Ra: the History and Legacy of the Ancient Egyptian God of the Sun

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781727895636
Total Pages : 88 pages
Book Rating : 4.30/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Ra: the History and Legacy of the Ancient Egyptian God of the Sun by : Charles River Charles River Editors

Download or read book Ra: the History and Legacy of the Ancient Egyptian God of the Sun written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by . This book was released on 2018-10-17 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures *Includes ancient accounts *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading Africa may have given rise to the first human beings, and Egypt probably gave rise to the first great civilizations, which continue to fascinate modern societies across the globe nearly 5,000 years later. From the Library and Lighthouse of Alexandria to the Great Pyramid at Giza, the Ancient Egyptians produced several wonders of the world, revolutionized architecture and construction, created some of the world's first systems of mathematics and medicine, and established language and art that spread across the known world. With world-famous leaders like King Tut and Cleopatra, it's no wonder that today's world has so many Egyptologists. Although the Egyptians may not have passed their civilization directly on to later peoples, the key elements that comprised Egyptian civilization, including their religion, early ideas of state, and art and architecture, can be found among other civilizations. For instance, civilizations far separated in time and space, such as China and Mesoamerica, possessed key elements that were similar to those found in ancient Egypt. Indeed, since Egyptian civilization represented some fundamental human concepts, a study of their culture can be useful when trying to understand many other pre-modern cultures. To the ancient Egyptians, as was the case with any society made up of inquiring humans, the world was a confusing and often terrifying place of destruction, death and unexplained phenomena. In order to make sense of such an existence, they resorted to teleological stories. Giving a phenomenon a story made it less horrifying, and it also helped them make sense of the world around them. Unsurprisingly, then, the ancient Egyptian gods permeated every aspect of existence. Given the abundance of funerary artifacts that have been found within the sands of Egypt, it sometimes seems as though the Ancient Egyptians were more concerned with the matters of the afterlife than they were with matters of the life they experienced from day to day. This is underscored most prominently by the pyramids, which have captured the world's imagination for centuries. Ra's name was all but ubiquitous in ancient Egyptian texts, to the point that many people today have come across it in history classes. Amun-Ra, Atum-Ra, and Ra-Harakhti have been used in modern cinema and literature for decades, yet isolating "Ra" as a single character, for all its preeminence in the concept of Egyptian mythology, is frustratingly difficult. People familiar with Egyptian mythology know Ra as a sun god, which would seem to explain Ra's centrality in ancient Egyptian religion, but there is so much more to his being a solar entity than a simple manifestation of this awe-inspiring, daily phenomenon for early humans. Ra was a king and tyrant, a lover and friend. It is only through the understanding of this deity as such that people today can fully appreciate the richness of his character and the roles he played in ancient Egyptian religious thought. Ra: The History and Legacy of the Ancient Egyptian God of the Sun looks at the god that had such a decisive impact on the Egyptians' concepts of life. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about Ra like never before.

Anubis

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Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN 13 : 9781727530650
Total Pages : 94 pages
Book Rating : 4.59/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Anubis by : Charles River Charles River Editors

