ANCIENT NEAR EAST

Thoth -- The Hermes of Egypt. Patrick Boylan.

This essay indicates the chief tendencies of ancient Egyptian speculation regarding the god Thoth. Taking as the basis of his work an examination of the primary references to the god in Egyptian literature and ritual, the author distinguishes the more important phases of Thoth's character as they were conceived by the Egyptians, showing how these aspects of his being explain the various activities assigned to him in the legends of the gods, and in the ritual of tombs and temples. Texts derived from the Egyptian literature of the Greco-Roman period are freely used through-out. ISBN 0-89005-280-8. 215pp Pb. $20.00

A Concise Dictionary of Egyptian Archaeology: A Handbook For Students and Travellers. M. Brodrick and A. A. Morton.

For the traveler who decides to visit Egypt and its monuments or for someone who starts to study Egyptian archeology or history, the innumerable names of the gods, Pharaonic dynasties, cities and sites are the first problem. To those we can add the terms related to Egyptian architecture and objects from the public and private life of the Egyptians. Brodrick and Morton compiled their Dictionary as an answer to the two problems mentioned above. The resulting treasury of information is classified alphabetically in the pages of their handy work and includes many illustrations from the monuments and works of art or tools. ISBN 0-89005-303-0. vii + 193pp Pb. $15.00

Ancient Egyptian Medicine: The Papyrus Ebers. Cyril Bryan.

This curious book (the oldest papyrus book in existence) contains the best information available on Egyptian medical practices. In this original work on Egyptian medicine, as written by an ancient physician, all sorts of remedies are listed for ailments still plaguing the human race. ISBN 0-89005-004-X. xxxvi + 167pp + 16pll Pb. $25.00

The Egyptian Language: Easy Lessons in Egyptian Hieroglyphics. E. A. Wallis Budge.

An introduction to the study of the ancient Egyptian language and hieroglyphic inscriptions providing a lengthy list of hieroglyphic characters, telling both their value as ideograms and as phonetics. Shows how to decipher the ancient hieroglyphics, and gives selections from hieroglyphic texts. ISBN 0-89005-095-3. x + 246pp Pb. OOS

The Rosetta Stone. E. A. Wallis Budge.

One of the greatest triumphs of archeology lay in the discovery in 1799 of the Rosetta Stone from which the script of ancient Egypt was explained. Its three inscriptions are in hieroglyphic, demotic and Greek. Budge gives the story of the discovery, the method of decipherment and the complete Greek text of the inscription accompanied by a facing translation. ISBN 0-89005-331-6. 27pp Pb. $7.50

Paper and Books in Ancient Egypt. J. Cerny.

The invention of the book brought to the cultures of the Near-East and the Mediterranean started in Egypt. It was under the shade of the Megalithic Egyptian temples, that the first 'papyrus scroll' was developed and in the great libraries of the Ptolemaic period that the idea of the 'papyrus codex' was born many centuries later. Without the Egyptians, writing could still be limited to materials that could have delayed considerably the expansion of information, education and learning.

Prof. Cerny's account of Paper and Books in Ancient Egypt, is the most complete, documented and depend-able study available. In its compact form, it contains more information and facts than any other reference work on the subject. ISBN 0-89005-205-0. 37pp Pb. $5.00

Osiris, A Study in Myths, Mysteries and Religion. P. Cooke.

Of all ancient legends and myths, the myth of Osiris is among the best known to the student and will best repay study by all who would probe the real meaning of early religious ideas. In this volume the author suggests that the myth may have three different meanings. Dealing with these he delves into a number of interesting points in agriculture, architecture, astronomy, theology, philosophy, the Mysteries. "A penetrating piece of research in which erudition never stifles breadth of view." The Yorkshire Post. "The author gives an accurate translation of Plutarch's work, discusses points in it which have not been adequately dealt with, if at all, by Egyptologists. His criticisms are to the point, and are to be welcomed, and a great many of his conclusions, especially those which deal with the stellar origin of the Egyptian religion, must be accepted."--Sir E. A. Wallis Budge in From Fetish to God in Ancient Egypt. ISBN 0-89005-287-5. 159pp Pb. $15.00

The Coinage of Pharaonic Egypt. J. E. Curtis.

Archeological and numismatic literature has maintained a silence on the subject of coinage by the Pharaohs, the reasons for which are not difficult to find. In the first place, coinage existed nowhere in the Mediterranean area until the period of Egypt's Twenty-sixth Dynasty, when the Pharaonic Period was nearing its end. In the second place, Egypt's peculiar economic homogeneity discouraged such a development. Scattered bits of evidence now available, however, seem to con-firm the existence of a distinctive coinage, struck during the period of the Twenty-Ninth and Thirtieth Dynasties. ISBN 0-89005-283-2. 6pp + illus Pb. $5.00

Egyptian Reading Book I: Exercises and Middle Egyptian Texts. Selected & Edited by Dr. A. De Buck.

The Egyptian Reading Book, compiled by one of the best Egyptologists of the University of Leyden, is a unique collection of literary, religious, and private texts written in hieroglyphics. The student who has worked with Budge's Egyptian Language or Mercer's Grammar needs these texts for study and practice. ISBN 0-89005-213-1. 220pp Pb. $25.00

The Later Dynasties of Egypt XXth to XXXIst. P. G. Elgood.

A history of Egypt in its declining years. The Pharaonic struggle with the priesthoods over power, the intervention of the Ethiopians and the subsequent invasions by the Assyrians, Chaldaeans and the Persians culminating in the arrival of Alexander the Great. ISBN 0-89005-005-8. vii + 154pp Hb. $20.00

Catalogue of the Egyptian Hieroglyphic Printing Type. Alan H. Gardiner.

