This is the last manuscript of Dr Marie-Louise von Franz, dictated during the final years of her life. If not only contains a brilliant historical survey of alchemy since Egyptian times, but above all, a profound comment on a newly translated Arabic alchemical text from the 10th Century which is a 'Summa' of her entire life's experience and work.

Why the Amduat is significant -- every evening the sun becomes old and weak and finally sets behind the Western horizon. Yet, it rises again in the morning, rejuvenated. How is that possible? How could the sun for the Ancient Egyptians the Sun God become young and revitalised during the night, during his night journey? What happens during this time? The Amduat is a description of the journey of the Sun God through the night world, that is also the world of the deceased. The knowledge contained in the Amduat is meant for the dead Pharaoh. But the text also recommends this knowledge for living beings. Thus, the journey of the Sun God can also be seen as a symbolic representation of an inner psychic process of transformation and renewal.

This is the long-awaited book by Theodor Abt, who has been training analysts internationally in the art of picture interpretation since 30 years. His long experience in this field has led him to develop his own method, resulting in this book. Some 150 colour pictures accompany the text, making this book a valuable resource to have on the bookshelf for consultation in the following areas: formal aspects; the symbolism of space; the symbolism of colours; and the symbolism of numbers.