Best of
Egypt

2017

Revolution for Dummies: Laughing through the Arab Spring


Bassem Youssef - 2017
    Comedy shouldn’t take courage, but it made an exception for Bassem.” --Jon StewartSemi-Finalist in the Humor category in the Goodreads Choice Awards."The Jon Stewart of the Arabic World"—the creator of The Program, the most popular television show in Egypt’s history—chronicles his transformation from heart surgeon to political satirist, and offers crucial insight into the Arab Spring, the Egyptian Revolution, and the turmoil roiling the modern Middle East, all of which inspired the documentary about his life, Tickling Giants.Bassem Youssef’s incendiary satirical news program, Al-Bernameg (The Program), chronicled the events of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, the fall of President Hosni Mubarak, and the rise of Mubarak’s successor, Mohamed Morsi. Youssef not only captured his nation’s dissent but stamped it with his own brand of humorous political criticism, in which the Egyptian government became the prime laughing stock.So potent were Youssef’s skits, jokes, and commentary, the authoritarian government accused him of insulting the Egyptian presidency and Islam. After a six-hour long police interrogation, Youssef was released. While his case was eventually dismissed, his television show was terminated, and Youssef, fearful for his safety, fled his homeland.In Revolution for Dummies, Youssef recounts his life and offers hysterical riffs on the hypocrisy, instability, and corruption that has long animated Egyptian politics. From the attempted cover-up of the violent clashes in Tahrir Square to the government’s announcement that it had created the world’s first "AIDS cure" machine, to the conviction of officials that Youssef was a CIA operative—recruited by Jon Stewart—to bring down the country through sarcasm. There’s much more—and it’s all insanely true.Interweaving the dramatic and inspiring stories of the development of his popular television show and his rise as the most contentious funny-man in Egypt, Youssef’s humorous, fast-paced takes on dictatorship, revolution, and the unforeseeable destiny of democracy in the Modern Middle East offers much needed hope and more than a few healing laughs. A documentary about his life, Tickling Giants, debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2016, and is now scheduled for major release.

Egypt's Sister: A Novel of Cleopatra


Angela Elwell Hunt - 2017
    When Urbi becomes Queen Cleopatra, Chava vows to be a faithful friend no matter what--but after she and Cleopatra have an argument, she finds herself imprisoned and sold into slavery. Torn from her family, her community, and her elevated place in Alexandrian society, Chava finds herself cast off and alone in Rome. Forced to learn difficult lessons, she struggles to trust a promise HaShem has given her. After experiencing the best and worst of Roman society, Chava must choose between love and honor, between her own desires and God's will for her life.

Sekhmet: Transformation in the Belly of the Goddess


Nicki Scully - 2017
    Known and feared as the goddess of war and destruction, she also represents the transformative power of kundalini energy, or sekhem, and is the main goddess to harness this power for healing. As “She Who Comes in Times of Chaos,” she takes offerings of fear, rage, and weakness and transforms them into alchemical gold, the universal medicine for physical, emotional, and soul healing.In this book you are guided through a shamanic ritual of alchemical transformation and initiation with Sekhmet, working with this powerful goddess to release your most deeply rooted negative behavior patterns and be reborn into a more purified state of consciousness. Using intensive self-examination exercises to help you prepare to meet the goddess, the author leads you through a guided visualization, illustrated with photographs, to an ancient statue of Sekhmet in her chapel at the Temple of Karnak. There, you will be shamanistically devoured by the goddess, directly experiencing the alchemical process of transformation in the belly of Sekhmet until you are rebirthed as a fully realized adult child of the goddess. You will experience how your offering of pain, fear, rage, and self-sabotage is digested, absorbed, and assimilated by Sekhmet while you are initiated into the alchemy of total transformation. The initiations, rites of passage, and transmissions from Sekhmet included in the journey restructure the most important aspects of your body, mind, spirit, and soul.This journey of shamanic death, illumination, and rebirth in the belly of Sekhmet provides an opportunity to heal on all levels and allows you to release your rage, anger, and fear as you transform the energies that maintained them into creative and constructive solutions that benefit yourself, your community, and the planet.

Adam


Frances Poet - 2017
    It charts Adam's progress from Egypt to Scotland, across borders and genders, in his search for a place to call home.The play was first performed by the National Theatre of Scotland at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017.

