Religion and Magic in Ancient Egypt

by Rosalie David

Overview

The ancient Egyptians believed that the Nile - their life source - was a divine gift. Religion and magic permeated their civilization, and this book provides a unique insight into their religious beliefs and practices, from 5000 BC to the 4th century AD, when Egyptian Christianity replaced the earlier customs. Arranged chronologically, this book provides a fascinating introduction to the world of half-human/ half-animal gods and goddesses; death rituals, the afterlife and mummification; the cult of sacred animals, pyramids, magic and medicine. An appendix contains translations of Ancient Eygtian spells.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780141941387
Publisher:	Penguin UK
Publication date:	10/03/2002
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	512
File size:	11 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

ROSALIE DAVID is Keeper of Egyptology and Reader in Egyptology at the Manchester Museum, University of Manchester. She is the Director of the Manchester Egyptian Mummy Research Project there, and has been Consultant and Presenter on TV and radio programmes in Britain, USA, Canada and Australia.

Table of Contents

	List of Figures and Maps	vii
	List of Illustrations	x
	Acknowledgements	xv
	A Chronological Table of Egyptian History	xvi
Chapter 1	The Creation of Egyptian Civilization	1
Chapter 2	The Emergence of Religion: Predynastic and Early Dynastic Periods, c.5000-2686 BCE	37
Chapter 3	The Rise of the Sun-Cult: The Old Kingdom, c.2686-c.2181 BCE	77
Chapter 4	Osiris, the People's God: The First Intermediate Period and the Middle Kingdom, c.2181-1786 BCE	137
Chapter 5	Religion and Empire: Transition from the Second Intermediate Period to the Early New Kingdom, 1786-c.1400 BCE	178
Chapter 6	The Amarna Heresy: The New Kingdom, c.1400-c.1320 BCE	212
Chapter 7	The Return to Orthodoxy: Later New Kingdom, c.1320-1085 BCE	246
Chapter 8	Kings and Priests: The Final Conflict: The Third Intermediate and Late Periods, 1085-332 BCE	292
Chapter 9	East meets West: Conflict and Co-operation in Graeco-Roman Egypt: 332 BCE - 4th century ACE	318
Appendix A	Selected Passages from Egyptian Religious Texts	345
Appendix B	A Selective List of Major Religious Sites in Egypt and Nubia	364
	Notes	381
	Glossary	392
	Bibliography	434
	Index	455