The Gods of Ancient Egypt - Hardcover

Pascal Vernus

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1860642705 ISBN 13: 9781860642708

Publisher: Tauris Parke, 1998

Synopsis

An examination of the complex nature of ancient Egyptian divinity.

The civilization of ancient Egypt was suffused by the divine. Omnipresent, multi-formed, mysterious and inexhaustibly rich, the pantheon of deities dictated the essence of all aspects of life. The absolute pharaonic state's authority depended on the enduring and rigid hierarchy of the gods which supported it, and yet the Egyptian deities also influenced the existence of individual subjects during their everyday life and in their preparation for the afterlife.

This book explores the relations between the divine beings and their creation - man - in many forms: magic, oracles, amulets and superstition; the cult of sacred animals; survival in the afterlife through funerary ritual and observance; the myth of creation; the cult of the king; and other aspects of the divine.

The book includes colour photographs of representations of the gods across three millennia. The photographs of sculptures and paintings from antiquities collections around the world reflect the diversity and beauty of the Egyptian pantheon and explain the continuing fascination that ancient Egypt holds today.

About this title

About the Author

Pascal Vernus is a director of studies at l'Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes and also chairman of the Egyptian linguistics and philology division. He was formerly a fellow at i'Institut Francais d'Archeologie Orientale in Cairo.

One of the most renowned art photographers, Erich Lessing has been a member of the prestigious photo journalism agency Magnum since 1951. His work has received numerous awards including the American Art Directors' Award and the French Prix Nadar.

Edition details

• Publisher: Tauris Parke
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1860642705
• ISBN 13: 9781860642708
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224