A practical and colorful illustrated guide to reading, writing, and understanding ancient Egyptian names, adjectives, titles, and phrases. The Egyptians believed that the creator god Ptah brought existence into the world by naming everything. Names held great power, and kings often inscribed their names on monuments of previous rulers. A person's name was a vital piece of their existence, and Egyptians were very concerned that their names be recorded, remembered, and pronounced. Criminals and those who had fallen from favor could be punished—erased from history—through the destruction or alteration of their names. Hieroglyphic writing provided a beautiful, flexible, and expressive method for writing the names of people, gods, and animals. Angela McDonald explains the meanings of Egyptian personal names and how they were formed (Ramses = "Ra begot him"), and shows how they were written in various ways to convey different shades of meaning. Royal and divine names always enjoyed special treatment. The Egyptians were not always formal, and nicknames were common. Even the names of pet animals were recorded in tomb wall paintings.

• Pages: 64
• Year of Publication: 0417
• Dimensions: 20x20cm