Download or read book Anubis written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-09-25 with total page 94 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures *Includes ancient accounts *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading "When Nephthys gave birth to Anubis, Isis treated the child as if it were her own; for Nephthys is that which is beneath the earth and invisible, Isis that which is above the earth and visible; and the circle which touches these, called the horizon, being common to both, has received the name Anubis, and is represented in form like a dog; for the dog can see with his eyes both by night and by day alike." To the ancient Egyptians, as was the case with any society made up of inquiring humans, the world was a confusing and often terrifying place of destruction, death and unexplained phenomena. In order to make sense of such an existence, they resorted to teleological stories. Giving a phenomenon a story made it less horrifying, and it also helped them make sense of the world around them. Unsurprisingly, then, the ancient Egyptian gods permeated every aspect of existence. Given the abundance of funerary artifacts that have been found within the sands of Egypt, it sometimes seems as though the Ancient Egyptians were more concerned with the matters of the afterlife than they were with matters of the life they experienced from day to day. This is underscored most prominently by the pyramids, which have captured the world's imagination for centuries. Thus, it's little surprise that Anubis was one of the most important gods in the Egyptian pantheon. The image of Anubis, with his jet-black jackal's head downturned in merciless judgment, continues to inspire artists and neo-Pagans today. There is something about this somber figure that has made him stand the test of time and allowed him to survive while so many gods and goddesses have fallen from memory in the wake of newer religions that are aided by a more interconnected world. Perhaps it is because Anubis is associated with death, or maybe it's because the lack of references to him in Egypt's literary and archaeological record invites multiple interpretations. It also may be due to his appearances in the most emotive works of ancient Egyptian art, notably the vignettes from tombs depicting the mysterious journey of the dead, which beckon viewers to imagine an unearthly, poetic view of death so far removed from modern conceptions. In a sense, Anubis is both awful and majestic. To the ancient Egyptians, however, Anubis evolved over millennia, and even though his image may strike fear into modern hearts, in ancient times, his appearance was somewhat comforting to those who feared the invisible spirits inhabiting all things beside the Nile. Just as the dog is today a figure of protection against violence and trespass, so too was Anubis a figure whose fearsome aspect was a source of comfort for those following the code of their religion, ensuring their piety would be defendable in the Hall of Justice at the end of their lives. How his image was taken up by later cultures, ones who were not acolytes of the ancient Egyptian religion, is fascinating and a testament to human imagination. Anubis: The History and Legacy of the Ancient Egyptian God of the Afterlife looks at the god that had such a decisive impact on the Egyptians' concepts of death and afterlife. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about Anubis like never before.

Osiris

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Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN 13 : 9781717079206
Total Pages : 74 pages
Book Rating : 4.02/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Osiris by : Charles River Charles River Editors

Download or read book Osiris written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-04-18 with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures *Includes ancient accounts *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading To the ancient Egyptians, as was the case with any society made up of inquiring humans, the world was a confusing and often terrifying place of destruction, death and unexplained phenomena. In order to make sense of such an existence, they resorted to teleological stories. Giving a phenomenon a story made it less horrifying, and it also helped them make sense of the world around them. Unsurprisingly, then, the ancient Egyptian gods permeated every aspect of existence. Given the abundance of funerary artifacts that have been found within the sands of Egypt, it sometimes seems as though the Ancient Egyptians were more concerned with the matters of the afterlife than they were with matters of the life they experienced from day to day. This is underscored most prominently by the pyramids, which have captured the world's imagination for centuries. Thus, it's little surprise that Osiris was one of the most important gods in the Egyptian pantheon, and he could well be the most famous of the Egyptian gods today. Aside from the ubiquity of the sun-god Re in much of modern popular culture, it is Osiris who captivates the minds of modern readers most. His story is both familiar and strangely alien. He is the god of the dead, but he became so by the very fact of his mortality. All the gods of ancient Egypt were capable of dying, but Osiris was also a symbol of resurrection, not unlike Christ in Christian theology. Osiris was betrayed by somebody close to him (in this case, his brother Seth) and was murdered and reborn, but here is where Osiris and Christ part ways. Osiris's death is brutal, and his resurrection is the product of his wife Isis's love for him. Furthermore, Osiris was associated with the kings of Egypt because the Egyptians believed he was a king himself. The ancient Egyptians could trace their kings back, one by one, to a time when the gods were believed to have ruled the land in person. Osiris was the third or fourth successor to the Egyptian throne after creation, and the Egyptians believed that Osiris's connection with kingship is what allowed their kings to be reborn in a way themselves. He was also said to be physically enormous - almost 15 and a half feet according to some sources - which was said to have aided him in his military campaigns. Despite his grotesque appearance - it's likely that his green and black skin coloration was an early attempt at depicting putrefaction - Osiris was the epitome of hope and renewal. His skin later came to represent the lush green of the crops around the Nile and the fertile black land they grew out of nearby. He was often shown as a mummified king sitting on a throne with the flail of a pharaoh and the crook of a shepherd, since he was the shepherd of people to the land of the dead, Duat. In fact, although Osiris was said to be capable of sending "demons" to the world of the living, he was generally considered to be a benevolent king of the underworld. Depending on the phenomenon or feeling the ancient Egyptians experienced, there was a corresponding deity and a story to explain the connection. Acclaimed Egyptologist Garry Shaw described this ethos an "an endless repetition of creations, destructions and rebirths, entangled in a net of divine interactions ... each person [living] as the hero of his own mythic narrative each day." In this way, the ancient Egyptian would "assimilate" themselves with the corresponding deity that defined their situation at any given time. Osiris: The History and Legacy of the Ancient Egyptian God of the Dead looks at the mythology surrounding one of antiquity's most famous deities. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about Osiris like never before.

