Tombs of the Gods

Tombs of the Gods

Author: Kyle Weyburne

Publisher: Kyle Weyburne

Published: 2023-07-06

Total Pages: 258

ISBN-13:

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We’ve completely misunderstood the purpose of the pyramids. They weren’t built primarily as tombs, instead they were intended to be used by Pharaoh while he was still alive. In very ancient times, the king was only allowed to rule for 30 years––then he’d be ritually killed! They didn’t want an old man in charge. One day, a Pharaoh was nearing his 30th year and decided he didn’t want to die, so came up with a set of rituals that would enable him to live on. It was called ‘Heb Sed’. This sacred ceremony was more than just a life-saver though, it also enabled the king to merge with the Sun-god. After death, Egyptian kings were believed to board the Sun-boat where they would shine down on their subjects for all eternity. However, many things could go awry in this process, particularly under the eyes of a successor. What if they bungled the funeral? What if they were a rival? Heb Sed enabled all this to occur while the king was still alive so that he could preside over proceedings, ensuring its success. And the bonus of being able to do this while alive is that some part of the Pharaoh would board the Sun-boat and in doing so, the king would become a divinity––the Pharaoh became a living God-king! But all this could only happen if they built a strange, pyramid-shaped structure to enable this potent magic to take place. So they built pyramids. And they got bigger and more magnificent with the passing of each King. This madness came to a head with Pharaoh Snefru who built two massive pyramids; the two biggest man-made structures in the World! How do you outdo this? While his son ‘Khufu’ only managed to build one pyramid, it was the most impressive structure ever built by humans. Still is, in my book. And yes, it might have functioned as his tomb, although Strabo and Diodorus swear black and blue that it wasn’t, however, it was entirely geared to the Sun-god, as you will find out... it was entirely geared for the King's Heb Sed. This book is the sequel to Architecture of Ra, but can be read independently of it. It also delves into the myths of Egypt as well as those of other cultures (Jason & the Argonauts, Icarus, Jonah, Thor, Hercules…). I don’t like calling these stories 'myths' because they actually belonged to living religions and to make that grade, the stories had to include information seminal to that culture. And if the texts contain this knowledge, then so did their religious buildings. The knowledge encoded in Egyptian legends is also encoded in their pyramids!


House of Eternity

House of Eternity

Author: John K. McDonald

Publisher: Getty Publications

Published: 1996-11-28

Total Pages: 124

ISBN-13: 0892364157

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Nefertari, the favorite queen of Rameses II, was buried about 3,200 years ago in the most exquisitely decorated tomb in Egypt's Valley of the Queens. Discovered in 1904 by Italian explorer Ernesto Schiaparelli, the tomb had deteriorated to a disastrous extent when emergency consolidation began in 1986. The six-year conservation project of the GCI and the Egyptian Antiquities Organization was completed in 1992. In this fascinating exploration of the tomb, John McDonald takes the reader through each chamber, describing the hieroglyphic messages depicted in the brilliant wall paintings and discussing the images within the context of Egyptian beliefs. He also offers insights into the life of Nefertari, the development and symbolism of royal tombs, and the construction and decoration of the tombs. House of Eternity is illustrated with historic black-and-white images and more recent color photographs that reveal the vibrant beauty of the wall paintings. In November 1995 the tomb was reopened to the public. Because of the potential for damage and deterioration to the fragile wall paintings caused by increased humidity, carbon dioxide, and microbiological activity introduced by visitors to the tomb, the number permitted to enter daily is strictly controlled by the Egyptian authorities. This book results from a desire of the GCI to enrich visitors' experience by providing a detailed descriptive walk-through of the tomb while conveying a strong message regarding the need for conservation and continuous monitoring to ensure the long-term survival of the tomb's paintings. Visitors to the tomb and the armchair traveler alike will find House of Eternity to be an excellent resource for understanding Nefertari's journey to the afterlife and for appreciating the extraordinary depictions of that journey on the walls of Nefertari's tomb.


Gods, Graves and Scholars

Gods, Graves and Scholars

Author: C.W. Ceram

Publisher: Vintage

Published: 1986-07-12

Total Pages: 568

ISBN-13: 0394743199

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C.W. Ceram visualized archeology as a wonderful combination of high adventure, romance, history and scholarship, and this book, a chronicle of man's search for his past, reads like a dramatic narrative. We travel with Heinrich Schliemann as, defying the ridicule of the learned world, he actually unearths the remains of the ancient city of Troy. We share the excitement of Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter as they first glimpse the riches of Tutankhamen's tomb, of George Smith when he found the ancient clay tablets that contained the records of the Biblical Flood. We rediscover the ruined splendors of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the wonders of the ancient wold; of Chichen Itza, the abandoned pyramids of the Maya: and the legendary Labyrinth of tile Minotaur in Crete. Here is much of the history of civilization and the stories of the men who rediscovered it. Illustrated with drawings, maps, and photographs


Gifts for the Gods

Gifts for the Gods

Author: Marsha Hill

Publisher: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 258

ISBN-13: 1588392317

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Throughout their long history, the ancient Egyptians crafted exquisite statues of bronze, copper, silver and gold as offerings to their gods and for use in temples and shrines. This title focuses on the art and significance of Egyptian metal statuary, presenting insights and up-to-date information on this precious work.


