When Jean-Francois Champollion rediscovered how to translate the Egyptian hieroglyphs in the early nineteenth century he described them as "....a complex system, a writing that is figurative, symbolic, and phonetic all within the same text, a single sentence, I would even say a single word." Since then, although his discoveries have led to the translation of most of the ancient Egyptian texts, the emphasis in modern scholarship is to regard the hieroglyphs purely as sounds and to disregard or even deny their symbolic meaning. This book explores how the hieroglyphs function as a comprehensive system of magical symbolism, the medw neter or Words of the Gods by which the sacred truths of the Inner worlds of creation are conveyed to humanity. Their effect is 'magical' because when we study them and ponder their meaning they cause changes in our consciousness, enabling us to reach a deeper understanding of ourselves, of our surroundings and of the universal principles that lie behind all creation. They also incidentally teach us a great deal about the magical beliefs and practices of the ancient Egyptians and their perception of the relationship between the earthly and spiritual worlds. Using many examples and illustrations, this book demonstrates how the hieroglyphs formed the basis of Egyptian magic and were the means by which it was taught and practiced. It offers an entirely new interpretation of Egyptian magic, and shows how the hieroglyphs can be used as a magical tool that is as transformative today as it was in ancient times.

The book presents in depth histories of the cults of seven major goddesses and many excerpts from their literature--hymns, prayers, and magical spells as well as descriptions of ritual, temples and clergy.

The gods of Kemet/Ancient Egypt re-examined with a simplified guide providing an accessible introduction for beginners to familiarise themselves with the fascinating world of the gods of Kemet/Ancient Egypt and to become acquainted with a part of the culture of the greatest civilization in history. Additionally, the book contains a comprehensive list of the dynasties of the Pharaohs of Kemet.

Amazing discoveries of over 35 major links between the enigmatic and beautiful 'Amarna Period' of Pharoah Akhenaten and the Biblical Exodus, proving beyond any reasonable doubt that the Exodus actually happened, and who the relevant Pharoahs were, together with astounding photos and hundreds of translated ancient texts as well as mummy analyses which exactly match the Biblical account in detail and explain the likely motivations and reasons for most of the strange but vitally significant phenomena and features. Other writers have puzzled over Akhenaten's missing army and gold as well as his monotheism, together with his father's (Amenhotep III) loss of a firstborn heir... but these things are just the starting point for solid answers in this astounding collection of discoveries. The style of the book is progressive, for the benefit of those less familiar with the topic, whilst providing more scholarly detail as the book progresses.

This congress volume of the Minerva Center for the Relations between Israel and Aram in Biblical Times combines theoretical approaches to historical research on autonomy or independence in ancient cultures and then presents articles which study the subject using Aram and Israel in antiquity as examples. These articles show clearly how strongly Syria and Palestine were linked to one another and how they constituted one single cultural region which was connected by its economy, politics, language, religion, and culture.

With its mysterious animal gods, mummies, pyramids, ornate tombs and arcane rites, the world of the ancient Egyptians continues to fascinate us.

Religion and Magic in Ancient Egypt is the first book to provide a complete historical overview of the beliefs of this extraordinary civilization, from its earliest settlements dating back to 5000 BC, to the Roman province of the 4th century AD.

As Rosalie David's engrossing study shows, every aspect of ancient Egyptian society, from education and law to medicine, birth and death, was permeated by religion and magic, and dominated by the divine life forces of the sun and the Nile. We discover the complex and intriguing world of gods and goddesses, from Anubis the jackal-headed God of death to Tauert the hippopotamus-goddess of childbirth; the cult of sacred animals; the world of oracles and seers; temples, death rituals and the afterlife. Concluding with a glossary of pharaohs, queens and deities, and new translations of Egyptian spells, this is an essential work for all students of history and Egyptology, and an informative, entertaining read for anyone with an interest in the ancient world.