DKfindout! Ancient Egypt


D.K. Publishing - 2017
    Inside, author Dr. Angela McDonald breaks down Ancient Egypt, including who lived there and why they're so important.With this DK findout! book, you will:- Learn all about the ancient Egyptians--where they lived, what they wore, and which jobs they had- Meet pharaohs, such as Nefertiti, Hatshepsut, and Ramses the Great, and see how they ruled- Explore maps of the Egyptian Empire and the Nile River- Read an imagined interview with Cleopatra II, Egypt's last pharaoh- Discover why pyramids were built, how mummies were made, and which gods the ancient Egyptians believed in- Experience how children lived in Ancient Egypt by playing a board game- Hear from real-life Egyptologist Barry Kemp, who excavated and studied the ancient city of Amarna- Fold out the cover for an Ancient Egypt quiz and timeline- and find out much, much more!The DK findout! series of kids books helps children become experts on their favorite nonfiction subjects, from dinosaurs and ancient civilizations to space, coding, and cutting-edge technology.

Fun Things to Do with Dead Animals


Salima Ikram - 2017
    Amun Ra (yes, like the Egyptian god) shares the story of his endlessly embarrassing and unconventional life with his Mummy, famous Egyptologist, Amalis Marquis. He regales his readers with adventures of crossing continents, of narrow escapes with stolen artifacts, of death defying run-ins with scorpions, not to mention the humiliation in the face of his peers, with his mother's graphic stories of ancient rites and severed penises. Along the way, he shares his knowledge about ancient Egypt, the modern Middle East, as well as Europe and North America. This book is appropriate for readers 9-15 but can be enjoyed by parents and children of more varied ages.

The Forgotten Pharaoh


David Adkins - 2017
     The ancient civilisation is enjoying unprecedented prosperity during the 18th Dynasty under some of Egypt’s most famous Pharaohs – Ahmose I, Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Amenhotep III, Akhenaten and Tutankhamun. But every empire has its rivals – here the Hittites, the Mittani, Nubians and Assyrians – and every royal family its enemies. Smenkhkare is the youngest son of Amenhotep III and brother to Akhenamun – later to become the ruler Akhenaten – and Thutmose, plus three older sisters. The scheming Akhenamun dismisses Smenkhkare as a mere stripling, but the wise warrior Thutmose takes the boy under his wing and sets out to make a man of him. This is crucial for Smenkhkare whose father has decided that the only role for the boy will be through a marriage of convenience to the beautiful Mittani princess Taduheppa. The bride is ravishing – but older and more worldly – and refuses to consummate the coupling. Full of sympathy for his little brother, Thutmose advises patience and also invites Smenkhkare to accompany him on a raid to hunt down bandits who have attacked a caravan in the desert. It is a fateful moment. Thutmose is killed by an arrow through the neck, igniting a calamitous chain of events as Smenkhkare discovers the arrow did not come from a bandit’s bow. Who, then, did fire the fatal missile? Who would benefit most from the death of the man next in line for the pharoah’s throne? Could the murderer be within his own family? Or was someone else close to the family plotting to seize power? Can Smenkhkare trust his favourite sister Nebetah with his thoughts? Can trusted general Coreb help him in his bid to avenge the death of Thutmose? Who would try to eliminate Smenkhkare by placing a deadly cobra in a basket under his bed? And what are the ghastly contents in two other baskets thrust under Smenkhkare’s nose? David Adkins’ absorbing historical re-imagining The Forgotten Pharaoh, explores the extraordinary and dangerous life and times of a real but little known figure from history – from his child-marriage to exile and then reinstatement in Thebes as pharaoh of one of the most influential dynasties of the ancient civilised world. David Adkins is a retired civil servant who worked for many years at English Heritage. He lives in Letchworth Garden City with his wife. His other historical fiction books to date are The Eagle’s Nest and the Wolf’s Lair, The End of a Dynasty and Season of the Gladiatrix.