Book of the Dead

Book of the Dead

Author: Foy Scalf

Publisher: Oriental Institute Press

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781614910381

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Discover how the ancient Egyptians controlled their immortal destiny! This book, edited by Foy Scalf, explores what the Book of the Dead was believed to do, how it worked, how it was made, and what happened to it.


Visualizing the Afterlife in the Tombs of Graeco-Roman Egypt

Visualizing the Afterlife in the Tombs of Graeco-Roman Egypt

Author: Marjorie Susan Venit

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2016

Total Pages: 303

ISBN-13: 1107048087

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This book explores the visual narratives of a group of decorated tombs from Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt (c.300 BCE-250 CE). The author contextualizes the tombs within their social, political, and religious context and considers how the multicultural population of Graeco-Roman Egypt chose to negotiate death and the afterlife.


The Egyptian Amduat

The Egyptian Amduat

Author: Erik Hornung

Publisher: Daimon

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9783952260845

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In the Amduat, the night-journey of the Egyptian Sungod is divided into twelve hours, each of them containing an enormous amount of insight into the human psyche. The entire Amduat could be called the first 'scientific publication' of humankind describing or mapping the dangers, but also the regenerative capabilities of the night-world, providing answers to basic human questions. The synopsis of the different scenes of the Amduat, all in colour, together with its explaining text, is unique. This book is a treasure for all those who want to explore the archetypal structure of the objective psyche, with its helpful but also with its dangerous forces.


The Four Gods Figurines as Tomb Guardians

The Four Gods Figurines as Tomb Guardians

Author: Lok Man Yang

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2023-12-29

Total Pages: 430

ISBN-13: 3662681579

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This book employs a biographical approach to comprehensively study a set of Tang era-tomb guardian figurines, known as the Four Gods (Sishen), comprising a pair of warriors (Dangkuang and Dangye) and a pair of hybrid beasts (Zuming and Dizhou). These objects were exclusively used by officials until 841 AD and were mainly found in capitals then. They disappeared in the 9th century AD. The book is divided into three sections. Part one focuses on their symbolism through names, images, burial contexts, associated ritual regulations, and the interplay of all of these, revealing their dual significance – apotropaic and political, tied to ritual propriety, nuo exorcism, yin-yang divination, and more. Part two explores their connection to other supernatural tomb figurines in the early and middle Tang periods, challenging previous theories and highlighting regional standardization. Additionally, this part delves into the Four Gods’ regulated production, government oversight, and role in funerary processions. Part three examines their disappearance due to shifting views on the afterlife and diminishing national power. It also explores changes in the usage of related tomb objects after the Tang era, focusing on protective functions and spatial concepts.


Egyptian Gods, Heroes, and Mythology

Egyptian Gods, Heroes, and Mythology

Author: Tammy Gagne

Publisher: ABDO

Published: 2018-12-15

Total Pages: 51

ISBN-13: 153217067X

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Osiris, the god of the dead; the catlike goddess Bastet; and the imposing sphinx are well-known subjects of Egyptian mythology. Egyptian Gods, Heroes, and Mythology explores the gods, heroes, creatures, and stories of Egyptian mythology, in addition to examining their influence today. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Core Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.


Tyrant's Tomb

Tyrant's Tomb

Author: Rick Riordan

Publisher: Disney Electronic Content

Published: 2019-09-24

Total Pages: 439

ISBN-13: 1368001440

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It's not easy being Apollo, especially when you've been turned into a human and banished from Olympus. On his path to restoring five ancient oracles and reclaiming his godly powers, Apollo (aka Lester Papadopoulos) has faced both triumphs and tragedies. Now his journey takes him to Camp Jupiter in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the Roman demigods are preparing for a desperate last stand against the evil Triumvirate of Roman emperors. Hazel, Reyna, Frank, Tyson, Ella, and many other old friends will need Apollo's aid to survive the onslaught. Unfortunately, the answer to their salvation lies in the forgotten tomb of a Roman ruler . . . someone even worse than the emperors Apollo has already faced.