The Egyptian Book of the Dead : the papyrus of Ani

by Sir E. A. Wallis Budge

Paper Book, 1967

Status

Available

Call number

299.31

Collection

Publication

Dover, 1967.

Description

For the first time in 3,300 years,The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day: The Papyrus of Ani is showcased in its entirety in seventy-four magnificent color pages. Maybe the most stunning presentation of this book in 3300 years: Upon death, it was the practice for some Egyptians to produce a papyrus manuscript called theBook of Going Forth by Day or theBook of the Dead. ABook of the Dead included declarations and spells to help the deceased in the afterlife. ThePapyrus of Ani is the manuscript compiled for Ani, the royal scribe of Thebes. Written and illustrated almost 3,300 years ago,The Papyrus of Ani is a papyrus manuscript with cursive hieroglyphs and color illustrations.It is the most beautiful, best-preserved, and complete example of ancient Egyptian philosophical and religious thought known to exist. The Egyptian Book of the Dead is an integral part of the world's spiritual heritage. It is an artistic rendering of the mysteries of life and death. For the first time since its creation, this ancient papyrus is now available in full color with an integrated English translation directly below each image.This twentieth-anniversary edition ofThe Egyptian Book of the Dead has been revised and expanded to include: Significant improvements to the display of the images of the Papyrus. A survey of the continuing importance of ancient Egypt in modern culture. A detailed history of Egyptian translation and philology since the discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799. And, a state-of-the-art Annotated Bibliography and Study Guide for Ancient Egyptian studies. As the third revised edition, the entire corpus of this critical work is given its most accessible and lavish presentation ever. Includes a detailed history of Egyptian scholarship, an annotated bibliography and study guide, and several improvements to the color plates. Makes an excellent gift for people interested in world history and ancient religions.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Cynara
Just to set a few things straight: 1) this is Faulkner's translation, not Budge's. 2) Some of these might have been spoken as incantations - but we don't know. The texts grouped into the Book of the Dead were meant to protect the person in the afterlife by their very presence. 3) My copy doesn't
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have a jewel, but there you go.

This is, however, a truly gorgeous and fascinating book, remarkable for having the English translation running below photographs of the glorious Papyrus of Ani. The texts themselves are obscure and weird even to many Egyptologists, but there's a lot to learn here, and some beautiful poetry.
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LibraryThing member dogrover
There is no authoritative version of the Book of Going Forth by Day (the more accurate translation of what is best known as the Book of the Dead). This presentation of the most beautiful and lengthy papyrus (the Papyrus of Ani), is lushly illustrated and extensively annotated.The original,
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illuminated manuscript is presented in full color on each page, with the modern English translation below. A couple of four-page pull-outs present larger sections in great detail, and there are many, many explanatory notes.
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LibraryThing member seshet
Designed for the lay person, this book is nearly a work of art in itself which ought to thrill even a professional. It features king Tut jewelry and artifacts throughout, along with papyri and artifacts from other sources, to illustrate the many chapters of the ancient journey into the afterlife. A
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fake red jewel on the cover sets into a raised glossy repro of Tut's winged scarab on a black gloss and matt ground of hieroglyphs. Those embellishments make reading it feel like a magic ritual.

This is such a great time to be alive with fancy glossy books available for the masses produced by Barnes and Noble. To get such a book in their bargain books section for under $20 is astonishing. There is some consumer value after all to large corporations. When I was in college studying art history any colored art picture books costed way more [and especially valued more at 1960s dollars] for much less opulence.
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LibraryThing member kislam
It is a shame that it can be so hard to find translations of the Book of Going Forth By Day by anyone other than Budge. I was especially disappointed to find a lack of any such ebooks, although the Budge translation abounds (and I do own a copy on my Kindle, mostly for completeness with my Budge
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library). However, Budge's translation is known not to be the most accurate translation out there.Enter Faulkner's translation. Gorgeously illustrated with portions of several papyri from the British Museum collection, including examples in both hieroglyphics and hieratics, with an excellent introduction and notes of historical interest in the development of the book from the earliest onset of the cult of Osiris (and before, touching on the Pyramid Texts). The book arranges the spells mostly in order, however, the crucial spell 30B (the judgement of the dead) is listed first, followed by spell 125, a declaration of innocence.For anyone interested in classical history, this book is definitely a welcome addition.
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LibraryThing member kislam
It is a shame that it can be so hard to find translations of the Book of Going Forth By Day by anyone other than Budge. I was especially disappointed to find a lack of any such ebooks, although the Budge translation abounds (and I do own a copy on my Kindle, mostly for completeness with my Budge
Show More
library). However, Budge's translation is known not to be the most accurate translation out there.Enter Faulkner's translation. Gorgeously illustrated with portions of several papyri from the British Museum collection, including examples in both hieroglyphics and hieratics, with an excellent introduction and notes of historical interest in the development of the book from the earliest onset of the cult of Osiris (and before, touching on the Pyramid Texts). The book arranges the spells mostly in order, however, the crucial spell 30B (the judgement of the dead) is listed first, followed by spell 125, a declaration of innocence.For anyone interested in classical history, this book is definitely a welcome addition.
Show Less
LibraryThing member benuathanasia
Dense and boring. The pictures were wonderful though.
LibraryThing member Flameater
Mystical. Need to be re-read.

Language

Original publication date

ca. 1500 BC
1895 (English: E.A. Wallis Budge)

ISBN

048621866X / 9780486218663

Local notes

DAK

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