"Through this edition of the most popular and long-lasting funerary documents of Egypt emerges much of the character of her people. Through it also...
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Sep 22, 2011
Kathryn
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This translation of the Egyptian Book of the Dead has a lot of great illustrations, which, for an amateur art history buff, are gravy. Unfortunately, the scholarly value of this edition isn’t so great. Seleem seems to have embraced Egyptian religion wholeheartedly, and spends most of the commentary pointing out how advanced the Egyptians were and how their spirituality is superior to Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions. (He also seems to think that said traditions come from Egyptian ideas.
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Oct 17, 2007
Eric
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I can't really rate this book, because I didn't really understand it. But it's really funny if you take it literally, you know, like, "Boat bird staff staff, eye dog bird staff man reed boat!" And also it's an interesting window into the rituals of an ancient blah, blah . . .
Apr 13, 2008
Jack
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How can you not give this 5 stars when it lays out for you the exact procedure one needs to follow to ensure one's entrance into the afterlife
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Sep 22, 2011
Kathryn
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The Book of the Dead consists of magical texts and illustrations that would help the dead pass through the underworld and get to the Field of Reeds (heaven). It was buried with the dead. Wealthy individuals had customized texts with their own names included, while the poor had generic texts. Not all spells were included in all books, and there was not a standard order or sequence.
To write this book, Faulkner translated the various texts at the British Museum, drawing on years of Egy More...
To write this book, Faulkner translated the various texts at the British Museum, drawing on years of Egy More...
Dec 24, 2011
Devlin
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The first part of this book is a very interesting history lesson. It explains in part a brief history of the Egyptian Gods and their role in the afterlife. The second part of the book is a listing of the prayers and supplications for the afterlife. Imagine the journey into the afterlife as an oral test...this book has all the answers. You need only recite them to the proper god and move forward to the next...however...you must still have your heart weighed by Osiris at the end of your journey.
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Jul 27, 2011
Sarah
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This is essentially a translation of the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Each "book of the dead" version is different since this are like the eulogy speeches at funerals, unique in each situation, but with common elements, stories and themes. Each "book of the dead" contains a number of recitations meant to be both speeches and spells. This one concentrates on the story Osiris' death and resurrection. Then it goes on to talk about how, like Osiris, we are all god-like in our s
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May 28, 2011
kislam
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It is a shame that it can be so hard to find translations of the Book of Going Forth By Day by anyone other than Budge. I was especially disappointed to find a lack of any such ebooks, although the Budge translation abounds (and I do own a copy on my Kindle, mostly for completeness with my Budge library). However, Budge's translation is known not to be the most accurate translation out there.
Enter Faulkner's translation. Gorgeously illustrated with portions of several papyri from the More...
Enter Faulkner's translation. Gorgeously illustrated with portions of several papyri from the More...
May 28, 2011
Barnaby
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This is a beautiful book - a large-format facsimile reproduction of the Papyrus of Ani in large color images with translation of the hieroglyphs beneath. The pictures comprising the bulk of the book are not of the Papyrus itself, held in the British National Museum; rather it is a reproduction of a carefully-made imitation of the original.
The translation is quite readable and there are several useful essays and commentaries written by competent egyptologists.
Because of More...
The translation is quite readable and there are several useful essays and commentaries written by competent egyptologists.
Because of More...
Jul 30, 2009
Logan
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An interesting read. It is best to have some knowledge of the ancient Egyptians before picking up this book; otherwise, the gods and their symbols will make little sense. I like this book only as a fan and hobby-historian of ancient Egypt, but it is not really of any value to anyone but real historians and students of Egyptian.
Feb 01, 2012
Adam
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This is an incredibly interesting book for anyone interested in either hieroglyphics or the book of the dead. The hieroglyphics are laid out with English translation, and commentary on each individual section. Not necessarily anything that couldn't be found online with some digging, but well worth the purchase price overall.
