Lyt når som helst, hvor som helst

Nyd den ubegrænsede adgang til tusindvis af spændende e- og lydbøger - helt gratis

  • Lyt og læs så meget du har lyst til
  • Opdag et kæmpe bibliotek fyldt med fortællinger
  • Eksklusive titler + Mofibo Originals
  • Opsig når som helst
Start tilbuddet
DK - Details page - Device banner - 894x1036

The Book of the Dead: The History and Legacy of Ancient Egypt’s Famous Funerary Texts

8 Anmeldelser

3.9

Længde
1T 31M
Sprog
Engelsk
Format
Kategori

Historie

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. The pyramids of Egypt are such recognizable symbols of antiquity that for millennia, people have made assumptions about what they are and why they exist, without full consideration of the various meanings these ancient symbolic structures have had over the centuries. Generations have viewed them as symbols of a lost past, which in turn is often portrayed as a world full of romance and mystery. This verbal meaning has become associated with the structures through the tourism industry, where intrigue obviously boosts ticket sales. In fact, the Egyptian pyramids are so old that they were also drawing tourists even in ancient times. In antiquity, the Great Pyramid of Giza was listed as one of Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, and it is the only one still surviving today.

The age and structural integrity of the pyramids also make them symbols of longevity and power, which is only fitting because those are two purposes the ancient pharaohs who commissioned these works intended them to serve. For the pharaohs, the construction of these large monuments presented an opportunity for them to showcase their influence and become something to be remembered by, both in the society they ruled and in the annals of history that would follow. Even as new dynasties came and went, and even as Egypt was subjected to foreign domination and rulers from across the world, the pyramids have continued to stand as a prominent testament to Ancient Egypt’s glorious past.

Though the ancient tombs have been extensively plundered, they still stand as gateways to the afterlife that provide a murky window into the past of a fascinating civilization. Most importantly, the relatively untouched tomb of the young King Tutankhamun offered clear insight. Many of the objects that were discovered in Tutankhamun’s tomb were clearly made specifically for him and his burial, such as the coffins, funerary masks, canopic equipment and statues. Other objects, such as the furniture, clothing, and chariots, were obviously items that had been used during Tutankhamun’s lifetime. The motifs found upon many of his possessions depicted him in triumph over his enemies. For example, a painted wooden chest bears a fine example of such a scene; the king is shown in his chariot, followed by his troops, attacking a group of Nubians. Scenes depicting aggression and triumph over Egypt’s enemies by Egypt’s king are classical examples of Egyptian kingship.

To accomplish all the necessities the Egyptians believed in, they relied on spells and invocations, which were collected in a series of funerary texts such as the Pyramid Texts. By the era of the New Kingdom, the most popular funerary text was The Book of the Dead, one of the most evocative titles of literature in the history of humankind. Its mystical writings offer a glimpse into a realm of magical thinking beyond the skills of most writers of fiction. Resplendent with highly accomplished artwork, The Book of the Dead has enraptured scholars and laymen for centuries. For that reason, it may surprise many that The Book of the Dead does not actually exist as a book. In fact, what is referred to as The Book of the Dead today is actually the accumulation of around 400 spells that exist in transliteration and translation from the whole gamut of Egyptian history.

© 2020 Charles River Editors (Lydbog): 9781987167740

Release date

Lydbog: 10. marts 2020

Andre kan også lide...