A collection of tables which provide instant identification of all the Egyptian hieroglyphs. Arranged in convenient categories, a glance at the index shows exactly where to find the hieroglyphs which you wish to decipher. Useful introductory section and listing of Egyptian alphabet. The perfect companion work to Budge's Egyptian Language and Newberry's Egyptian Scarabs. ISBN 0-89005-098-8. vi + 128pp Pb. $12.50

Imhotep: The Egyptian God of Medicine. Jamieson B. Hurry.

The ancient hieroglyphic texts have preserved the memory of a distinguished magician-physician with this name from the reign of King Zoser (Third Dynasty) down to the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. The author traces the fortunes of Imhotep from the period of his human activity through the subsequent periods when he was looked upon first as a demigod and finally as one of the full deities of the Egyptian pantheon. A beautiful and well documented story, based on ancient texts, archeological excavations and discoveries and monuments of Egyptian art. ISBN 0-89005-239-5. xvi + 120pp Pb. $15.00

The Old Egyptian Medical Papyri: The Hearst Papyrus. C. D. Leake.

A papyrological record of ancient Egyptian maladies and the drugs used to alleviate them. ISBN 0-89005-271-9. 108pp Pb. $15.00

Egyptian Hieroglyphic Grammar: With Vocabularies, Exercises, Chrestomathy (A First Reader) Sign-List and Glossary. S. A. B. Mercer.

Mercer's grammar was a product of his experience in teaching Oriental Languages. His idea in writing was that "the beginner needs a textbook which is both simple and also supplied with exercises" and that "the larger grammars are reference books and unsuited for the use of beginners.

Mercer divided his Grammar into chapters or lessons, and supplied each chapter with copious exercises. He supplied also a fine selection of hieroglyphic texts forming a reader, added a Sign-List with explanations of the signs and finally a Glossary translating the Egyptian words into English. For the student who wishes to learn how to read and write the hieroglyphics and understand also the words and sentences formed by them, Mercer's book is an invaluable help. ISBN 0-89005-203-4. viii + 184pp Pb. $15.00

Ancient Egyptian Scarabs. P. Newberry.

A concise work covering all aspects of scarabs, cylinder seals, signet rings and other seals. For the epigraphist, Newberry's work is considered as a Corpus of hieroglyphic inscriptions appearing on the sphragistic monuments. ISBN 0-89005-092-9. 264pp + 44pll + 116 text illus. Pb. $25.00

Historical Scarabs. W. M. Flinders Petrie.

The pocket handbook for the historian and collector of scarabs, with original drawings by Petrie. A useful primer to Newberry's Ancient Egyptian Scarabs. Includes plates, with readings and facsimiles of the royal names and the other hieroglyphic inscriptions on scarabs. ISBN 0-89005-122-4. 84pp + 69pll Pb. $10.00

Ten Years' Digging in Egypt. W. M. Flinders Petrie.

A fascinating account by a premier Egyptologist describing some of the most important discoveries in Egypt at the end of the 19th century. Also of interest to the historian of Greek colonization for its report of the discovery of the original sites of Naukratis and Daphnae. Illustrated with the original drawings of the author. ISBN 0-89005-107-0. 250pp + illus Pb. $20.00

Assyrian Primer and Assyrian Texts: An Inductive Method of Learning the Cuneiform Characters and Reading the Inscriptions. J. Dyneley Prince & E. A. Wallis Budge.

The first edition combining in one volume Prince's Assyrian Primer (New York 1909) and Budge's Assyrian Texts (London 1880). The user not only benefits from Prince's methodical introduction to the cuneiform writing (complete list of signs and many exercises) and his easy grammar of the Assyrian language, but also is given the opportunity to test his reading ability on the texts of the Royal Assyrian Inscriptions selected as readings by Budge. One of the best introductions available to Assyrian cuneiform epigraphy. ISBN 0-89005-226-3. viii + 60pp + vi + 44pp Pb. $15.00

Naucratis. 2 vols. W. M. Flinders Petrie & E. A. Gardner.

This set reports on the archaeological finds of the most ancient Greek site in Egypt. The late pharaohs, while willing to enlist Greek mercenaries, relegated the Greeks (especially merchants) to this one town. A necessary reference source for anyone interested in the cultural exchanges between Greece and Egypt. ISBN 0-89005-508-4 (Vol. I). 100pp + 44pll Hb. $35.00. ISBN 0-89005-509-2 (Vol. II). 92pp + 24pll Hb. $35.00

A Catalogue of Egyptian Scarabs. Alan Rowe.

A collection of scaraboids, seals and amulets in the Palestine Archaeological Museum. The book contains over 1,000 examples of Egyptian scarabs from the Syro-palestinian area dating from the earliest dynastic times to the Hellenistic period. ISBN 0-89005-558-0. Due 11/98. xlviii + 347 pp. + 38 pll. Hb. $40.00

Phoenicia and Western Asia to the Macedonian Conquest. R. Weill.

A tiny land, comprising a coastwise road on a narrow plain, stretching from north to south between sea and mountains, bounded at one end by the shores of northern Syria and at the other by the slope descending from the Palestine highlands to the sea. Such, geographically, is Phoenicia, bounded by Egypt and Asia Minor, facing the western sea whose waters laved the ports of Tyre and Sidon, Byblus, Berytus, and Aradus, of such antiquity that even the legend of the gods retained no memory of their origins. ISBN 0-89005-348-0. 208pp Pb. $20.00

Ancient Phoenicia & Ancient Israel. A. S. Wilkins.

One of the earliest works to recognize the sympathetic relationship of Phoenicia and Israel. The author describes the cross-cultural which influence each area. ISBN 0-89005-361-8. xvi + 204pp Pb. $25.00

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