Jan 09, 2012
Sam
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A beautiful reproduction of the Book of the Dead taken from tomb walls and papyri sources to give the reader the full script, in all it's colourful glory. The photographs are supported by Budge's text which explains each of the scenes in turn, including their importance to the Egyptian religion.
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Nov 18, 2010
Shelley
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Super quick read. Took me about 30 minutes but it had some interesting information in it. It was a free download for my Kindle but I have always been interested with the Egyptian culture and especially their death rituals and beliefs. This is kind of like a summary of their beliefs, well some of them. The Book of the Dead refers to documents that were left in burial chambers, tombs, etc. and not to one book in particular. This synopsis gives the story of Osiris and how he became the King of
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Jan 01, 2012
Ziggie
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A very interesting book on how and what the ancient Egyptians thought. If you study the transcripts and translations you can learn to read some hieroglyphics, impress people at the museum.
Jul 21, 2010
Oceana2602
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Yeah, okay, so I never read this. I bought in 1995 in New Zealand, in a small, rather esoteric shop in Dunedin right off of George Street, if I remember correctly. 14 years later, I can admit that buying it had more to do with my then-dilusion of becoming an Egyptologist and not the lawyer that everyone told me I'd become (and how right they were. *sigh*). Also, it seemed kinda cool.
Years later, however, owning this book become a whole different meaning for me, when I fell in love wi More...
Years later, however, owning this book become a whole different meaning for me, when I fell in love wi More...
Jan 15, 2010
Gori
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Until I already knew a good deal about the Egyptian myths, this book made little sense. The introduction and notes are confusing and poorly laid out, but it was still an interesting read.
Feb 28, 2009
Nick
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While of inestimable historical and archeological value, the text leaves me with no further true knowledge of the workings of Egyptian religion outside of ceremony.
Jan 06, 2009
hard to red- my eyes are going. Text is also ancient and you need to follow like a math problem. Still I will devote my time.
May 28, 2011
Ruth
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I bought this at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose, CA because I've been fascinated for a long time with Egyptian rituals, particularly as they concern the ancients' views on the afterlife. The Egyptians believed that they could guide a soul to the afterlife by burying them with a copy of this book, which contained instructions and charms, spells, keys and other helps that the dead person was supposed to use along the path towards resurrection. Beautiful full-color hieroglyphic image
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Dec 28, 2008
swiped this from my brother...I think I was a tween at the time. I'm ready to re-read it.
May 28, 2011
Adrian
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
May 29, 2009
Jake
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Good book. I've heard the introduction (the entire first half of the book) has dated significantly. It was originally written in the late 1800s. Significant discoveries have obviously been made since it was written.
May 28, 2011
Dan
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There is no authoritative version of the Book of Going Forth by Day (the more accurate translation of what is best known as the Book of the Dead). This presentation of the most beautiful and lengthy papyrus (the Papyrus of Ani), is lushly illustrated and extensively annotated.
The original, illuminated manuscript is presented in full color on each page, with the modern English translation below. A couple of four-page pull-outs present larger sections in great detail, and there are man More...
The original, illuminated manuscript is presented in full color on each page, with the modern English translation below. A couple of four-page pull-outs present larger sections in great detail, and there are man More...
Jun 22, 2008
Kevin
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An early and sub-standard translation...mostly only of historical interest at this point (for instance this is the translation that Yeats & Joyce used), written in 1895 by the curator of Egyptian & Assyrian Antiquities at the British Museum, who had purchased the original papyrus in Cairo 7 years earlier. You can find free versions of this text online. I'd recommend getting a newer and more accurate translation. The James Wasserman version that I have listed in "my books" is a beaut
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May 28, 2011
Cassandra
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I read this in conjunction with the Tibetean book of the dead as kind of a personal study of some of the more ancient ideas about the afterlife. I actually ended up having to consult my book on egyptian mythology very frequently to follow all of the references to various deities in it. Which, was an entirely worthwhile enterprize but should be noted that to fully enjoy this work one may wish to have something like that handy.
