The Ancient Egyptian Books of the Afterlife by Erik Hornung

The Ancient Egyptian Books of the Afterlife
by Erik Hornung

Price: $21.00

ISBN: 0801485150

ISBN-13: 9780801485152

Data published: 1999

Publisher: Cornell University Press

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Description of the Book: The Ancient Egyptian Books of the Afterlife

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Ancient Egyptians held a rich and complex vision of the afterlife and codified their beliefs in books that were to be discovered more than two millennia later in royal tombs. Erik Hornung, the world's leading authority on these religious texts, surveys what is known about them today. The contents of the texts range from the collection of spells in the Book of the Dead, which was intended to offer practical assistance on the journey to the afterlife, to the detailed accounts of the hereafter provided in the Books of the Netherworld. Hornung looks closely at these latter works, while summarizing the contents of the Book of the Dead and other widely studied examples of the genre. For each composition, he discusses the history of its ancient transmission and its decipherment in modern times, supplying bibliographic information for any text editions. He also seeks to determine whether this literature as a whole presents a monolithic conception of the afterlife. The volume features many drawings from the books themselves--drawings that illustrate the nocturnal course of the sun god through the realm of the dead. Originally published in German and now available in a fluid English translation, this volume offers an accessible and enlightening introduction to a central element of ancient Egyptian religion.

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Details of the Book: The Ancient Egyptian Books of the Afterlife

Author: Erik Hornung

Number Of Pages: 188

Binding: Paperback

ISBN-10: 1426202644

ISBN-13: 9780801485152

Language: English

Amazon Sales Rank: 120391

Publication Date: 1999

Publisher: Cornell University Press

Package Dimensions: 0.60 x 9.00 x 6.50 inches

Related Keywords

African history Ancient Egyptian religion & mythology Literary studies: classical, early & medieval Sociology: death & dying World history World history: BCE to c 500 CE Egypt - Religion History - General History History: World Ancient - Egypt Comparative Religion History History / Ancient / Egypt RELIGION / History Ancient - General Egypt Future life Incantations, Egyptian Religion Regional History