History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs

Average customer rating:

Essential Reading for Scholars and Enthusiasts.
Enough of the grammar already!!!
We want more of the kind...
Excellent Book...but Gardiner still worth it!!
An good text book!

Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs
James P. Allen
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0521774837

Book Description

This is an introduction to the writing system of ancient Egypt and the language of hieroglyphic texts. It contains twenty-six lessons, exercises (with answers), a list of hieroglyphic signs, and a dictionary, as well as twenty-five essays on the most important aspects of ancient Egyptian history, society, religion and literature. It also offers scholars of linguistics a complete grammatical description of the classical language of ancient Egypt.

Customer Reviews:

Essential Reading for Scholars and Enthusiasts........2007-08-28

Dr. Allen has really done a good job laying it all out in this book. Obviously, this is something of an esoteric subject, but for many budding scholars and amateur enthusiasts who are genuinely interested in learning this language, this book is essential reading. The grammer is clearly explained, and compared to contemporary languages, and the hierglyphs are easy to discern after a few lessons.

What is also commendable is the use of essays throughout the book that lay out the broader context of Middle Egyptian. Without that, the book would be noticeably drier. I think the only addition I would make to this book would be use of example dialogue to help reinforce the concepts. Otherwise, this is a good book to own.

Enough of the grammar already!!!.......2006-11-04

This is an excellent book, no doubt. Allen is quite obviously an academic when it comes to Egyptian and linguistics. Let me repeat, this is an excellent book: for people with a linguistic background. That said, Joe Blow (read people with the average educational background in grammar) will most likely, as I did, find this approach to Egyptian with its constant, non-stop emphasis on adverbial complement this and noun phrase that approach, overwhelming to say the least. The meanings of the exercise sentences are rather vague and not easy to translate. In 3000 plus years, some Egyptian somewhere must have written a sentence or two more suitable for use in a beginning language learning text. Add to this the fact that each chapter does not have a vocabulary list to prepare the student for the exercises, and doing the chapter-end exercises becomes a futile exercise in page flipping to look up answers in the key in the back of the book. Vocabulary items used in the sample sentences in the texts in the chapters are frequently not included in the dictionary in the back. It doesn't matter how much grammar you know if you don't know what the words mean. As a college text with an instructor, this book is probably excellent, however for the do-it-yourselfer who wants to learn at home, forget it! Like the old saying goes: I just want to know what time it is, I don't need to how to build a watch. Can anybody suggest a book to learn Egyptian, written for educated, interested adults, but who don't have degree in linguistics?

We want more of the kind..........2005-09-23

Probably the most pleasant book you will use, not just to learn about hieroglyphs, but also, to learn about ancient egyptian culture.

Excellent Book...but Gardiner still worth it!!.......2004-08-01

I am writing this review simply to clarify and answer a few of the questions and comments that the previous reviewer had about the textbook.

1) This is a textbook intended for college students and self-study and assumes no previous encounter with English or Middle Egyptian grammar; therefore, as one might expect, the book presents descriptions of nouns, as well as more complicated aspects of grammar such as prospective, subjunctive and relative forms. However, if one is privy to the definitions, than one can simply skip over the descriptions of these grammatical aspects and continue learning Middle Egyptian.

2) Rare usages or unusual translations are covered in the book and although they do not appear in an appendix, they do contain astericks or other diacritics or concise descriptions.

3) Enough examples are provided so that an intelligent person can build upon previous examples and construct the answer to the exercise, similar to a math book that provides some examples and then offers more complicated, but solvable exercises.

4) Although the book does lack grammatical paradigms (mostly since no one really knows what inflections Middle Egyptian contained) and vocabulary lists, it does provide references, a sign list, a dictionary, the answers to the exercises, and an index.

5) The paperback binding is actually quite good. I have used it for a while and, although borrowed from the local library (most of those books are usually mistreated or handled periodically), it has shown little signs of deterioration. More importantly, there is at least a half inch spacial blank gap between any word or hieroglyph at the inner edge any page, making the inner edges easy to read.

6) Although the chapter four essay argues that the "Western notion of religion [...] has seperated religion from spheres of [...] government, social behavior, intellectual pursuits, and science" p.43, it never states that this is how the western notion of religion always viewed and continues to view these concepts. The Egyptian religion embraced most things as the Gods themselves. For example, two people falling in love in Greek and Roman religion was an act of Eros, and love making a gift from Aphrodite; however, an ancient Egypian might argue that two people falling in love and making love is the personification of the love between Osiris and Isis.

