The Ancient Gods Speak: A Guide to Egyptian Religion [Hardcover]

Derived from the Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt, Donald Redford's The Ancient Gods Speak: A Guide to Egyptian Religion offers more than 90 articles explaining various features of ancient Egyptian beliefs, including ideas about death and the afterlife, the role of cultic animals and the pantheon of deities. The tone can be dry at times, and one wishes for more illustrations, but serious readers will learn a great deal about this ancient religion.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt (LJ 12/00) has quickly become the authoritative reference work on ancient Egyptian archaeology, culture, and religion. Now its editor, Redford (classical and ancient Mediterranean studies, Pennsylvania State Univ.), has gathered the cream of the crop from that three-volume work into an affordable one-volume guide to ancient Egyptian religion. In this collection of nearly 100 signed (and very readable) articles by noted Egyptologists (vs. 600 in the original), Redford gives the reader a tour of the key elements of Egyptian religion, from belief in the afterlife and burial practices to articles distinguishing the ba, the ka, and the akh from one another. Entries on deities, demons, magic, sacred writings, and legends show that Egyptian religion is one of the chief reasons that everyone from children to scholars are fascinated with ancient Egyptian culture. Moreover, the new introduction for this collection is one of the finest general summaries of Egyptian religion this reviewer has encountered during 30 years as an ancient studies librarian. Move over E.A. Wallis Budge, Adolf Erman, Henri Frankfort, Siegfried Morenz, W.M. Flinders Petrie, and Jan Zandee: a new 21st-century standard reference for Egyptian religion is now available. Highly recommended for both academic and public libraries of all sizes. Gary P. Gillum, Brigham Young Univ. Lib., Provo, UT
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

"An affordable one-volume guide to ancient Egyptian religion....Gives the reader a tour of the key elements of Egyptian religion, from belief in the afterlife and burial practices to dieties, magic, demons, and sacred writings....Mover over E.A. Wallis Budge: a new 21st-century standard reference for Egyptian religion is now available."--Library Journal [Starred Review]

Incorporating the latest and best scholarship in the area, The Ancient Gods Speak: A Guide to Egyptian Religion provides over 90 in-depth articles ranging from Anubis, the dog-headed god of the underworld, to the Opening of the Mouth, the cultic ceremony of reanimation. Readers will find informative and fascinating entries on deities, burial practices, cults, demons, fantastic animals, magic, oracles, sacred writings, festivals, and other facets of Egyptian belief and practice. Each entryis written by a noted Egyptologist and contains the most up-to-date information gathered from years of study and research. The guide includes 35 photographs and illustrations, a detailed index, and a further reading section for those wanting to explore in more detail. With an insightful introduction by world-renowned Egyptologist Donald B. Redford, this definitive resource is essential for anyone interested in ancient Egyptians and the world they inhabited. It is the guide for the student, the scholar, and the general reader.

1 map, 4 line illus & 23 halftones

Donald B. Redford is at Pennsylvania State University.