  1. The Umayyad Caliphate: The History and Legacy of the Second Islamic Kingdom Established After Muhammad’s Death Charles River Editors
  2. The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Papyrus of Ani in the British Museum E.A. Wallis Budge
  3. The Akkadian Empire: An Enthralling Overview of the Rise and Fall of the Akkadians Enthralling History
  4. Pagans: The End of Traditional Religion and the Rise of Christianity James J. O'Donnell
  5. Ancient Mesopotamia: A Captivating Introduction to the Rise and Fall of Mesopotamian Civilizations and Empires Captivating History
  6. The Ancient Canaanites: A Captivating Guide to the Canaanite Civilization that Dominated the Land of Canaan Before the Ancient Israelites Captivating History
  7. Antiquity: From the Birth of Sumerian Civilization to the Fall of the Roman Empire Norman F. Cantor
  8. The Babylonian Empire: An Enthralling Overview of Babylon and the Babylonians Enthralling History
  9. Ancient Civilizations: A Captivating Guide to the Ancient Canaanites, Hittites and Ancient Israel and Their Role in Biblical History Captivating History
  10. Introduction to the Celts Centre of Excellence
  11. The New Testament in Its World: Part 1: An Introduction to the History, Literature, and Theology of the First Christians N. T. Wright
  12. The Palestinian Delusion: The Catastrophic History of the Middle East Peace Process Robert Spencer
  13. Truth and Fiction in The Da Vinci Code Bart D. Ehrman
  14. History of Egypt: An Enthralling Overview of Egyptian History Enthralling History
  15. Deciphering Dante’s Divine Comedy: Love, Redemption, and Our Human Condition Alan Perry
  16. Egyptology Centre of Excellence
  17. Lost Islamic History: Reclaiming Muslim Civilisation from the Past Firas Alkhateeb
  18. The Bible Doesn't Say That: 40 Biblical Mistranslations, Misconceptions, and Other Misunderstandings Joel M. Hoffman
  19. James, the Brother of Jesus: The Key to Unlocking the Secrets of Early Christianity and the Dead Sea Scrolls Robert Eisenman
  20. Journeys to Heaven and Hell: Tours of the Afterlife in the Early Christian Tradition Bart D. Ehrman
  21. The Life of St. Augustine F. W. Farrar DD, FRS
  22. 2,000 Years of Papal History: The History of the Popes, the Papacy, and the Catholic Church John W. O'Malley
  23. The Church History Eusebius
  24. What Is America? Understanding the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution Jeffrey Sikkenga
  25. Christian and Islamic Theology: What Do Christians and Muslims Believe? Gabriel S. Reynolds
  26. Jesus Before the Gospels: How the Earliest Christians Remembered, Changed, and Invented Their Stories of the Savior Bart D. Ehrman
  27. When Did Jesus Become God?: A Christological Debate Bart D. Ehrman
  28. Vatican I: The Council and the Making of the Ultramontane Church John W. O’Malley
  29. The 10,000 Year Explosion: How Civilization Accelerated Human Evolution Gregory Cochran
  30. Written in Stone: A Journey Through the Stone Age and the Origins of Modern Language Christopher Stevens
  31. Botticelli's Secret: The Lost Drawings and the Rediscovery of the Renaissance Joseph Luzzi
  32. A People's History of the World: From the Stone Age to the New Millennium Chris Harman
  33. The Bible Unearthed: Archaeology’s New Vision of Ancient Israel and the Origin of Its Sacred Texts Israel Finkelstein
  34. Ancient Persia: An Enthralling Overview of the Achaemenid Persian Empire Enthralling History
  35. The Amorites: The History and Legacy of the Nomads Who Conquered Mesopotamia and Established the Babylonian Empire Charles River Editors
  36. Medieval Christianity: A New History Kevin Madigan
  37. Ancient Israel: A Captivating Guide to the Ancient Israelites, Starting From their Entry into Canaan Until the Jewish Rebellions against the Romans: A Captivating Guide to the Ancient Israelites, Starting From their Entry into Canaan Until the Jewish Rebellions against the Romans Captivating History
  38. Jesus: Apocalyptic Prophet of the New Millennium Bart D. Ehrman
  39. Ancient Mesopotamia: An Enthralling Overview of Mesopotamian History, Starting from Eridu through the Sumerians, Akkadians, Assyrians, Hittites, and Persians to Alexander the Great Enthralling History
  40. Hittites: A Captivating Guide to the Ancient Anatolian People Who Established the Hittite Empire in Ancient Mesopotamia Captivating History
  41. Did Jesus Exist?: The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth Bart D. Ehrman
  42. The Cambrian Period: The History and Legacy of the Start of Complex Life on Earth Charles River Editors

Vælg dit abonnement

  • Over 600.000 titler

  • Download og nyd titler offline

  • Eksklusive titler + Mofibo Originals

  • Børnevenligt miljø (Kids Mode)

  • Det er nemt at opsige når som helst

Flex

For dig som vil prøve Mofibo.

89 kr. /måned
  • 1 konto

  • 20 timer/måned

  • Gem op til 100 ubrugte timer

  • Eksklusivt indhold hver uge

  • Fri lytning til podcasts

  • Ingen binding

Prøv gratis
Den mest populære

Premium

For dig som lytter og læser ofte.

129 kr. /måned
  • 1 konto

  • 100 timer/måned

  • Eksklusivt indhold hver uge

  • Fri lytning til podcasts

  • Ingen binding

Start tilbuddet

Unlimited

For dig som lytter og læser ubegrænset.

149 kr. /måned
  • 1 konto

  • Ubegrænset adgang

  • Eksklusivt indhold hver uge

  • Fri lytning til podcasts

  • Ingen binding

Start tilbuddet

Family

For dig som ønsker at dele historier med familien.

Fra 179 kr. /måned
  • 2-6 konti

  • 100 timer/måned pr. konto

  • Fri lytning til podcasts

  • Kun 39 kr. pr. ekstra konto

  • Ingen binding

2 konti

179 kr. /måned
Start tilbuddet