That said, this is a wonderful textbook that will leave any serious student or amateur the craving for more since, unfortunately, it does not cover all there is to know about Middle Egyptian. A second step would be to purchase Sir Alan Gardiner's "Egyptian Grammar" a little outdated but unmatched in depth and coverage of Middle Egyptian. His book remains the "BIBLE" of Middle Egyptian of and for most egyptologists.

An good text book!.......2004-01-05

If you want to learn the basics of hieroglyphs. Dont buy this book first. Buy "How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs: A Step-By-Step Guide to Teach Yourself". Then buy the text book by Allen.

Allens book is more a book for those that seriously wants to learn the language, not good as an introduction. But as a tool to learn hieroglyphs it is excellent and very detailed.

Average customer rating:

Good Resource For Intermediate and Advanced Researchers

Fast and very fine condition

Expanding Horizons

The Best Egyptian Language Resource Ever!

Gardiner's Egyptian Grammar - A Must Have

Egyptian Grammar: Being an Introduction to the Study of Hieroglyphs (Egyptology: Griffith Institute)
Sir Alan Henderson Gardiner
Manufacturer: Griffith Institute
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Concise Dictionary of Middle Egyptian (Egyptology: Griffith Institute)

Ancient Egyptian Calligraphy A Beginner's Guide to Writing Hieroglyphs

Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs

How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs: A Step-by-Step Guide to Teach Yourself, Revised Edition

An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary : With an Index of English Words, King List, and Geographical List with Indexes, List of Hieroglyphic Characters, Coptic and Semitic Alphabets (Vol 1)

ASIN: 0900416351

Book Description

Although the first edition of the study appeared over seventy years ago, Gardiner's Egyptian Grammar remains the most comprehensive presentation of Middle Egyptian available, and is still an essential reference tool for all advanced work in the language. The latest, third, edition, appeared in 1957 and is now in its tenth reprinting. After each new element of grammar the learner is given a set of exercises, and the book also contains useful resources such as a list of hieroglyphic signs and information about the development of the language.

Customer Reviews:

Good Resource For Intermediate and Advanced Researchers.......2007-07-26

I found this book to be more for those with some level of linguistics background as well as a good grasp of English grammar. Have a thesaurus and dictionary handy as some archaic terms are used (this book was written in mid-20th century by a Brit).
This book is a good resource for those wanting to study the Mdr-Ntr. It should be in your library if you are serious about learning this ancient language. It can also be a primer for learning Arabic and Hebrew. The only thing this book lacks is an answer key to help you if you get stuck in some of the many exercises included within.

Fast and very fine condition.......2007-07-09

all i could hope for in a hopelessly erudite text being mailed to me which was ordered off the internet at a mass-market website. who knew!

Expanding Horizons.......2006-08-18

Formerly I was mainly familiar with Hieroglyph of the Ptolemic Period and needed more information for a project. Sir Alan H. Gardiner's Text Book not only filled this needed, but increased my interest in pursuing the subject even more comprehensively than I have had before. At my age (74) this keeps my mind active and gives another purpose to my life.
I feel this volumn is well worth the cost of acquirement and is an excellent addition to my library.

The Best Egyptian Language Resource Ever!.......2006-05-12

I think this is the ultimate textbook for any beginning, intermediate, or advanced Egyptologist because it is so detailed and thorough. I couldn't possibly wish for anything more in an Egyptian textbook. I've only read up to page 190. I have been studying Egyptian since 1996 when I first borrowed Mercer's handbook, but since I got this book just over ten weeks ago I have learned more about the Egyptian language than I ever learned before. I can't wait to finish the book.

Gardiner's Egyptian Grammar - A Must Have.......2005-09-15

If you're truly interested in learning how to read Egyptian hieroglyphs and have already bought and read one of the many "How To" beginners books currently being published, you've no doubt realized how limited the scope of your purchase is. You've been taken to the precipice, shown the wisdom of the ages, only to find out that, just when things were getting interesting, the story ends.