Thoth

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Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN 13 : 9781722658519
Total Pages : 94 pages
Book Rating : 4.17/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Thoth by : Charles River Charles River Editors

Download or read book Thoth written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-07-08 with total page 94 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures *Includes ancient accounts *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading "Thus says Thoth, judge of truth, to the Great Ennead which is in the presence of Osiris: Hear this word of very truth. I have judged the heart of the deceased and his soul stands as a witness for him. His deeds are righteous in the great balance, and no sin has been found in him..." Africa may have given rise to the first human beings, and Egypt probably gave rise to the first great civilizations, which continue to fascinate modern societies across the globe nearly 5,000 years later. From the Library and Lighthouse of Alexandria to the Great Pyramid at Giza, the Ancient Egyptians produced several wonders of the world, revolutionized architecture and construction, created some of the world's first systems of mathematics and medicine, and established language and art that spread across the known world. With world-famous leaders like King Tut and Cleopatra, it's no wonder that today's world has so many Egyptologists. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of ancient Egyptian civilization was its inception from the ground up, as the ancient Egyptians had no prior civilization which they could use as a template. In fact, ancient Egypt itself became a template for the civilizations that followed. The Greeks and the Romans were so impressed with Egyptian culture that they often attributed many attributes of their own culture - usually erroneously - to the Egyptians. To the ancient Egyptians, as was the case with any society made up of inquiring humans, the world was a confusing and often terrifying place of destruction, death and unexplained phenomena. In order to make sense of such an existence, they resorted to teleological stories. Giving a phenomenon a story made it less horrifying, and it also helped them make sense of the world around them. Unsurprisingly, then, the ancient Egyptian gods permeated every aspect of existence. Baboons held a prestigious place in Egyptian religion. They were kept as sacred animals in many temples because contemporary Egyptians considered them the original religious observers, particularly with respect to the sun god Re. Ancient Egyptians took the wild baboons stretching on their hind legs, forelegs raised to the sky, to be an oration to the sun god at dawn. Furthermore, these ancient ancestors of the land of Egypt were greeted at dawn by the concatenations of the baboons nattering, which the religious-minded took to be an early-morning devotion and even believed that the baboons spoke the original language of religion, and a claim they could understand baboons was often one asserted by certain members of the priestly class. However, it is his association with the ibis that most defines Thoth's visual imagery. Since the ancient Egyptians believed that the universe arose from the swamp-like waters of Nun, it was the water bird that garnered the most prestigious veneration. Birds like geese, herons and the ibises were associated with this period of creation, and, according to some beliefs, the world came about thanks to the great "honk" of a primordial goose, whose eggshell was said to be preserved in the temple of Thoth. It was believed that Re created Thoth's baboon form to be that of his "shining moon," but his ibis form was that of a messenger between heaven and earth (although he was much more than this). Thoth: The History and Legacy of the Ancient Egyptian God Who Maintains the Universe looks at the mythology surrounding one of antiquity's most famous deities. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about Thoth like never before.

Seth

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Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN 13 : 9781720605065
Total Pages : 40 pages
Book Rating : 4.68/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Seth by : Charles River Charles River Editors

