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Ancient Egypt: A Very Short Introduction describes how our current ideas about Egypt are based not only on the thrilling discoveries made by early Egyptologists but also on fascinating new kinds of evidence produced by modern scientific and linguistic analyses. We can identify influences on our responses to these finds, through such media as literature, cinema, and contemporary art. The ancient Egyptians are an enduring source of fascination — mummies and pyramids, curses, and rituals have captured the imagination of generations. We all have a mental picture of ancient Egypt, but is it the right one? How much do we really know about this great civilization?Less

Egyptian Myth: A Very Short Introduction explores the cultural and historical background behind a wide variety of sources and objects on Egyptian mythology, from Cleopatra's Needle and Tutankhamun's golden statue, to a story on papyrus of the gods misbehaving. The world of Egyptian myth is complex. Mythology was an integral part of Egyptian culture for much of its timespan. What did the myths mean, and how have they been interpreted? How have the myths of deities such as Isis and Osiris influenced contemporary culture and become part of our cultural heritage?Less

Hieroglyphs: A Very Short Introduction explores the cultural significance of this script with an emphasis on previously neglected areas such as cryptography and the continuing decipherment into modern times. It examines the powerful fascination hieroglyphs still hold for us today. The people of Ancient Egypt left behind many monuments and objects, covered in the writing now known as Egyptian hieroglyphs. Hieroglyphs were far more than a language. They were an omnipresent and all-powerful force in communicating the messages of ancient Egyptian culture for over three thousand years; used as monumental art, as a means of identifying Egyptianness, and for rarefied communication with the gods.Less