Perhaps, if you've followed my misguided steps while surfing your new-found wave of enthusiasm, you further indulged your need for immediate gratification by purchasing the hefty, two-volume Egyptian dictionary set by Budge. After you've lovingly brushed off the dust and handed over your discretionary income for the next month, you realize that you're acting on impulse but rationalize your post-purchase cognitive dissonance by assuring yourself that "they wouldn't still be publishing this work after all these years if it wasn't any good, right?" Of course, a week later while cruising the net, your bubble bursts as you realize that everybody who's anybody in the world of Egyptology is warning you to "Beware of Budge".

If this in any way resembles you and your desire to learn this enigmatic language from the past still burns bright, do yourself a tremendous favor and buy this book! Yes, relative to what you've purchased so far, Gardiner's Egyptian Grammar is expensive and, unless you want to give up your next paycheck for shipping charges, it will take a week or two to arrive. I promise you, hand-on-heart, that it will be worth every pfennig of your investment and well worth the wait. After only the first couple hours (which will pass like minutes) you'll realize how very limited everything else you've read really is. After a couple weeks, you will be able to figure out for yourself why our more learned colleagues encourage us to take anything from Budge with a grain of salt.

At the time of writing this endorsement (while factual, I make no pretense of being objective), I've owned Egyptian Grammar for three months. Applying myself moderately (I have a wife, child, four cats and a day job - none of which tolerate being ignored), I've already achieved a surprising level of competence at transliteration (converting hieroglyphs into phonetic Egyptian) without need of a reference. While happy with my progress to date, I've not yet succumbed to delusions of adequacy. I still have a long path to walk and must rely heavily upon Mr. Gardiner for translating all but the simplest of passages.

As I'm sure you've already guessed, I am giving this book a five-star rating. Is Egyptian Grammar perfect? No. The wonderful thing about Egyptology is that with every passing year, we learn more about this fascinating culture. As with any material in print, there's a level of currency missing from its pages. Perhaps a more relevant question to pose would be, "Is there anything out there that I can buy that's better than this book by Gardiner?" I don't think so. If there is, it's either not currently being published or not available in English. Either way, I've yet to discover it.

How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs: A Step-by-Step Guide to Teach Yourself

Average customer rating:

Incredibly well thought out and put together
Exactly what I wanted.
Perfect Introduction for a Beginner Like Moi!
An Excellent Introductory book
Unclear

How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs: A Step-by-Step Guide to Teach Yourself
Mark Collier , and Bill Manley
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0520215974

Amazon.com

You need no previous experience reading hieroglyphs to benefit from this book. This is a hieroglyphs guide for the layperson, tourist, or museum enthusiast who'd like to have more of a clue when it comes to understanding Egyptian hieroglyphs. Focusing on the funerary symbols one would be likely to see in Egypt or at a museum, and illustrated with hieroglyphs that are on display in the British Museum (drawn by Richard Parkinson, curator in the Department of Egyptian Antiquities at the British Museum), How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs makes possible a deeper appreciation not just of museum displays but of the Egyptian culture that used this writing system.

Both experts in Egyptology (Collier teaches Egyptology at the University of Liverpool, and Manley teaches the subject at the University of Glasgow), they explain how most hieroglyphs are used to convey the sound of the ancient Egyptian language, then go on to teach, in easily digestible segments, the basic phonograms (sound-signs) used in inscriptions a traveler or museum-goer would be most likely to encounter. Each chapter teaches a new portion of hieroglyphic script and a new aspect of the Middle Egyptian grammar, with a section to practice the new reading skills and exercises to solidify the lessons taught. It provides a wonderful opportunity to sit at home and learn about the pharaonic administration, ancient Egyptian family life, and the Egyptian way of death, while building a firm understanding of the most common features of hieroglyphs. --Stephanie Gold

Book Description

Hieroglyphs are pictures used as signs in writing. When standing before an ancient tablet in a museum or visiting an Egyptian monument, we marvel at this unique writing and puzzle over its meaning. Now, with the help of Egyptologists Mark Collier and Bill Manley, museum-goers, tourists, and armchair travelers alike can gain a basic knowledge of the language and culture of ancient Egypt.
Collier and Manley's novel approach is informed by years of experience teaching Egyptian hieroglyphs to non-specialists. Using attractive drawings of actual inscriptions displayed in the British Museum, they concentrate on the kind of hieroglyphs readers might encounter in other collections, especially funerary writings and tomb scenes. Each chapter introduces a new aspect of hieroglyphic script or Middle Egyptian grammar and encourages acquisition of reading skills with practical exercises.
The texts offer insights into the daily experiences of their ancient authors and touch on topics ranging from pharaonic administration to family life to the Egyptian way of death. With this book as a guide, one can enjoy a whole new experience in understanding Egyptian art and artifacts around the world.

