In addition to the astonishing cultural legacy of artefacts and burial sites that the ancient Egyptians left behind, there is also a rich body of writings about the quest for immortality and humankind's progress from birth to death and into the mysterious realm of the afterlife, which the Egyptians called the Underworld. The Egyptian Book of Living and Dying traces the stages of life from conception to the existence beyond the tomb. This cycle is set against the eternal backdrop of the cosmos - the gods, the movement of the sun, the symbolism of the stars, and the great battles of Horus and Seth. Particular emphasis is given to the hazardous voyage of the soul - described in the Book of the Dead - as it makes its way through the Underworld in search of the eternal paradise. At the heart of the book are the key themes of creation, magic, ritual and eternity. The result is an illuminating work for all those who wish to move one step closer to the spirit of the ancient Egyptians.
