Ancient Egyptian Religion: An Interpretation

By Henri Frankfort

Book Overview

" T]he author gives a well-integrated and thoughtful interpretation of Egyptian thought which endeavors to uncover the roots of Egyptian religion. It is at this point that Frankfort has made his great contribution." --Journal of Religion
Until the publication of this masterly study, Egyptian religion was thought by most scholars to be a nearly impenetrable jungle of weird myths, doctrines, and practices, the product of numerous unrelated local cults existing side by side. Misconceptions were exacerbated by the monotheistic bias of Western thought. Henri Frankfort, former Research Professor of Oriental Archaeology at the University of Chicago and former Director of Excavations for the Egypt Exploration Society of London, presents formidable evidence to the contrary, by disregarding local differences in cults and dogmas and focusing instead on the trends and qualities that regularly recur in five important aspects of Egyptian life. Using this method, Dr. Frankfort concludes that there is one conviction underlying all Egyptian belief, i.e., that the universe is static and that only the changeless is ultimately significant.
Delving into Egyptian theology, the author shows how that view informed not only religious beliefs, but also Egyptian moral and political philosophy, government and society, and literature and art. Enhanced with 32 illustrations, this book is "one of the finest elucidations of these materials that we have anywhere" (AmericanHistorical Review). Chronological Table. Index. Preface. 32 halftones.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486411389
• ISBN13: 9780486411385
• Release Date: November 2011
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Thorough treatment and interesting reading

A worthwhile read from a very knowledgeable scholar. The religious views of the Egyptians impacted their entire life experiences.

Egyptian Religion and the Established Order by Maat

Delving into Egyptian theology, the author shows how that view informed not only religious beliefs, but also Egyptian moral and political philosophy, government and society,... "one of the finest elucidations of these materials that we have anywhere." American Historical Review. Not a Priori opinion: Henri Frankfort published this pioneering study, interpreting ancient Egyptian religion in 1948, based on conclusion reached in his work on the subject which extended over many years. This study is an enlarged version of lectures sponsored by the American Council of Learned societies, and were delivered at the universities of Chicago, Columbia, Oregon, Yale and other institutes and museums. In the book preface, after tracing the history of attempts to decipher the identity of Egyptian Religion, he summarizes the approach, methodology and conclusions that coherent Egyptian doctrines were rooted in a basic conviction of a stable changeless (essentially static) universe. Study Approach: The Egyptian gods: Cosmic gods and human Problems, Limitations of Religiosity, The Egyptian State: State as Concept and Organization, Monarchy, Permanence in Maat, The Egyptian way of Life: Absence of sin as a concept, and Significance of Tradition, The Egyptian Hope: Preoccupation with death, in Cosmic circuit, Life is Eternal only by death, Change & Permanence in literature and art: Myth in Folk tale, Absence of Drama Henri Frankfort(d.1954): The eminent American archaeologist, explorer and scholar, was professor of pre-classical antiquity at the University of London. He was born the Netherlands in 1897, became an American citizen in 1944. He directed the excavations of the Egypt Exploration Society (1925-29) of the Oriental Institute of the Univ. of Chicago at Tell Asmar. He taught at the Oriental Institute from 1932 to 1949, when he was appointed director of the Warburg Institute of the Univ. of London. Author and coauthor of many books, including The Intellectual Adventure of Ancient Man, U of Chicago Press, The Birth of Civilization in the Near East (1951), The Art and Architecture of the Ancient Orient, 1954, and Before Philosophy. Frankfort Praised: "... a well integrated and thoughtful interpretation of Egyptian thought which endeavors to uncover the roots of Egyptian religion. ... It is at this point that Frankfort has made his great contribution" Journal of Religion " Fascinating book, explores the underlying concept of the changeless as the basis of Egyptian religion, and how it unifies what scholars had believed to be an unrelated jungle of weird myths, doctrines and practices generated by local cults. Relation of the idea of the changeless to moral and political philosophy, Egyptian government and society, literature and art." Editorial Review

A SHORT AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING ESSAY

Don't get misled by the slim aspect of this book: it is a very good introduction - and, as the author himself said, more properly "an interpretation" - to ancient Egyptian religion. Very light to read and written in a simple language, it aims to provide a global overview of the beliefs and creeds of the dwellers on the Nile in times of the Pharaohs. For anyone interested in knowing more about this subject; for the learned, it is still a source for opening new-directed reseach.