Customer Reviews:

Incredibly well thought out and put together.......2007-09-03

I love this book! It absolutely is for the "true beginner" and has plenty of exercises, well thought out chapters and a ton of information in the many appendixes (including a small dictionary, hieroglyphic sign lists and small descriptions). I'd recommend this book to ANYONE who is looking to improve on their Hieroglyphic knowledge or who would like to learn even a little bit about them!

Exactly what I wanted........2007-08-15

I do not know a lot about hieroglyphics beyond touring Egypt 3 times, which is why I purchased this book. But I can tell you that it is very detailed and easy to read. I'm very happy with this purchase.

Perfect Introduction for a Beginner Like Moi!.......2007-06-23

This book is more than I had expected. It holds an important place in my Reading Corner, and I have spent bits of time [almost] daily, working at my own pace... and find I am in complete understanding of the entire text... ready to move on to more advanced material.

That I have absorbed this material on my own, without an instructor, is -- to me! -- significant. I recommend this book to those who may be casually interested in learning to decipher Middle Egyptian funerary texts, which in retrospect appears to be a logical way to introduce the language.

== m htp ==

An Excellent Introductory book.......2007-03-09

A top line, well structured book that reads easily with clear explanations. Serious study, guided by this book will provide a good foundation for further study of this fascinating language.

Unclear.......2007-02-17

Though I found this book somewhat useful. I also found there to be many inaccurate translations. In ancient Egypt, they read from either left to right, top to bottom or bottom to top, however, never did they read from right to left. When I seek to add to my knowledge in any ancient language, I seek to learn it as they would have read it and in this book, it was confusing as the authors guide you through as if reading the english language.

I recommened E.A. Wallis Budge's Easy Lessons in Egyptian Hieroglyphics a much more accurate source as he breaks it down, and yet guides you easier and with less confusion in how the ancients would have read the script.

The Egyptian Book of Life: A True Translation of the Egyptian Book of the Dead, Featuring Original Texts and Hieroglyphs

Average customer rating:

A Beautiful Translation of Fascinating Scriptures.
Absolute Necessity in your Egyptian Library!
A book to pass up on the way to enlightenment
A BOOK OF TREASURE

The Egyptian Book of Life: A True Translation of the Egyptian Book of the Dead, Featuring Original Texts and Hieroglyphs
Ramses Seleem
Manufacturer: Watkins Publishing Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1842930664

Book Description

Here Dr. Ramses Seleem has translated ancient Egyptian texts, never transcribed in full beforem and his book is lavishly illustrated including facsimile plates from teh original papyrus books, and colorful hieroglyphics.

Customer Reviews:

A Beautiful Translation of Fascinating Scriptures........2007-01-29

Its so fascinating to find out that Egypt had incorporated Breathing Techniques and Yoga into their Religion. I always thought that Asia was the only area that really perfected this but Egypt also perfected this. I have many other books on Egypt and Egyptology but this is the one I read over and over again.

This translation of the Scriptures is the most beautiful I've ever read. I feel like I'm reading a Bible and building a better relationship with God when I read it.

The Egyptian Book of Life goes in depth in describing the Individual Gods and it displays the correlations and correspondences with the Elements, Forces, and Principles of Nature, Life, and the Universe.

I picked up this book, started reading it, and finished it in 2 days. I've re-read it twice.
I bought 5 extra books and gave them out to my Family and Friends as gifts.

Absolute Necessity in your Egyptian Library!.......2007-01-18

This is a very Authoritative Book and Author. This should be an Absolute Necessity in your Egyptian Library.

I've always known that there were Hieroglyphics on the walls of Egyptian Pyramids and Buildings depicting their Ancient Martial Arts, Breathing Techniques, and Yoga. Its about time someone with some knowledge has brought this Magnificent Data to Light and allowed us to be exposed to it.

The Reality is that the Ancient Egyptians were Monotheistic. The earlier Egyptologists were Ignorant, Racist, Colonialistic, and had an Ethnocentric Perspective. That is why they mistakenly defined the word, Neter(GOD). Neter is like a Force or Principle. The Egyptian "GODS" were their way of describing certain Forces and Principles like Gravity, Heat, Coldness, Dryness, Moisture, ETC. This book Clarifies this Incredible and Critical piece of Information.