Download or read book Seth written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-06 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures *Includes ancient accounts *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading "On the third day Typhon [Seth] was born, but not in due season or manner, but with a blow he broke through his mother's side and leapt forth ... For this reason the kings considered the third of the intercalated days as inauspicious, and transacted no business on that day, nor did they give any attention to their bodies until nightfall." - Plutarch, On Isis and Osiris Africa may have given rise to the first human beings, and Egypt probably gave rise to the first great civilizations, which continue to fascinate modern societies across the globe nearly 5,000 years later. From the Library and Lighthouse of Alexandria to the Great Pyramid at Giza, the Ancient Egyptians produced several wonders of the world, revolutionized architecture and construction, created some of the world's first systems of mathematics and medicine, and established language and art that spread across the known world. With world-famous leaders like King Tut and Cleopatra, it's no wonder that today's world has so many Egyptologists. To the ancient Egyptians, as was the case with any society made up of inquiring humans, the world was a confusing and often terrifying place of destruction, death and unexplained phenomena. In order to make sense of such an existence, they resorted to teleological stories. Giving a phenomenon a story made it less horrifying, and it also helped them make sense of the world around them. Unsurprisingly, then, the ancient Egyptian gods permeated every aspect of existence. In the first dynastic period there is a symbolic depiction of the earliest form of kingship. The symbol consisted of the "Two Ladies and Two Lords." The Ladies were the goddesses Nekhbet and Wadjyt, who represented the Upper and Lower kingdoms of Egypt, each with her crown of either White or Red; the Two Lords were the conflicting gods Horus and Seth. The contention between these two gods was transmuted into real-world conflict when, during the Second Dynasty, king Peribsen chose to put the mysterious "Seth Animal" above his name, thus favoring one of the "Two Lords" over the other. Peribsen kept this close association with Seth, betraying the earlier kingly association with Horus, until king Khasekhemwy dethroned him and placed both gods" animals above his own name and declared "the Two Lords are at rest." The modern historian Geraldine Pinch suggests that this is a very early example of the Egyptians" tendency to mythologize their real-world conflicts, a trait the Egyptians would continue well into their long history. It's true that the vast history of Egypt can only be given a cursory view at any one time, but, in the case of its myths, just enough to contextualize the story can be sufficient to understand the progression of a deity like Seth through the millennia. In fact, the development of Seth's character throughout history is possibly one of the most fascinating and divisive among the Egyptian deities. Beginning as one of the "Two Lords" Seth's pre-eminence among the gods continues well into the later dynasties as he never loses his place among the principal nine deities, known as the Ennead, despite his nefarious dealings with his brother, Osiris, his sister and sister-in-law, Isis, and his nephew, their son, Horus. At first glance it is easy to see how Seth came to be vilified as a kind of "demon" or "devil" but, with an understanding of the belief structure he was born out of, modern readers can see that this divisive god was much more complex than a mere "adversary." Seth: The History and Legacy of the Ancient Egyptian God Who Killed Osiris to Usurp the Throne looks at the mythology surrounding one of antiquity's most famous deities. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about Seth like never before.

Isis

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Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN 13 : 9781719092838
Total Pages : 80 pages
Book Rating : 4.34/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Isis by : Charles River Charles River Editors

Download or read book Isis written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-05-14 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures *Includes ancient accounts *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading Africa may have given rise to the first human beings, and Egypt probably gave rise to the first great civilizations, which continue to fascinate modern societies across the globe nearly 5,000 years later. From the Library and Lighthouse of Alexandria to the Great Pyramid at Giza, the Ancient Egyptians produced several wonders of the world, revolutionized architecture and construction, created some of the world's first systems of mathematics and medicine, and established language and art that spread across the known world. With world-famous leaders like King Tut and Cleopatra, it's no wonder that today's world has so many Egyptologists. To the ancient Egyptians, as was the case with any society made up of inquiring humans, the world was a confusing and often terrifying place of destruction, death and unexplained phenomena. In order to make sense of such an existence, they resorted to teleological stories. Giving a phenomenon a story made it less horrifying, and it also helped them make sense of the world around them. Unsurprisingly, then, the ancient Egyptian gods permeated every aspect of existence. Isis first appears during the period of Old Kingdom (ca. 2660-2190 BCE) but only later does she take on her most famous role of being a sister-wife of Osiris. Originally, she is simply the mother of Horus and the details surrounding his conception are more obscure. Her absence in the original myths about Osiris is confirmed by the fact that her appearances at Abydos, a famous cult center of Osiris, are scarce until the New Kingdom (ca. 1549-1069 BCE). In fact, Isis had no known cult center throughout the majority of ancient Egyptian dynastic history, though it didn't seem to have a negative effect on her worship. Isis was one of the nine principal deities of the Egyptian pantheon called the Ennead and her hieroglyph was the throne, a glyph that would later connect her with Osiris, whose hieroglyph was a throne and an eye, and royalty in general. In fact, as the goddess of the throne, she came to represent the "mother" of all the kings of Egypt. Regardless of her royal attributes, however, Isis was fundamentally a healer and a peacemaker. Nevertheless, as time went on and Egypt became more influenced by the outside world, Greece and Rome in particular, Isis came to be seen as the wrathful protector of Egypt and its kings. According to the sources, she was "cleverer than millions of gods" and more capable of protecting the country than "millions of soldiers." What is most fascinating about Isis is the agency she has in her myths, particularly the most famous, that of the death and rebirth cycle of Osiris. In this myth she even demonstrates traits of the female trickster, which is considerably less common in world mythology than the male equivalent. According to one New Kingdom source, Isis transformed herself into an old woman in order to fool the divine ferryman between the worlds of the living and the dead, and she also turned herself into a young woman in order to get Seth to admit that his claim for power was unjust. All the while, she created cultural and geographical mainstays - such as the Nile - while being worshipped as a helper goddess. It is curious that, until the 30th Dynasty, Isis was worshipped in the temples of other gods as she did not have a dedicated cult center of her own. During the 30th Dynasty, this changed with two large temples built in her honor in the Nile Delta. Later on, the Ptolemaic and Roman rulers of Egypt would develop these sites and her worship would outlive the draconian abolishment of pagan religion in Egypt and would even be transported out of Egypt as Isis was revered and worshipped at the farthest reaches of the Roman Empire.

