Your Ad Spot

September 18, 2018

My Rating - 4 out of 5 stars
Published by - South water
Genre - History
Publishing year - January 2014
Language - English
ISBN - 978-178019-441-7
Pages - 512
Buy now - Amazon IN




My Review -

The Mysteries of Ancient Egypt is one of my favorite reads until now. This book is a fascinating guide to ancient Egypt's mythology and religion and to the awe-inspiring temples and tombs of the world's first great civilization. This book captures the essence of this fascinating epoch with maps, chronologies, and artworks supplementing with photographs.

This book has chronological charts of events that happened in ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians emerged about 5,000 years ago, and the society flourished for three millennia. Their most striking monuments, notably the pyramids and the Great Sphinx at Giza and the royal tombs in the Kings' valley, were tourist attractions in Classical times just as they are today. 

The atmosphere created of mystery and speculation by ancient Egyptians gave rise to a superstition that survived into the modern age. Religion was a fundamental part of the life of every Egyptian. Many archaeological sites were the focus of religious activity. For most of its ancient history, Egypt was ruled by all-powerful kings or pharaohs. This book is divided into two parts. First, consisting of all the sacred sites of ancient Egypt. Second, consisting of gods, myths, and the religion of ancient Egypt. I enjoy the second part most. 

This book is an illustrated reference to the myths, religions, pyramids, and temples of the pharaohs' land. A compelling guide to the most famous burial sites, including Giza, Saqqara, and the Valley of the Kings. It's like a tour to sacred sites, from the pharaohs' impressive mortuary temples to those dedicated to the many Gods and Goddesses. The authors did in-depth research before writing. It has information about the crucial role that religious beliefs and mythology played in one of the most intriguing ancient history periods.

I find so many interesting facts about Egypt in this book. Egypt was one of the earliest places to accept Christianity, which was said to have been introduced in the middle of the first century AD by St Mark. Stories or myths evolved in all cultures to provide a divine explanation for the fundamentals of human existence. Many sources reveal that the King was identified with God, both in life and after death.

The people of ancient Egypt were terrified by the prospect of dying away from their beloved Egypt if this meant they would not be buried close to the Nile and would not receive the all-important funeral. The intriguing process of mummification developed because of the belief that the body's survival was necessary to reborn into the Afterlife. 

Magic and superstition played a crucial part in daily life and were by no means considered unorthodox or an alternative to the state temples' religion. A priest used to perform rituals in a state deity cult could also be called upon to carry out what we would term magic or sorcery. State and popular religion were clearly interrelated.

Egyptian history is vast, and it is tough to sum up all the possible information in one book. The author tried her best to do so. I like the detailed information on every topic. But a few pictures and content are repetitive. This book is lavishly illustrated with more than 750 photographs. I recommend this book, especially to all history lovers. It's a must-read.












No comments:

Post a Comment