The book presents in depth histories of the cults of seven major goddesses and many excerpts from their literature--hymns, prayers, and magical spells as well as descriptions of ritual, temples and clergy.

First published in 2005. Written by eminent Egyptologist, E.A. Wallis Budge, this work addresses Egyptian religion and mythology in all of its manifestations, from times when earth, sea air and shy were filled with hostile spirits and men lived in terror of the Evil Eye, to the moment when Egyptians hailed Amen-Ra as their one god. Topics include the predynastic cults, magic, gods (cosmic, stellar, borrowed and foreign), Memphite theology, judgement of the dead, and the underworld. Important hymns and legends, in English translation are included.

La 4e de couverture indique : "The Eye of Ra is a title of many ancient Egyptian Goddesses. The Eye of Ra protects Ra and all of Egypt from enemies. The Eye of Ra is a solar goddess associated with the cycles of the sun, solar eclipses, the star Sirius, Venus, the Morning Star, and the full moon. All the Eye goddesses are associated with solar rays, flame and starlight-in both restorative and destructive capacities. The Eye Goddesses are associated with snakes, cobras, lionesses, leopards and cats."

Investigating the history behind color as a method of gender differentiation in ancient Greek and Egyptian art

This collection of accessible essays relates the stories of individual goddesses from around the world, exploring their roles in the cultures from which they came, their histories and status today, and the controversies surrounding them. Goddesses in World Culture brings readers the fascinating stories of close to 100 of the world's goddesses, ranging from the immediately recognizable to the obscure. These figures, many of whom derive from ancient cultures and civilizations, serve as points of departure for examining questions that go well beyond the role of women in religion and spirituality to include social organization, environmental awareness, historical developments, and psychological archetypes. Each volume of this groundbreaking set is composed of 20–25 previously unpublished articles written by expert contributors from diverse disciplines. Volume one covers Asia and Africa, volume two covers the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe, and volume three covers Australia and the Americas. Goddesses from cultures often overlooked in texts on religion, such as those of the Australian Aborigines, Korea, Nepal, and the Caribbean, are included here. In addition, the work offers new translations of ancient texts, introduces little-known folklore, and suggests new approaches to contemporary religious practices.

Spanning ancient Egyptian culture--from 3200 BC to AD 400--Pinch opens a door to this hidden world and casts light on the nature of myths and how they relate to the evolution of Egyptian culture. She includes a timeline covering the seven stages in the mythical history of Egypt and outlining the major events of each stage. A substantial A to Z section covers the principal themes and concepts of Egyptian mythology as well as the most important deities, demons, and other characters. This is an ideal introduction for students interested in learning about Egyptian myths, and the culture that created them.

A devotee of Hat-hor'¦ 'More than forty years passed between my initial encounter with Hat-hor's name and my first devotions to the goddess. It was a long time. My first thought is that, for most of this period, I was not so much stepping to meet Hat-hor as dawdling on the way.' A religion for the modern world'¦ 'The concept of ma'at also translates readily into the field of ecology. Ecological balance is a matter of balance between species, and between those species and the environments in which they live. This clearly has a kinship with the balance between the stars, which is most certainly a matter of ma'at. Ecology is not, in itself, an ancient Egyptian concept, but the way in which it slots so readily into Kemetic ideas demonstrates how adaptable those conceptions are. It may also form another example of the ease with which Kemetic religion fits with rationalism.'

Spanning ancient Egyptian culture (ca. 3200 B.C.E. to C.E. 400), the Handbook of Egyptian Mythology is the only complete survey of Egyptian mythology of its kind available in English. In this comprehensive introduction to Egyptian mythology, author Geraldine Pinch shows how the mythology of Ancient Egypt must be pieced together from a variety of written and visual sources. Relationships between deities changed, and the Egyptian myths were never gathered by priests into an "authorized version." Handbook of Egyptian Mythology provides a brief discussion about the nature of myths; the concept of time in Egyptian mythology; a historical overview of the sources of Egyptian myth; and a dictionary of deities, themes, and concepts, which concentrates on the prominent gods and goddesses in Egyptian myth. The book also includes references to general works on Egyptian culture, religion, and myth; translations of ancient texts; and a selection of literature influenced by Egyptian myth.

Written by specialists in the field of Egyptology, this book is a readable introduction to ancient Egypt, covering all anticipated subjects and stressing the monuments and material culture of this remarkable ancient civilization. The rich natural resources of ancient Egypt provided a wealth of raw material for its structures, sculptures, and art, while its geographic isolation helped to ensure the survival of its rich culture for centuries. While other references focus on the people and battles central to Egyptian history, this reference explores the material culture and social institutions of ancient Egypt. The book focuses on pharaonic Egypt, covering the period from roughly 5000 BCE to the beginning of the Greco-Roman Period in 320 BCE. At the front of the work, a timeline provides a quick look at the major events in Egyptian history, and an introduction surveys ancient Egypt's physical geography and history. Alphabetically arranged reference entries written by expert contributors then provide fundamental information about the buildings, jewelry, social practices, and other topics related to the material culture and institutions that made up the Egyptian world. Excerpts from primary source historical documents provide evidence for what we know about ancient Egyptian culture, and suggestions for further reading direct users to additional sources of information.