SET ~ The Outsider: The Outsider


Judith Page - 2017
    but Set has waited 5,000 years to tell the world his side of the story'. Drawing together from scholarship, religion, art and magic Judith Page and Don Webb have added considerably to the unfolding understanding of the figure of Set. Originally situated in the Egyptian culture the god Set has seemingly torn himself loose, finding an improbable contemporary interest and adherents. Rather than deny any of the attempts to apprehend this re-emergence of Set, Page and Webb have integrated, contextualized it, and most importantly given methods for you to create even greater meaning from this highly variable, mysterious and overpowering god. James Fitzsimmons High Priest of Set "This is an extremely interesting, thought-provoking and inspirational collection of essays and articles on Set by Judith Page, Don Webb and others. Here are diverse approaches to the deity, ranging from the contemplation of historical material through to considerations on meditational and magical working. The collection is profusely illustrated by examples of Judith's striking artwork and many historical diagrams and drawings that convey a wealth of information. A very absorbing and enjoyable read; and one which I would heartily recommend to anyone interested in finding out more about Set." Michael Staley, Starfire Publishing 'Behold, I am creating everything anew' Another landmark in the rise and rise of Egyptian Seth. Both authors are well-known advocates and devotees of this now, not so hidden god, whose influence on the modern occult revival is difficult to ignore. Co-author Don Webb, calls this his 'religious text' and what is on offer is a complete survey of the historical and mythic-field together with extended liturgy and rites, some reconstructed from ancient sources, some created anew. The book is illustrated throughout by Judith Page, who has also re-drawn many famous images or vignettes for the collection, together with informative essays, crucial topics for the mythos. I was particularly struck by Don's admonition that this book is for the hopeful; 'an antinomian stance on a polluted and troubled world' - despite which, a life affirming Seth is at work behind the scenes, creating wealth & reducing poverty Essential stuff. Mogg Morgan author "Phi-Neter: Power of the Egyptian Gods" Black & white Special edition:

The Mosques of Egypt


Bernard O'Kane - 2017
    Amr immediately established his capital at al-Fustat, just south of modern Cairo, and there he built Africa's first mosque, one still in regular use today. Since then, governors, caliphs, sultans, amirs, beys, pashas, among others, have built mosques, madrasas, and mausoleums throughout Egypt in a changing sequence of Fatimid, Ayyubid, Mamluk, Ottoman, and modern styles.In this fully color-illustrated, large-format volume, a leading historian of Islamic art and culture celebrates the great variety of Egypt's mosques and related religious buildings, from the early congregational mosques, through the medieval mausoleum-madrasas, to the neighborhood mosques of the Ottoman and modern periods. With outstanding architectural photography and authoritative descriptive texts, this book will be valued as the finest on the subject by scholars and general readers alike.Covers more than 80 of the country's most historic mosques, with more than 300 color photographs, in 400 pages.

Complete Middle Egyptian: A New Method for Understanding Hieroglyphs: Reading Texts in Context (Complete Language Courses)


Richard Bussmann - 2017
    Designed for complete beginners, and tested for years with real learners, Complete Middle Egyptian offers a bridge from the textbook to the real world, enabling you to learn the grammar, access inscriptions in documents and monuments and even teaching you how to draw hieroglyphs yourself.Structured around key artefacts and introducing both the original hieroglyphs and transliteration (for easier understanding) this course also features: -16 learning units plus pronunciation section, grammar reference, sign list overview and sign list explanation -Stepped progression - clearly graduated progress through different levels of the language-Authentic materials - language taught through key artefacts and texts-Teaches the key skills - reading and understanding hieroglyphs-Culture insights - learn about the culture, society and politics in ancient Egypt-Self tests and learning activities - see and track your own progressRely on Teach Yourself, trusted by language learners for over 75 years.

Christianizing Egypt: Syncretism and Local Worlds in Late Antiquity


David Frankfurter - 2017
    Reintroducing the term "syncretism" for the inevitable and continuous process by which a religion is acculturated, the book addresses the various formations of Egyptian Christianity that developed in the domestic sphere, the worlds of holy men and saints' shrines, the work of craftsmen and artisans, the culture of monastic scribes, and the reimagination of the landscape itself, through processions, architecture, and the potent remains of the past.Drawing on sermons and magical texts, saints' lives and figurines, letters and amulets, and comparisons with Christianization elsewhere in the Roman empire and beyond, Christianizing Egypt reconceives religious change--from the "conversion" of hearts and minds to the selective incorporation and application of strategies for protection, authority, and efficacy, and for imagining the environment.

