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Literature of the Ancient Egyptians by E.A. Wallis Budge




The book is divided into 15 chapters discussing the literature of ancient Egypt, or at least those still extant. The bulk of the material here are writings related to the afterlife and the legends of the gods.

The first part introduces the forms of writing (hieroglyphic, hieratic, and demotic). Most of the texts are taken from inscriptions in and the scrolls from the tombs. The Pyramid texts, which has spells to ensure the deceased lives in the Tuat, are discussed.

The other chapters include the following: stories of magicians, the book of the dead (the objective of which is to help the deceased reach Sekhet Aaru and Sekhet Hetep), books of the dead in Graeco-Roman period (substitutes for book of the dead), historical literature, autobiographical literature, tales of travel and adventure, fairy tales, hymns to the gods, moral and philosophical literature, poetical compositions, and miscellaneous (mostly about the other world, spells and magic, etc.).

Two important chapters are also included: story of creation and the legends of the gods. The former retells how Nebertcher came into being and created the world while the latter comprises five stories about the gods and goddesses. These are: the flood, Ra's real name, Horus of Behutet and the winged disk, Khnemu and seven years' famine, wanderings of Isis, and Khensu-Nefer-Hetep and the princess of Bekhten.

Most of the selections are translations instead of condensed versions of the stories and which can sometimes be tedious. I recommend this to those who are already familiar of the cosmogony of Egyptian mythology or at least its major deities. This is a good introduction but it's not quite reader-friendly especially to those who are only moderately interested in myths and folklore.

I'm giving this book a 7 out of 10 rating.
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