Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)The longer I've spent trying to read this book, the worse my opinion of it becomes. I do understand that in 1918 knowledge was limited regarding the ancient Egyptians (much of what is contained in the book is just plain wrong and you will not recognize many of the names by which he references a number of pharaohs, deities or places), and I can forgive him for his ignorance. What is harder to forgive are the incorrect assumptions he makes regarding a culture he knew very little about, and the reasons he gives for some of these assumptions aren't remotely logical. Moreover, he actually quotes Greaco-Roman sources (themselves often biased by the belief in their own cultural superiority) more often than Egyptian. The biggest complaint I have with this book, however, is the barely disguised contempt he feels for the ancient Egyptians and their beliefs. I could not possibly count how many times he refers to them as primitive, barbaric, naïve and incapable of differentiating the spiritual from the material. The author lacks all objectivity, and proves it when he states: "A few of the Classical authors viewed it with awe, but the majority expressed dislike or sarcasm even before Christianity proved the diabolical nature of paganism..." Such statements are unworthy of a true scholar who ought, for the sake of integrity, view a culture without any preconceptions. I bought the book hoping to learn new things about the ancient Egyptians and their beliefs, and all I got was 245 excruciating pages of outdated research, poorly constructed arguments for absurd assumptions, and an arrogant contempt that I found irritating in the extreme. If you want to buy the book to see how far academia has come since the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, then this might actually be an interesting read. If you're looking for any useful information steer clear of this one.
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The complexities of Egyptian mythology - its gods, sun and animal worship, myths, and magical practices - are explored. The development of religious doctrines, as portrayed in art and in literature, also receives a close inspection. Magnificently illustrated, the text contains 232 figures that clarify ancient beliefs and customs.
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