Protecting Pharaoh's Treasures: My Life in Egyptology


Wafaa el Saddik - 2017
    At a time when Egyptology was dominated by men, especially those with close connections to the regime, she was determined to succeed, and secured grants to study in Boston, London, and Vienna, eventually becoming the first female general director of the country's most prestigious museum. She launched the first general inventory of the museum's cellars in its more than hundred-year history, in the process discovering long-forgotten treasures, as well as confronting corruption and nepotism in the antiquities administration.In this very personal memoir, she looks back at the history of her country and asks, What happened to Egypt? Where did Nasser's bright new beginning go wrong? Why did Sadat fail to bring peace? Why did the Egyptians allow themselves to be so corrupted by Mubarak? And why was the Muslim Brotherhood able to achieve power? But her first concern remains: How can the ancient legacy of her country truly be protected?

The Arabic Freud: Psychoanalysis and Islam in Modern Egypt


Omnia El Shakry - 2017
    By the late 1950s, Freud's Interpretation of Dreams had been translated into Arabic for an eager Egyptian public. In The Arabic Freud, Omnia El Shakry challenges the notion of a strict divide between psychoanalysis and Islam by tracing how postwar thinkers in Egypt blended psychoanalytic theories with concepts from classical Islamic thought in a creative encounter of ethical engagement.Drawing on scholarly writings as well as popular literature on self-healing, El Shakry provides the first in-depth examination of psychoanalysis in Egypt and reveals how a new science of psychology--or "science of the soul," as it came to be called--was inextricably linked to Islam and mysticism. She explores how Freudian ideas of the unconscious were crucial to the formation of modern discourses of subjectivity in areas as diverse as psychology, Islamic philosophy, and the law. Founding figures of Egyptian psychoanalysis, she shows, debated the temporality of the psyche, mystical states, the sexual drive, and the Oedipus complex, while offering startling insights into the nature of psychic life, ethics, and eros.This provocative and insightful book invites us to rethink the relationship between psychoanalysis and religion in the modern era. Mapping the points of intersection between Islamic discourses and psychoanalytic thought, it illustrates how the Arabic Freud, like psychoanalysis itself, was elaborated across the space of human difference.

Alexander the Great Dane


Chris Capstick - 2017
    The Giant Cats, along wih their smaller cousins, keep the dogs hard at work all day long. But the dogs have had enough - it's time for a change! A revolutionary tale of giant proportions.

Egyptology Coloring Book


Emily Sands - 2017
    The images found within include hieroglyphs, pyramids, artifacts, statuary, and mummy masks such as those discovered inside the tomb of King Tut himself."

Ptolemies of Egypt


P.G. Elgood - 2017
     Three hundred years later there died by her own hand Cleopatra, last of her line, destined for immortality at the hands of Shakespeare. Between Alexander’s officer and the lover of Caesar and Antony stretched an unbroken line of descent, and for three centuries the land of Egypt was ruled for better or for worse by the dynasty of the Ptolemies. The administrative and economic conditions of Ptolemaic Egypt have been exhaustively examined, and there is an abundance of textbooks on these subjects. But the kings and queens of the period, virile if not specially virtuous rulers, have received less attention. This book has been written with the object of rescuing their personality from oblivion, and it gives to the general public a colourful picture of a period of world history which is normally confined to the text-books of the student.

Book of the Dead: Becoming God in Ancient Egypt


Foy Scalf - 2017
    Presenting the newest research on the Book of the Dead through text and elaborate imagery, one learns what the Book of the Dead meant to ancient Egyptians and how they sought to live forever as gods. There are nearly 400 illustrations, including the famous Papyrus Milbank.

Aristocrats and Archaeologists: An Edwardian Journey on the Nile


Toby Wilkinson - 2017
    The letters, like a time capsule, bring to life a lost world of Edwardian travel and social mores, of Egypt on the brink of the modern age, of the great figures of Egyptology, of aristocrats and archaeologists.In 1907/08 Ferdinand Platt (known to his family as Ferdy) traveled to Egypt as personal physician to the ailing 8th Duke of Devonshire-one of the giant statesmen of the late Victorian age-and his family party, recounting his adventure in letters to his young wife in England. Throughout the journey Ferdy not only reported on the sights of the country around him, with his amateur Egyptologist's eye, and the people he met along the way (including Howard Carter and Winston Churchill) but also recorded his private thoughts and intimate observations of a formal and stratified society, soon to be witness to its own extinction.Introduced by Egyptologist Toby Wilkinson and Ferdy's great-nephew Julian Platt, the letters open an intriguing window onto travel in Egypt during the Belle Epoque and the golden age of Egyptology.