Best Books on Egyptian Mythology
The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt by Richard H. Wilkinson
Written by Richard H. Wilkinson, 'The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt' is an ideal book to learn about the basics of Egyptian Mythology and religion. From Egyptian deities and mythological stories to views on the nature of the divine, Egyptian institutions, and popular devotion, the book covers all the topics for someone who would want to know in clear, simple, and jargon-free language. The book also includes an overwhelming amount of color photographs of many ancient statues, paintings, and carvings, along with other artifacts that represent the Egyptian gods and goddesses. All and all, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt is a newbie-friendly book that awakens a sense of wonder and awe in the reader.
Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt: The One and the Many by Erik Hornung
Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt mainly focus on ancient Egyptian theology. The book is widely considered a standard read for someone who is already acquainted with Egyptian deities and wants to know about the ancient Egyptian religion from the outset. Erik Hornung has deep-dived into the topic and discusses the relationship between gods and humanities, how ancient Egyptians themselves viewed divinity, the relationship between gods and humans, monotheism, polytheism, and much more in length.
Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt by Geraldine Pinch
Just like Wilkinson’s The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, this book is also an introduction to ancient Egyptian mythology and religion. If you are a newbie and want to learn about the history of ancient Egypt, then this (Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt) is the book for you. It not only features Egyptian deities but discusses a variety of concepts on Egyptian beliefs, symbols, and places from 3200 BCE to 400 CE in depth. The book is written in a very easy-to-understand manner that even a layman could comprehend everything. The book also includes an encyclopedia with alphabetical sections that break down each deity, every demon, and the important events.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day translated by Raymond Faulkner and Ogden Geolet
Also known as the Book of Going Forth by Day, the Egyptian Book of the Dead is one of the primary sources to study ancient Egyptian mythology and religion. This funerary text (contains spells) written during the New Kingdom era was used to be placed in the coffin or burial chamber of the dead to help individuals with their journey through the Duat. The book is considered the crowning achievement in the field of ancient Egyptian spiritual literature. The book is easy to understand and is newbie-friendly. To be honest, it is the first time in history that a manuscript has been compiled in colored paintings and translated into English.
Treasury of Egyptian Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Monsters, and Mortals by Donna Jo Napoli
Written by Donna Jo Napoli, Treasury of Egyptian Mythology is an introductory book for kids (between the ages of 8 to 12 years). Just about every page of the book features many beautiful pictures and illustrations. The book focuses on ancient Egyptian tales with charming descriptions and characters that suit young readers and keep their interest alive.
Tales of Ancient Egypt by Roger Lancelyn Green
Reading Tales of Ancient Egypt is like hearing stories about Egyptian Mythology from your parents. Written by Lancelyn Green, this book is another introductory guide designed especially for kids. However, unlike Napoli’s Treasury of Egyptian Mythology, Tales of Ancient Egypt includes a copious amount of historical facts, which also makes it suitable for older readers. The book is a collection of stories, which is divided into three sections- tales of the gods, stories of magic, and stories of adventure. The book has also kept out a few concepts and contents that some parents do not want their children to read.
The Mind of Egypt: History and Meaning in the Time of the Pharaohs by Jan Assmann
Through The Mind of Egypt, Jan Assmann focuses on presenting the intellectual history of ancient Egypt. In this book, the author brilliantly included everything from how ancient Egyptians perceived their world to how their idea changed over centuries. Learn all about Egyptian views on good, evil, justice, literature, politics, the afterlife, pharaoh, monumental architecture, historical events, and more from predynastic to postpharaonic Egypt. Considering the book contains more academic language, it is recommended to take your time to grasp the contents of it.
Egyptology by Emily Sands
If you have an interest in Egyptian mythology and history and want to know more about it, then this classic written by Emily Sands, an Egyptologist, is a must-read. The storyline follows the author (Emily Sands), who in 1926 went on the pursuit of King Tut’s tomb however, she mysteriously disappeared along with her team. Although the book is recommended for children from the age range of 6 to 14, considering the novel’s intriguing plot, even the adult audience can give it a go and enjoy it.
The Search for God in Ancient Egypt by Jan Assmann
Written by Jan Assmann, The Search for God in Ancient Egypt is another best introductory books on ancient Egyptian mythology and religion available today. The book not only gives details of Egyptian deities, symbols, and other fundamentally arranged encyclopedias but also talks about the big picture with more focus on conceptual or philosophical aspects. Through the Search for God in Ancient Egypt, the author discusses the concepts of divinity, theology, mythological stories, the nature and power of language, and much more in detail.
Death and Salvation in Ancient Egypt by Jan Assmann
Compared to other human societies, the ancient Egyptians were considered more preoccupied with mortality. They even have left behind extraordinarily rich and mysterious manuscripts and artifacts that give clues about their views on death and the afterlife. Almost everything in ancient Egypt, from pyramids to mummies to theology, had to do with death and immortality in one way or the other.
Through Death and Salvation, the author discusses in length what death meant to the ancient Egyptians. The book also includes Funerary texts that are explained in great detail. Jan Assmann’s writing is clear, simple, and, jargon-free, which can be easily comprehensible to a lay reader.
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