts for this volume. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.