When you start to do your homework on the World's Religions and Cultures you will find, that if it wasn't for Egypt, there would be NO "Judaism", "Christianity", or "Islam".

I highly recommend this book.

A book to pass up on the way to enlightenment .......2005-03-09

Dr Seleem's academic credentials are not listed anywhere in this publication.

This seems an obvious intended omission once you start reading in this text his ideas concerning Egyptian Cosmology, history, science and other religious traditions of the world.

Exactly what is Mr. Saleem a "Doctor of"?

He does not state he has a doctorate in Egyptology or Anthropology, Archeology, Linguistics, Comparative Religion or Mythology.

From his absurd conculsions and naive speculations on the
metaphysical and monotheistic nature of the Egyptian religon and his rantings on the evil foundations of the Western scientific method, one might conclude he never attended
an accredited University or took a single class on comparative religion or mythology.

Pass this book up and be happy you did.

If someone sends it to you - send it back for a refund.

If you are really interested in this subject stick with Falkner and Zahi Hawass.

A BOOK OF TREASURE.......2005-01-21

This is the book I have been looking for for 20 years, ever since I first visited Egypt, and came home wanting to learn more about the people who had made the breathtaking treasures I had seen. Here, at last, is a readable translation of the most ancient and sacred texts in the world. Unlike Faulkner, this book actually conveys the intricacy and magnificence of a people who were dedicated to the divinity of life.

A comprehensive introduction explains the origin and sources of these texts, and their uses in ancient times. There are sections on how the soul of the deceased travels after death, and on ancient Egyptian mythology and religion. When you realise that the "gods and goddesses" are actually natural laws and principles, it all makes so much more sense. The author explains that the Egyptians aimed to live well in this life and beyond, and their sacred science was all about understanding these natural laws and principles. They even had a system of sacred exercises to enhance the function of the physical body, and the subtle bodies.

I particularly liked Dr Seleem's use of original Egyptian names for characters in the mythology, such as Heru instead of the later Greek version, Horus, and Oser instead of Osiris. Somehow, I felt the use of the original names connected me with the mythology in a more direct way. Why is it that most Egyptologists use Greek names, when they are studying Egypt? Dr Seleem obviously has a great respect for the people who used this language and a deep understanding of the reasons why they regarded it as sacred.

Throughout the book there are illustrations of papyri and commentaries explaining not only the translations, but also the visual content of the images. Once the importance of the symbolic meaning of the writing and images is grasped, it becomes apparent that the Egyptians had profound knowledge of the human condition, and how to enhance it.

This book has a universal appeal, and will be invaluable for scholars and amateurs alike. The graphics for the hieroglyphs are visually stunning, and each papyrus is transcribed so that students of the language can read it for themselves in Egyptian. This is rather like having the Magna Carta typed up in Times New Roman! Facsimilies of the original papyri are reproduced for comparison, and vocabularies are also included.

I recommend this lovely book for anyone who wants to glimpse the true wonders of the Egyptians, without having to wade through the mire of whimsical western scholarship, which so often knocks the beauty out of the very treasures it is trying to explain. Dr Seleem here presents us with an understanding of the Egyptian sacred tradition which is not based on tattered, intellectual speculation, but on the evidence in the texts themselves. It is apparent that this eloquent tradition has much to teach us today, if only we can open our eyes and look.

Average customer rating:

loaded with details, brings history to life
An unusual and beautiful book!

The Mystery of the Hieroglyphs
Carol Donoughue
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0195215540

Book Description

For more than 15 centuries, no one could read the strange-looking Egyptian hieroglyphs. And then in 1799 a French soldier in Napoleon's army in Egypt stumbled across the Rosetta Stone, an ancient inscription recorded in Greek, hieroglyphs, and demotic script. Many of the brightest scholars of the time--Egyptologists, historians, and linguists--as well as detectives, professional code breakers, and plain amateurs, all set out to decipher the forgotten words. Carol Donoughue tells us the fascinating story of the hieroglyphs and the race to decipher them, explaining how this curious writing system began with simple drawings of everyday objects. She compares the hieroglyphic system to modern alphabets in an entertaining narrative complemented with numerous photographs and drawings, maps, historical timelines stretching from ancient Egypt to Napoleon, a glossary, and numerous sidebars. The book culminates in an edge-of-your-seat description of how the brilliant French archaeologist Champollion finally succeeded in deciphering the hieroglyphs. A final section displays an alphabet of "hieroglyphs" and offers some fun activities for children based on hieroglyphic writing.

