| Description |
1 online resource (xxxvii, 685 pages) : illustrations |
| Series |
Writings from the ancient world ; Number 39 |
|
Writings from the ancient world ; no. 39.
|
| Contents |
Introduction; Main themes of the Netherworld books; Royal tombs of the New Kingdom; Development of tomb decoration and use of Netherworld Books; Netherworld Books in temple settings; Function of the Netherworld Books; Topography of the netherworld books: conceptions of space and time; Dating the Netherworld Books; Cryptography in the Netherworld Books; Post-New Kingdom uses of the Netherworld Books; A note on the translations -- Book of adoring Re in the West -- Book of the Hidden Chamber -- Book of gates -- Book of caverns -- Books of the creation of the solar disk -- Books of the Solar-Osirian unity |
| Summary |
The ancient Egyptian Netherworld Books, important compositions that decorated the New Kingdom royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, present humanity's oldest surviving attempts to provide a scientific map of the unseen realms beyond the visible cosmos and contain imagery and annotations that represent ancient Egyptian speculation (essentially philosophical and theological) about the events of the solar journey through the twelve hours of the night. The Netherworld Books describe one of the central mysteries of Egyptian religious belief-the union of the solar god Re with the underworldly god Osiris-and provide information on aspects of Egyptian theology and cosmography not present in the now more widely read Book of the Dead. Numerous illustrations provide overview images and individual scenes from each Netherworld Book, emphasizing the unity of text and image within the compositions. The major texts translated include the Book of Adoring Re in the West (the Litany of Re), the Book of the Hidden Chamber (Amduat), the Book of Gates, the Book of Caverns, the Books of the Creation of the Solar Disk, and the Books of the Solar-Osirian Unity |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references |
| Notes |
Description based on online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on December 18, 2018) |
| Subject |
Religious literature, Egyptian -- Translations into English
|
|
Future life.
|
|
BODY, MIND & SPIRIT / Spirituality / Paganism & Neo-Paganism
|
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RELIGION / Comparative Religion
|
|
Future life
|
|
Religion
|
|
Religious literature, Egyptian
|
| SUBJECT |
Egypt -- Religion -- History -- Sources
|
| Subject |
Egypt
|
| Genre/Form |
History
|
|
Sources
|
|
Translations
|
| Form |
Electronic book
|
| Author |
Manassa, Colleen, author, translator
|
| LC no. |
2017053013 |
| ISBN |
0884140458 |
|
9780884140450 |
|