Egyptian Mythology: Explore The Mysterious Ancient Civilisation of Egypt, The Myths, Legends, History, Gods, Goddesses & More That Have Fascinated Mankind For Centuries

Download Egyptian Mythology: Explore The Mysterious Ancient Civilisation of Egypt, The Myths, Legends, History, Gods, Goddesses & More That Have Fascinated Mankind For Centuries PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Sofia Visconti
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Egyptian Mythology: Explore The Mysterious Ancient Civilisation of Egypt, The Myths, Legends, History, Gods, Goddesses & More That Have Fascinated Mankind For Centuries by : Sofia Visconti

Download or read book Egyptian Mythology: Explore The Mysterious Ancient Civilisation of Egypt, The Myths, Legends, History, Gods, Goddesses & More That Have Fascinated Mankind For Centuries written by Sofia Visconti and published by Sofia Visconti. This book was released on with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drama, death, glory and love flowed through the blood of the Egyptians under the watchful eyes of their Gods & Goddesses... Ancient Egypt was one of the greatest & most powerful civilizations in the world ever And of all ancient civilizations, Egyptians rule supreme when it comes to mystery and fantasy...From the lavish colors of their papyruses to how they mastered building technology thousands of years before anyone else, and to the legends surrounding the lives and deaths of their kings. Egyptians are an eternal source of awe. Not only did they know how to build great structures, they also knew how to have fun. They loved beer and board games, they used makeup, and they allowed women more freedom than many other women in the ancient world. You see, Game of Thrones has nothing on the intricacies, wars, and battles Egyptian dynasties fought for thousands of years. Ancient Egypt has it all: drama, love stories, myths, massive buildings, death, destruction and pain. Let’s listen to them and explore their timeless stories! All of this and much more including: The Timeline Of Ancient Egypt: The Rise & The Fall Discover The Gods & Goddesses of Ancient Egypt + Their Classic Stories The Mystery & Miracle of How The Pyramids Were Built (was it aliens? or astronomy?) Cleopatra's Legacy: The Most Famous Pharaoh & Femme Fatale The Afterlife, Burials, Tombs & How An Ancient Egyptian Mummy Was Made Isis & Osiris: The Greatest Love Story of All Time The Mummy Curse - What Killed People Who Opened King Tut’s Tomb? Decoding The Secrets Of Egyptian Hieroglyphs Interesting Facts About Egyptian Culture: Art, Music, & Literature Ra, The Sun God of Ancient Egypt: Facts, Symbol & Powers - And much, much more... This book will fuel your appetite for all the amazing (and perhaps frightening) things Ancient Egyptians were and did. Begin your journey of discovering not only Ancient Egypt but also it’s legends, mythology and much more with this book.

