The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt

The gods and goddesses of ancient Egypt, worshipped for over half of recorded history, are among the most fascinating and complex of any civilization. Here is a comprehensive and authoritative guide to the deities that lay at the heart of Egyptian religion and society.
The book examines the evolution, worship and eventual decline of the numerous gods and goddesses – from minor household figures such as Bes and Taweret to the all-powerful deities Amun and Re – that made Egypt the most completely theocratic society of the ancient world, and made Egyptians, according to Herodotus, ‘more religious than any other people’.
Rise and Fall of the Gods considers the origins of Egypt’s deities, the stories of gods who struggled to control cosmic forces of chaos and destruction yet could themselves die.
Nature of the Gods examines the forms, appearances and manifestations of the deities, as well as the transcendence of pre-eminent deities such as Amun and Atenism under Akhenaten.
Worship of the Gods introduces the rituals and mysteries of formal Egyptian worship, including temples and festivals, and examines popular access to the gods and private worship.
Kingship and the Gods discusses the all-important position of the king, who served as a bridge between the gods and humanity and who could himself be deified and rule among the gods.
The Catalogue of Deities is a unique listing of Egypt’s gods and goddesses grouped according to their primary forms, discussing in depth their iconography, mythology and worship and their influence across Egypt.
Includes hundreds of illustrations and specially commissioned drawings.