Customer Reviews:

loaded with details, brings history to life.......2002-10-20

This book tells of the discovery of the Rosetta Stone and about attempts to break the code of the hieroglyphs and demotic script. We learn of the various men who tried to break the code and about the successful young man who finally did break the code. The book also tells about who currently owns the Rosetta Stone and the journey and literal fighting that took place over its ownership.

Through this story the reader is introduced to what hieroglyphs are and what demotic script is. Battles are very lightly touched upon, enough to explain why the Egyptians began writing in Greek as well. (The Rosetta stone tells the same story in Hieroglyphs, Demotic script, and Greek and was the key to breaking the hieroglyphic code.) The reader is kept in suspense about the meaning and the decoding of the hieroglyphs...as the discoveries are made the code is revealed to us in bits and pieces. For example we start off not knowing if the symbols stand for sounds of a spoken word or for literal translations to objects/animals, etc. In the end the hieroglyphs are spelled out and the reader is given several examples to try to interpret their meaning. Some of the basic writing rules are clearly discussed such as that the writing can go left to right or right to left, and we are to follow the face of the animal shapes to tell us which way to go. Writing can be vertical and the symbols can be backwards or forwards! There are no punctuation marks, sentences or paragraphs, it all runs together.

There are photographs, illustrations, timelines, and maps throughout this book, which add to the experience. This is loaded with text, it is not as skimpy in text or detail as some books that publishers group into this same age category. Yet it is not as loaded or illustration-driven as the DK/Eyewitness books (as a comparison comment, not a complaint).

I especially enjoyed the details about the life of Jean Francios Champollion, the man who broke the code of the hieroglyphs. Taught to read at a young age and homeschooled by his older brother for most of his life, he was devoted to reading and learning foreign languages from an early age. He disliked math and science and chose instead to study languages. His devotion to his passion lead to his decoding the Rosetta Stone and later to fundraising to pay for an expedition to Egypt. He was so passionate about the bringing history of Egypt to others that he persuaded the King of France to acquire many Egyptian artifacts and he became the curator of the Egyptian museum of the Louvre, which still is on display today. This is all told in an interesting way in this book. We can all learn something from Champollion, to follow our interests, teach our children what they are most interested in, and to excel in one area (of study) can lead to great things if the passion is allowed to flourish. This is a great contrast to our American public educational system today, which wants excellence in many areas of study (and covers each lightly) and doesn't allow time or energy to be spend one or two areas of specialized interest.

My only complaint is that I found the questions posed to the children annoying ("what do you think this means..." and such). I don't think children need to be directed to think about something, it happens to each of us as we read. Perhaps we don't all wonder about the same thing at the same paragraph in a book but that is OK. Sometimes the questions asked the child to interpret something but then the true answer is never revealed which is annoying and I feel leaves the reader feeling incompetent and possibly frustrated to have a curiosity sparked but left without the correct answer, wondering if they are correct or not.

This is a great book to tell the story of unlocking the mystery of the Rosetta Stone and an easily understood introduction to hieroglyphics (and the two other languages) used by the Egyptians. This book really brings history to life.

An unusual and beautiful book!.......2000-06-13

This short (48 pages) book simply and intelligently tells the story of the decipherment of the Egyptian hieroglyphs for children. It is illustrated with beautiful artwork and is a worthy gift for an artistic, curious middle-school child.

How to Read Maya Hieroglyphs (Hippocrene Practical Dictionaries)

Average customer rating:

Excellent, though less user-friendly than alternatives
I never got it!
How to read Maya
AWESOME!!
review of Mayan hieroglyphs guide

How to Read Maya Hieroglyphs (Hippocrene Practical Dictionaries)
John Montgomery
Manufacturer: Hippocrene Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0781810205

Customer Reviews:

Excellent, though less user-friendly than alternatives.......2007-08-20

The main two books I read when studying the Maya script were this one and Michael Coe's "Reading the Maya Glyphs." Ultimately, I preferred this one because it is more in-depth and scholarly, but I did miss the exercises and easy-to-look-up tables that the Coe has. The Coe is also slightly better illustrated (or, at least, more flashily illustrated, which is admittedly not the same thing). Either book can add greatly to your appreciation of monuments at sites such as Palenque and their museums, and ideally I would recommend purchasing both books.

