Legends of the Gods: The Egyptian Texts, Edited with Translations

These are the words the ancient Egyptians themselves wrote about their gods. Budge, the Victorian-era titan of Egyptology, presents nine of the most significant myths of ancient Egypt: the creation of the world through the god Khepera's will, Ra's journey across the sky and his secret name, Isis mourning and resurrecting Osiris, the falcon god Horus avenging his father. Here you will find the terrifying Legend of the Destruction of Mankind, where Ra punishes humanity's rebellion, and the poignant story of Khnemu relieving a seven-year famine. Each legend appears in hieroglyphic text alongside Budge's literal translations, allowing readers to trace the original language if they wish. This is not a retelling but the real thing: myths preserved on papyrus and stone for over three millennia, now made accessible to modern readers. Whether you approach these texts as a scholar of ancient languages, a lover of mythology, or simply someone who has stood before a temple wall and wondered what the carvings once meant, this volume opens a door into the Egyptian mind.