Language is the oldest living witness to history. Language can be considered the "DNA of culture." It contains the state of mind (psychology) and world view of the people. Without learning the language of the culture or group being studied, there can be no meeting of the mind. We've often heard the phrase "Let the Ancestors Speak" and in order to hear and understand, we must know their language. This is the inspiration behind the making of this book which is to provide the basic tools and means to enter the world of Ancient Egypt and have a meeting of the minds with the illustrious civilization, society, culture, and people responsible for contributing so much to the world that we are indebted to whether realized or not.

The language that is today called Egyptian Hieroglyphs was called Medu Neter by the inhabitants of the Nile Valley civilization . They called their country Kemet, not Egypt. Medu Neter is truly the classical language of Africa. Medu Neter is the oldest African Language for which there is a large body of written texts. There are more texts written in Medu Neter than in any other ancient world language. The people of Kemet left an abundance of detailed data which, until recent decades, was only available to Egyptologist, archeologists, anthropologists, museums and a select few scholars and collectors. Now, serious students can learn how to read what the Kemites wrote on papyrus, and on the temple walls. This book, the Writing System of Medu Neter takes the student step by step through the sound and writing system of this beautiful language. Learning Medu Neter may be one of the most interesting experiences that you will ever have.

Ahmose I, founder of the New Kingdom, came to a broken Egypt and expanded it to the largest size it would ever reach. Readers will learn about how the familial bonds of the women who eagerly and expertly guided the rulers of Thebes sustained him, as a lineage of war-making young men came of age on the throne. They will make connections between how modernizing and adjusting to a specific enemy enabled the Thebans to take on the previously dominant Hyksos, while thought-provoking sidebars describe topics like why naming is important, and what differentiates the factions that sought power.

*Includes pictures *Includes excerpts of ancient accounts *Includes a bibliography for further reading Perhaps not surprisingly given how advanced they were in comparison to contemporaries, the Egyptians invented one of the first writing systems ever, and for centuries, people thought these ancient texts held some sort of secret, be it aliens, advanced technology lost to the world, or mystical cures for all of the world's ills. Even the ancient Egyptians saw their writing systems as full of mystery and hidden knowledge - according to Egyptian mythology, writing was invented by the ibis-headed god Thoth, the most intellectual of the gods. He was a scribe, also associated with mathematics, medicine, and astronomy, and could appear as either an ibis or a baboon. Thoth was originally a lunar god, strongly associated with recording events and time. He is more commonly known as the scribe who records judgment in the famous weighing of the heart scene in which a person's fate in the afterlife is decided To the Egyptians, writing was a gift of the gods and should be used accordingly. It was powerful and had the ability to create. For example, written formula offerings could provide sustenance in multiple ways, including being written, depicting the offerings, and read aloud. Each of these methods brought offerings to the recipient for all of eternity. Speaking words was especially powerful as shown in myths where the gods create in this fashion. One such myth is the "Memphite Theology," where the creator god Ptah creates other beings through the "thoughts of his heart and the words of his mouth." Furthermore, writing a person or a god's name gave them power, and erasing their names took the power away. By placing his name on it, a person or king could usurp a statue from someone else. Since writing was hieroglyphic, it was also art, and the images held power. This is evidenced by signs or images being disfigured in tombs or funerary settings, so as not to hurt the owners. These so-called "mutilated signs" were often of serpents or other animals that were able to harm the deceased. The signs might also be left incomplete for the same purpose. That being said, real people wrote these texts. Some of the scribes might have considered themselves magicians, but they weren't time travelers, aliens, or gods. Ancient Egyptian writing is often extremely complex and filled with puns, vague statements about religious mysteries, and general witty banter. In addition to those extremely well-written and thought-out texts, there is also a range of personal letters, administrative texts, and even graffiti. When reading some of these texts, it is remarkable how similar the people of ancient Egypt were to people today when it came to their daily concerns and even the jokes they told. The ancient Egyptian language was Afro-Asiatic, distantly related to Semitic and African ones, and the writing system only used consonants and not vowels, due to the root system. This is similar to how Arabic or Hebrew is written today. Most words had a root of two or three consonants, and the vowels changed based on the form of the word. Ancient Egyptian Language and Writing: The History and Legacy of Hieroglyphs and Scripts in Ancient Egypt examines the history of writing in Egypt, and how it evolved over thousands of years. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about Egyptian language and writing like never before.

50 Great Myths about Religions is an intriguing, informative, and often humorous introduction to some of the long standing myths that surround religious belief. This engaging book will get its readers thinking about how and why certain myths have arisen, and their continuing influence on our personal and collective view of religion. Offers a lively, informative, and thought-provoking introduction to some of the common misbeliefs surrounding religions Discusses myths about religious belief in general, as well as specific ideas that surround Judaism, Christianity, Islam, atheism, and agnosticism Covers a wide range of myths, from ancient legends such as the Bible forbidding pork being eaten because it causes illness, to modern urban fables, such as Barack Obama being a Muslim Unpacks each myth in turn, explaining why it arose, how it spread, and why the beliefs that stem from it are questionable Includes a fascinating discussion about human nature, and the main characteristics that predispose us to create and circulate myths to begin with Underpinned by a wide knowledge of academic research, it is written by two respected religion scholars and experienced authors

Medu Neter also known as (Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs) is no longer a dead language. For the past 20 years an effort has been underway to resurrect it as a living spoken language. The idea first came from the late Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop a leading African historian, scientist and linguist. It was his desire for Medu Neter to one day become a lingua franca for all of Africa. This Mejat Wefa Conversation book is a step toward realizing that goal. Now students and families and can enjoy speaking this ancient language everyday or just use it for rituals or special occasions, just as people once to spoke Latin and Sanskrit, and ancient Hebrew. This book is written with Medu Neter pronunciation and transliteration for easy use. Also in this 2nd addition the Medu Neter (Hieroglyphs) are included so that students can learn to read as well.