I'm somewhat conflicted about this next issue. The Coe book delves further into some more cutting-edge grammatical theories such as morphosyllables and syllabic disharmony (don't worry, both are explained well). These theories are fascinating, and are barely discussed by Montgomery in the book on this page. HOWEVER, there is far less scholarly support behind these controversial ideas, and in many ways I think Coe makes them seem more accepted than they are. Montgomery's conservatism is probably more academically honest.

It's very difficult to recommend one over the other because they both have their strengths and weaknesses. It may be overly general, but if you're looking for a more sophisticated and deep understanding of Maya script, the book on this page is probably better. If you want a more practical study (including exercises to test your comprehension), go with the Coe--just remember that scholars are less certain about some of his claims than it may seem.

I never got it!.......2007-03-09

Sorry, I never got the book, so I would not know what to say about it.

How to read Maya.......2003-05-08

In short, it is a book for those interested on learning how to read Mayan Hieroglyphs. It gives you a step by step approache and good examples, taking you to some final exercises that will help to start by yourself.

AWESOME!!.......2002-09-03

This will become known as one of the standards. It is a masterpiece in its format and its presentation. Mr. Montgomery did a fine job in methodically (a compliment) going through the material and explaining the nuances of "hieroglyphs." I highly recommend the book.

review of Mayan hieroglyphs guide.......2002-04-08

Excellent book. I have a degree in cultural anthropology and started studying the Maya thirty years ago. Finally, we have a clear, precise explanation of how to approach and gain understanding of the glyphs with excellent background history and perspective. Although I am now an attorney, I still study Mayan culture and archaeology and find the book extremely interesting, approachable and a great pleasure to read. The facts that are added to give background do indeed, provide a well-rounded understanding of the evolution of the cracking of the code. I can't praise it enough. I waited a long time for a book like this!

Ancient Egyptian Calligraphy A Beginner's Guide to Writing Hieroglyphs

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It's great if it's for a 5-year-old.
Writing Glyphs made easier
A great book
The best I could find
Excellent Guide

Ancient Egyptian Calligraphy A Beginner's Guide to Writing Hieroglyphs
Henry George Fischer , and Henry G. Fischer
Manufacturer: Metropolitan Museum of Art
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0300085672

Customer Reviews:

It's great if it's for a 5-year-old........2007-08-15

I guess I was expecting more.
If you have children, they would get more out of this. It reminded be of learning how to write in grade school. That's about all there is to it.

Writing Glyphs made easier.......2006-11-06

This made the work that I was doing for a Birthday Project for two young ladies much easier

A great book.......2004-06-25

The best I guide to practice your hieroglyphic calligraphy. I love it.

The best I could find.......2004-03-14

This is one of several books on the subject that I bought because I was late on a decorative commission and had to learn how to write hieroglyphs fast. This turned out to be the only book of any value. Using Gardiner's Sign List to organize the symbols into catagories, Fischer first shows a large drawing of the glyph, then shows with a series of sequential sketches how to arrive at the final design. Using his technique, I was able to achieve satisfactory results in a remarkably short time.

Unlike some of the other authors, Fischer does redraw, modify, or try to "reinterpret" the symbols. I compared his hieroglyphs to photographs of tomb and temple walls and found his to be true to the originals.
The 4th edition contains some additional glyphs and information in supplementary references and addenda.
This is a beautifully designed and bound book, worthy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I use this in conjunction with Wilkinson's "Reading Egyptian Art".

Excellent Guide.......2003-12-11

As others have said, this volume is slim and thankfully clear and concise. The glyphs are simplified to make them easier to draw, but still recognizably hieroglyphs (as opposed to cursive forms or hieratic-- and sometimes clearer than Faulkner). There are many larger illustrations that show the glyph in more naturalistic form; these are quite interesting. When the forms varied significantly over time, all versions are shown (i.e., Old Kingdom form, Middle and New Kingdom form(s).) It's very helpful, for writing and reading.

