Egyptian Myth: A Very Short Introduction

The complex world of Egyptian myth is illuminated in this new approach to ancient Egypt. Geraldine Pinch explores the cultural and historical background behind a wide variety of sources and objects, from Cleopatra's Needle and Tutankhamun's golden statue, to a story on papyrus of the gods misbehaving. What did they mean, and how have they been interpreted? The reader is taken on a journey through the distant past, and shown how myths of deities such as Isis and Osiris influenced contemporary culture and have become part of our cultural heritage.
Egyptian art, literature and architecture all widely feature representations and scenes from Egyptian mythology and cosmology. This short introduction to Egyptian myth looks at concepts of what myths were, how they were used in Egyptian culture and how influential they became in society as a whole. Here we are introduced to the major deities and their world, to the rituals ascribed to them and how they figured iin contemporary culture. Each theme is formed around a central artefact such as Cleopatra's Needle, or a particular sculpture or stele.
Egyptian art, literature and architecture all widely feature representations and scenes from Egyptian mythology and cosmology. This short introduction to Egyptian myth looks at concepts of what myths were, how they were used in Egyptian culture and how influential they became in society as a whole.
Egyptian myths articulated the core values of one of the longest lasting civilizations in history, and myths of deities such as Isis and Osiris influenced contemporary cultures and became part of the Western cultural heritage. Egyptian Mythology: A Very Short Introduction explains the cultural and historical background to the fascinating and complex world of Egyptian myth, with each chapter dealing with a particular theme.To show the variety of source material for Egyptian myth, each chapter features a particular object--such as the obelisk known as Cleopatra's Needle, a golden statue of Tutankhamun, and a papyrus containing a story in which the Egyptian gods behave outrageously--which is illustrated by a photograph or line-drawing. The myth "The Contendings of Horus and Seth" is looked at in detail, and the many interpretations it has provoked are examined. In addition to a list of major deities and myths, there are explanations of related topics such as how hieroglyphs work, royal names and titles, and the Egyptian cosmos. There is also a timeline of Egyptian history, a glossary of technical terms and an up-to-date bibliography.