Egyptian Myths: A Guide to the Ancient Gods and Legends

Describes the gods and the myths of ancient Egypt, following the adventures of Osiris, who was murdered by his brother, Seth, the goddess Isis who tried to steal power from the sun god Re, and Horus, who became king of Egypt.
Describes the gods and the myths of ancient Egypt, following the adventures of Osiris, who was murdered by his brother Seth; the goddess Isis, who tried to steal power from the sun god Re; and Horus, who became king of Egypt.
Shaw seeks to illuminate the complex natures of Egyptian gods and goddesses through story and analysis, focusing on their personalities and similarities and differences to human nature. This book provides a useful introduction to a selection of Egyptian myths and makes them accessible even to readers and students new to ancient Egypt. While these stories are meant to teach us about ancient Egyptian culture, they were also meant to entertain, and The Egyptian Myths stays true to the original spirit of the stories told within. Annotation ©2015 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
An authoritative guide to the Egyptian myths that sheds new light on an ancient way of understanding the world
This survey of Egyptian mythology explores how the ancient Nile-dwellers explained the world around them. It delves into the creation and evolution of the world and the reigns of the gods on earth, before introducing us to the manifestations of Egypt’s deities in the natural environment; the inventive ways in which the Egyptians dealt with the invisible forces all around them; and their beliefs about life after death.Through his engaging narrative, Garry Shaw guides us through the mythic adventures of such famous deities as Osiris, the god murdered by his jealous brother Seth; the magical and sometimes devious Isis, who plotted to gain the power of the sun god Re; and Horus, who defeated his uncle Seth to become king of Egypt. He also introduces us to lesser known myths, such as the rebellions against Re; Geb’s quest for Re’s magical wig; and the flaying of the unfortunate god Nemty. From stars and heavenly bodies sailing on boats, to the wind as manifestation of the god Shu, to gods, goddesses, ghosts, and demons—beings that could be aggressive, helpful, wise, or dangerous—Shaw goes on to explain how the Egyptians encountered the mythological in their everyday lives.