The Myth of Egypt and Its Hieroglyphs in European Tradition

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An important starting point
FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHS

The Myth of Egypt and Its Hieroglyphs in European Tradition
Erik Iversen
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0691021244

Book Description

Erik Iversen describes the powerful effect of the "myth of Egypt," particularly Egyptian hieroglyphs, on European literature, art, religion, and philosophy. This is the story of a creative misunderstanding: an erroneous interpretation of the traditions of ancient Egypt became a rich source of inspiration for Europeans from ancient times through the medieval and Renaissance periods to the Baroque era. The misguided notion that hieroglyphs were allegorical, and that they constituted a sacred writing of ideas, exerted a dynamic influence in almost all fields of intellectual and artistic endeavor, as did conceptions of Egypt as the venerable home of true wisdom and of occult and mystic knowledge. The Baroque Piazza Navona in Rome, for instance, is only one of the many great public spaces that center on an Egyptian obelisk and an attempt to read its mysterious signs. Iversen begins by discussing the nature of Egyptian writing. Then he explains, in detail and with apposite illustrations and quotations, the ways in which Europeans tried to understand and use the hieroglyphs. A final chapter sets Jean Franois Champollion's decipherment of the hieroglyphs into a vividly reconstructed historical context.

Customer Reviews:

An important starting point.......2001-12-16

If you are interested in the European reception of Egypt, this is an essential starting-point. If, on the other hand, you are interested in ancient Egypt as it actually was, you will find this book extremely elusive and difficult to grasp.

Iversen, an Egyptologist of some note, first wrote this book in 1961, but it has been added to the Bollingen Mythos collection from Princeton, which also publishes people like Jean Seznec, Erwin Panofsky, etc. I have not compared editions, but so far as I can tell the only difference between this and the original edition is the addition of a brief preface discussing the work of such scholars as Frances Yates.

Okay, on to the book itself. In short, Iversen wants to discuss how European thinkers (before Champollion deciphered hieroglyphics at the start of the 19th C) thought about hieroglyphs, how they misinterpreted them conceptually, and how as a result they constructed a vast and erroneous mythology of what Egypt really was and what wisdom it could impart to the wise seeker.

The story is now relatively well-known, largely as a result of this book. Since Europeans did not realize that hieroglyphs are primarily phonetic, they assumed that their meaning was based entirely upon a connection between the pictures and the objects they represented graphically. Since it was hard to make sense of any actual inscriptions based upon this theory, European thinkers developed elaborate theories about the allegorical significance of hieroglyphs, such that a picture of a snake eating its tail might allegorically represent the infinity of time and space, and hence the universe.

If the story I have just sketched sounds boring to you, don't buy this book. If, on the other hand, you think this is nifty --- or you already knew this but want the details --- this book is for you.

Iversen begins with an introduction to hieroglyphics as they really were, then goes on to a chronological story of reception and attempts at decryption. Along the way, we pick up a great number of really interesting people and ideas, because Egyptomania was a constant theme in (especially) Renaissance iconography and intellectual history. We get bits of some famous books and some obscure ones, raving madness and serious scholarly analysis, and everything in between.

One can hardly summarize the varieties of mis-decipherments in Renaissance European Egyptomania, but Iversen manages to cover a huge amount of ground in a relatively few pages. My only criticism is an unfair one: he doesn't know (or care) about cultural linguistic perceptions, and as such he tends to group all of these would-be decipherments into a kind of history of folly. Nevertheless, he is willing to take it all relatively seriously, considering that he thinks it's silly.

The result is a book which is charming and scholarly at once. Unfortunately, it is somewhat densely written, probably because English is not Iversen's native tongue. On the up side, there are a lot of pictures of hieroglyphs and, more interestingly, things described as hieroglyphs which bear little obvious relationship to the ones inscribed in Egypt. It's a fascinating tour of an important and still somewhat neglected field, and suitable for the general educated reader as well as for the specialist; indeed, the specialist may find it a bit sparse on detailed information, although the notes and apparatus are certainly satisfactory.

This book is somewhat dated, of course, but remains the seminal work in this odd corner of intellectual or cultural history. If you find the description here interesting, you will probably enjoy the book.

FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHS.......2000-11-29

This very profound and interesting book recounts the fate that the cultural expressions, and especially the hieroglyphs, of ancient Egypt has found in the Western World, as well as the effects of her influence on European Medieval and Renascentist Ages and afterwards. It is masterly written, full of useful and valuable data and nicely printed. Nothing else but to highly recommend it for all those interested in ancient Egyptian writing and the development of writing-history.

Ancient Egypt Pyramids & Hieroglyphs End

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Ancient Egypt Pyramids & Hieroglyphs End
Aidan Dodson
Manufacturer: NEW HOLLAND*PUBLISHERS PTY LTD
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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