Originally published: London: Bodley Head, 1967.

Retells nine tales of ancient Egypt, including the story of Ra rising from the waters of the Nile to create the gods of the earth, sky, and rain.

In 1250 B.C. the teenaged son of the Egyptian high priest sets off a series of harrowing events when he accidentally kills the sacred cat of Bubastes and, accompanied by his sister and two foreign slaves, embarks on a dangerous journey to find safe haven beyond the borders of Egypt.

"The Ancient Egyptians were the greatest story-tellers of the ancient world. Their tales of creation, death, sex, violence, friendship and betrayal deserve to be read and enjoyed by a modern audience." "In this anthology Joyce Tyldesley retells some of the most important myths, folk-tales and autobiographies preserved on papyrus and carved in stone. With comprehensive commentaries exploring the meaning of the stories, this collection of fact and fiction allows us to see Ancient Egypt through the eyes of the Egyptians themselves."

Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz reaches back millennia to his homeland’s majestic past in this enchanting collection of early tales that brings the world of ancient Egypt face to face with our own times. From the Predynastic Period, where a cabal of entrenched rulers banish virtue in jealous defense of their status, to the Fifth Dynasty, where a Pharaoh returns from an extended leave to find that only his dog has remained loyal, to the twentieth century, where a mummy from the Eighteenth Dynasty awakens in fury to reproach a modern Egyptian nobleman for his arrogance, these five stories conduct timeless truths over the course of thousands of years. Summoning the power and mystery of a legendary civilization, they examplify the artistry that has made Mahfouz among the most revered writers in world literature. Translated by Raymond Stock

From Herodotus to The Mummy, Western civilization has long been fascinated with the exotic myths and legends of Ancient Egypt but they have often been misunderstood. Here acclaimed Egyptologist Joyce Tyldesley guides us through 3000 years of changing stories and, in retelling them, shows us what they mean. Gathered from pyramid friezes, archaological finds and contemporary documents, these vivid and strange stories explain everything from why the Nile flooded every year to their beliefs about what exactly happened after death and shed fascinating light on what life was like for both rich and poor. Lavishly illustrated with colour pictures, maps and family trees, helpful glossaries explaining all the major gods and timelines of the Pharoahs and most importantly packed with unforgettable stories, this book offers the perfect introduction to Egyptian history and civilization.

Collection of stories about the ancient Egyptians and their gods.