Egyptian Gods & Goddesses

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Author :
Publisher : The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc
ISBN 13 : 1622751558
Total Pages : 109 pages
Book Rating : 4.56/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Egyptian Gods & Goddesses by : Johnathan Deaver

Download or read book Egyptian Gods & Goddesses written by Johnathan Deaver and published by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. This book was released on 1900-01-01 with total page 109 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Gods and goddesses—in human, animal, and other forms—were central to the ancient Egyptian way of life. Identified with the natural world, daily living, and the afterlife, they maintained order and prevented chaos from permeating the human world. The figures documented in ancient hieroglyphics are given dimension in this absorbing volume, which examines the characteristics and significance of many of the Egyptian gods and goddesses and also looks at related topics such as ancient symbols and the influence of Egyptian mythology on other cultures and belief systems.

Osiris

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Author :
Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN 13 : 9781717079190
Total Pages : 42 pages
Book Rating : 4.99/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Osiris by : Charles River Charles River Editors

Download or read book Osiris written by Charles River Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-04-18 with total page 42 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures *Includes ancient accounts *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading To the ancient Egyptians, as was the case with any society made up of inquiring humans, the world was a confusing and often terrifying place of destruction, death and unexplained phenomena. In order to make sense of such an existence, they resorted to teleological stories. Giving a phenomenon a story made it less horrifying, and it also helped them make sense of the world around them. Unsurprisingly, then, the ancient Egyptian gods permeated every aspect of existence. Given the abundance of funerary artifacts that have been found within the sands of Egypt, it sometimes seems as though the Ancient Egyptians were more concerned with the matters of the afterlife than they were with matters of the life they experienced from day to day. This is underscored most prominently by the pyramids, which have captured the world's imagination for centuries. Thus, it's little surprise that Osiris was one of the most important gods in the Egyptian pantheon, and he could well be the most famous of the Egyptian gods today. Aside from the ubiquity of the sun-god Re in much of modern popular culture, it is Osiris who captivates the minds of modern readers most. His story is both familiar and strangely alien. He is the god of the dead, but he became so by the very fact of his mortality. All the gods of ancient Egypt were capable of dying, but Osiris was also a symbol of resurrection, not unlike Christ in Christian theology. Osiris was betrayed by somebody close to him (in this case, his brother Seth) and was murdered and reborn, but here is where Osiris and Christ part ways. Osiris's death is brutal, and his resurrection is the product of his wife Isis's love for him. Furthermore, Osiris was associated with the kings of Egypt because the Egyptians believed he was a king himself. The ancient Egyptians could trace their kings back, one by one, to a time when the gods were believed to have ruled the land in person. Osiris was the third or fourth successor to the Egyptian throne after creation, and the Egyptians believed that Osiris's connection with kingship is what allowed their kings to be reborn in a way themselves. He was also said to be physically enormous - almost 15 and a half feet according to some sources - which was said to have aided him in his military campaigns. Despite his grotesque appearance - it's likely that his green and black skin coloration was an early attempt at depicting putrefaction - Osiris was the epitome of hope and renewal. His skin later came to represent the lush green of the crops around the Nile and the fertile black land they grew out of nearby. He was often shown as a mummified king sitting on a throne with the flail of a pharaoh and the crook of a shepherd, since he was the shepherd of people to the land of the dead, Duat. In fact, although Osiris was said to be capable of sending "demons" to the world of the living, he was generally considered to be a benevolent king of the underworld. Depending on the phenomenon or feeling the ancient Egyptians experienced, there was a corresponding deity and a story to explain the connection. Acclaimed Egyptologist Garry Shaw described this ethos an "an endless repetition of creations, destructions and rebirths, entangled in a net of divine interactions ... each person [living] as the hero of his own mythic narrative each day." In this way, the ancient Egyptian would "assimilate" themselves with the corresponding deity that defined their situation at any given time. Osiris: The History and Legacy of the Ancient Egyptian God of the Dead looks at the mythology surrounding one of antiquity's most famous deities. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about Osiris like never before.

Art of Ancient Egypt

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Author :
Publisher : Metropolitan Museum of Art
ISBN 13 : 0870998536
Total Pages : 185 pages
Book Rating : 4.39/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Art of Ancient Egypt by : Edith Whitney Watts

Download or read book Art of Ancient Egypt written by Edith Whitney Watts and published by Metropolitan Museum of Art. This book was released on 1998 with total page 185 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "[A] comprehensive resource, which contains texts, posters, slides, and other materials about outstanding works of Egyptian art from the Museum's collection"--Welcome (preliminary page).