Resources for Interested Listeners.
Enjoying the podcast, but want to start learning more about Egyptian history? Here is a starting place: a library of resources you can use to gain greater insight into the culture, language and stories of this amazing people.
I will try to update the list regularly, but let me know if there is something missing which people should know about!
Note: Some links will generate a small commission for the Podcast if you purchase from that website (e.g. Amazon). This will help me maintain costs and expenses of creating the show.
Websites
- Ancient Egypt Online: www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk
- The Amarna Project www.amarnaproject.com
- The Amarna Research Foundation www.theamarnaresearchfoundation.org
- The Theban Mapping Project www.thebanmappingproject.com
- Tell el-Dab’a (Avaris) www.auaris.at/html/index_en.html
Hieroglyphics and the Ancient Egyptian Language
Beginner:
- Mark Collier & Bill Manley, How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs: A Step-by-Step Guide to Teach Yourself, 2003 (Revised Edition). Amazon
- Bill Manley, Egyptian Hieroglyphs for Complete Beginners, 2012. Amazon
- Bill Petty, Hieroglyphic Dictionary: A Vocabulary of the Middle Egyptian Language, 2012. Amazon
University Course Books:
- Raymond O. Faulkner, A Concise Dictionary of Middle Egyptian, 1988-1991. Digital
- James Hoch, Middle Egyptian Grammar, 1997. Amazon
- Claude Obsomer, Hieroglyphic Egyptian: A Practical Grammar of Middle Egyptian, 2016. Safran
- James Allen, Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hierogylphs. Amazon (NOTE: not recommended for beginners)
General Histories of Egyptian Culture
- David P. Silverman (editor), Ancient Egypt, 2003. Amazon(NOTE: dated, but still good).
- Ian Shaw (editor), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, 2000. Amazon(NOTE: dated, but still good).
- Marc van de Mieroop, A History of Ancient Egypt, 2010. Amazon
- Jan Assmann, The Mind of Egypt, 2002. Amazon (NOTE: slightly controversial, but undeniably compelling reading).
- Toby Wilkinson, The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt, 2013. Amazon
- John Romer, A History of Ancient Egypt from the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid, 2013.
- John Romer, A History of Ancient Egypt Volume 2: from the Great Pyramid to the Fall of the Middle Kingdom, 2017. Amazon
Ancient Texts and Literature
- Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume I (Old and Middle Kingdoms); Volume II (New Kingdom); Volume III (Late Period), 2006 (revised editions).
- William Kelly Simpson (editor), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2003. Amazon
- Richard Parkinson, The Tale of Sinuhe and Other Ancient Egyptian Poems 1940-1640 B.C., 2009. Amazon
- Raymond Faulkner, Ogden Goelet et al., The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth By Day, 2015 (Revised Edition). Amazon (NOTE: essential for anyone interested in this Book; do not use Budge).
- Richard Parkinson, Poetry and Culture in Middle Kingdom Egypt: A Dark Side to Perfection, 2002. Amazon
- William Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt, 1995. Amazon
- Edward Wente, Letters from Ancient Egypt, 1990. Amazon
- Toby Wilkinson, Writings from Ancient Egypt, 2017. Amazon
- John L. Foster, Hymns, Prayers and Songs: An Anthology of Ancient Egyptian Lyric Poetry, 1996. Amazon
Archaeology, Religion, Culture and Society
- Kathryn Bard, An Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt, 2015 (2nd Edition). Amazon (NOTE: an excellent overview of important sites, theories and evidence on a wide range of topics).
- Mark Lehner and Zahi Hawass, Giza and the Pyramids: The Definitive History, 2017. Amazon (NOTE: essential reading for anyone interested in the pyramids of Giza, their construction and history).
- Miroslav Verner, The Pyramids (New and Revised 2nd Edition), 2021. Amazon.
- Mark Lehner, The Complete Pyramids, 1997. Amazon (Note: dated, but still worthwhile. Recommend using Verner 2021 instead). Digital
- Richard Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, 2003. Amazon
- Geraldine Pinch, Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt, 2004. Amazon
- Donna Napoli, Treasury of Egyptian Mythology, 2013. Amazon (NOTE: Beautiful art, great for kids)
- Nicholas Reeves and Richard Wilkinson, The Complete Valley of the Kings, 2008. Amazon
- Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2010. Amazon
- Howard Carter and A.C. Mace, The Discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamen, 2012. Amazon
Media & Fiction
- Mika Waltari, The Egyptian, 1949 (Dated but impressive for the time; based on Sinuhe). Amazon
- Wilbur Smith, River God, 1993 (entertaining and detailed). Amazon
- Board Game: Valley of the Kings (I own this one, it’s quite fun). Amazon
- Movie: The Mummy Trilogy, 1999-2008 (the first one is great, don’t deny it). Amazon
- Movie: The Mummy: The Complete Legacy Edition, 1932-1955 (classics). Amazon
- Video Game: Pharaoh, 1999 (with Cleopatra expansion). GOG.com
- Video Game: Assassin’s Creed: Origins, 2017 (great detail, lots of fun). Playstation 4, Xbox One and Paul Davies, The Art of Assassin’s Creed Origins, 2017. Amazon