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Compiled by the House of
Netjer
Last updated:
Sunday, July 08, 2001
The following books about ancient Egypt's religion, culture and philosophy
are recommended (not required) reading for devotees of Kemetic
Orthodoxy. Inclusion of a book on this list does not mean we must
agree with everything any book says or that our recommended readings must include
official Kemetic Orthodox teachings. We believe familiarity with these texts
can enhance understanding of our religion, as well as make readers aware of
modern controversies and issues concerning ancient Egypt and its religion. Longer
"book reviews" of selected texts can be found on our book
review pages.
Be sure to visit our online bookstore where you
can acquire some of the books listed below!
Literature
(Please note: Texts such as The Book of the Dead are located under
"Funerary Texts".)
Foster, John L., trans. Echoes of Egyptian Voices: An Anthology of Ancient
Egyptian Poetry. University of Oklahoma Series in Classical Culture Volume
12, 1992. ISBN 0-8061-2411-3. Out of print.
A collection of poetry including love songs, hymns and wisdom
literature spanning Kemet's history, rendered in beautiful modern English prose.
Highly recommended. |
Greger, C. Shana. Cry of the Benu Bird: An Egyptian
Creation Story. Houghton Mifflin Co., 1996. ISBN 0-395-73573-4.
This wonderfully illustrated (by the author) modern interpretation
of the An (Heliopolis) creation story of Tem (Atum) is a beautiful little book
to share with children or the young at heart. |
Karenga, Maulana. Selections from the Husia: Sacred
Wisdom of Ancient Egypt. University of Sankore Press, 1989. ISBN
0-9434-1206-4.
Maulana Karenga, the founder of the
African-American winter holiday called Kwanzaa, has put together a very good
collection of Kemetic texts in the Husia, (a word Karenga coined from Hu
and Sia, the two guardians of Ra) an anthology of ancient Egyptian
wisdom texts, hymns and other spiritual works. As part of Karenga's project to
create one central source for African spirituality texts, this book is a
wonderful addition to any Kemetic or African or spiritual/religious library.
A disappointment is that he appears not to have done his own translations from
the hieroglyphs but to have relied on other authors' translations - perhaps in
a future version Karenga will take his own turn at translating the ancient
texts, as his current paraphrases are insightful and uplifting. |
Lichtheim, Miriam, transl. Ancient Egyptian
Literature. (3 volumes). University of California Press, 1976. ISBN
0-520-03615-8.
A collection of Kemetic literature
arranged chronologically in three volumes: Old and Middle Kingdoms, The New
Kingdom, and Late Period and beyond. Covers well-known Kemetic religious and
philosophical texts and includes poetry, short stories and instructional
literature. Highly recommended. |
Parkinson, R.B. Voices from Ancient Egypt: An
Anthology of Middle Kingdom Writings. University of Oklahoma Press, 1991.
ISBN 0-8061-2362-1.
A collection of writings from
Kemet's Middle Kingdom, including hymns, short stories, letters (even "hate
mail"!) and magical formulae. An interesting look at one period of Kemetic
history from its own literature, with good interpretations alongside the texts.
Highly recommended. |
Piankoff, A. Mythological Papyri. Bollingen
Series, Egyptian Religious Texts and Representations, 1957. Out of
print.
A collection of funerary papyri from a
cache of tombs for priests of the Name of Netjer known as Amen-Ra. A book with a
transcription of hieroglyphs and their English translation is accompanied by
more than 30 full reproductions of the papyri being discussed, several in color.
Rare but useful information regarding different manifestations of Netjer and New
Kingdom/Late Period funerary literature.
ibid. The Litany of Ra. Bollingen Series, Egyptian Religious Texts and
Representations, 1957. Out of print.
This
Bollingen volume features the Great Litany of Ra and other solar hymns, as well
as a description of the Senet-board (considered to be one of the world's first
board games but attributed with a religious context by ancient sources) from a
theological perspective. |
Sabuda, Robert, writer & illustrator. Tutankhamen's Gift. Atheneum
Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster, 1994. ISBN
0-689-31818-9.
Another wonderful book for children,
Tutankhamen's Gift tells a story of the 18th Dynasty boy-king and how he
righted wrongs committed against Netjer by his predecessor, Amenhotep
IV/Akhenaten. A fresh look at a still-controversial period of Kemetic
history. |
Simpson, William Kelly, ed. The Literature of Ancient Egypt: An Anthology
of Stories, Instruction and Poetry. Yale University Press, 1972. ISBN
0-300-01711-1.
Another anthology of Kemetic texts,
collected from different Egyptologists' translations. Often used as a textbook
in college courses and a good selection of material from different time periods
in Kemetic history. |
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