Product Description

For millennia, the culture and philosophy of the ancient Egyptians have fascinated artists, historians, and spiritual seekers throughout the world. This reissue of "The Egyptian Book of the Dead", a perennial favorite, features a newly designed cover. Inside, the legendary 3,500-year-old Papyrus of Ani - the most beautiful of the ornately illustrated Egyptian funerary scrolls ever discovered - is restored in its original sequences of text and artwork. Four exquisitely illustrated gatefold spreads and an acclaimed translation by two noted Egyptologists showcase the Papyrus' elaborately bordered images and convey its intended sense of motion and meaning. For scholars and enthusiasts interested in a wide range of topics - from mysticism and philosophy to anthropology and astronomy - this sumptuous and accessible new edition will be an essential acquisition.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #73817 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 174 pages

Customer Reviews

Updated new translation of "The Egyptian Book of the Dead"
This book, more accurately called "The Book of Going Forth By Day" was the ancient Egyptian bible and everyone who could afford one was buried with one. This is a new version, and has English translations on each page with color images.

It is a guidebook for the deceased person to follow to find his way to the afterlife to live on forever. A sort of "how to" manual. Many persons would have memorized the formulae, just in case, because the risk of getting it wrong was horrendous.

The Egyptians were not obsessed with DEATH as European/American sterotypes imply, but with obtaining the perfect afterlife. In the afterlife they lived forever in a place of plenty and beauty. The ancient Egyptians studied this book, tried to memorize it, and took it with them into their sarcophagus if they could afford to, in order to have access to it when they awoke and needed to start their journey to the West (afterlife). It held all they needed to knowto bypass pitfalls and to get there safely.

This version, I understand, is the best new one and has the most accurate translation. The "Book of the Dead" most commonly seen is the one translated by Wallis Budge in the 19th Century. This new book is a newer translation, and the pictures line up with the words, as the papyrus roll used to translate from was more complete than the one Budge used, as I understand from the book's forward.

Fascinating just to go through, and the art is wonderful.

EGYPTIAN BOOK OF THE DEAD,THE OOK OF GOING FORTH
BOOK IS OF GREAT INTEREST.IT OPENS ONES EYES TO HOW OTHER PEOPLE LIVED AND THERE BELIEFS.I HAVE ALWAYS HAD AN INTEREST IN THIS SUBJECT.I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A COPY OF THIS BOOK FOR A WHILE.THE COPY I OBTAINED ON AMAZON WAS A NEW COPY AND GOOD VALUE.