Resources for Interested Listeners.

Enjoying the podcast, but want to start learning more about Egyptian history? Here is a starting place: a library of resources you can use to gain greater insight into the culture, language and stories of this amazing people.

Websites

Hieroglyphics and the Ancient Egyptian Language

Beginner:

  • Mark Collier & Bill Manley, How to Read Egyptian Hieroglyphs: A Step-by-Step Guide to Teach Yourself, 2003 (Revised Edition).
  • Bill Manley, Egyptian Hieroglyphs for Complete Beginners, 2012.
  • Bill Petty, Hieroglyphic Dictionary: A Vocabulary of the Middle Egyptian Language, 2012.

University Course Books:

  • Raymond O. Faulkner, A Concise Dictionary of Middle Egyptian, 1988-1991.
  • James Hoch, Middle Egyptian Grammar, 1997.
  • Claude Obsomer, Hieroglyphic Egyptian: A Practical Grammar of Middle Egyptian, 2016.
  • James Allen, Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hierogylphs. NOTE: not recommended for beginners.

General Histories of Egyptian Culture

  • John Romer, A History of Ancient Egypt from the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid, 2013.
  • John Romer, A History of Ancient Egypt Volume 2: from the Great Pyramid to the Fall of the Middle Kingdom, 2017.
  • John Romer, A History of Ancient Egypt Volume 3: From the Shepherd Kings to the End of the Theban Monarchy, 2024.
  • Marc van de Mieroop, A History of Ancient Egypt, 2010.

Ancient Texts and Literature

  • Miriam Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume I (Old and Middle Kingdoms); Volume II (New Kingdom); Volume III (Late Period), 2006 (revised editions).
  • William Kelly Simpson (editor), The Literature of Ancient Egypt, 2003.
  • Richard Parkinson, The Tale of Sinuhe and Other Ancient Egyptian Poems 1940-1640 B.C., 2009.
  • Raymond Faulkner, Ogden Goelet et al., The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day, 2015 (Revised Edition). NOTE: essential for anyone interested in this Book; do not use Budge.
  • William Murnane, Texts from the Amarna Period in Egypt, 1995.
  • Edward Wente, Letters from Ancient Egypt, 1990.
  • Toby Wilkinson, Writings from Ancient Egypt, 2017.
  • John L. Foster, Hymns, Prayers and Songs: An Anthology of Ancient Egyptian Lyric Poetry, 1996.

Archaeology, Religion, Culture and Society

  • Kathryn Bard, An Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt, 2015 (2nd Edition). An excellent overview of important sites, theories and evidence on a wide range of topics.
  • Mark Lehner and Zahi Hawass, Giza and the Pyramids: The Definitive History, 2017.  (NOTE: essential reading for anyone interested in the pyramids of Giza, their construction and history).
  • Miroslav Verner, The Pyramids (New and Revised 2nd Edition), 2021.
  • Richard Wilkinson, The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt, 2003.
  • Geraldine Pinch, Egyptian Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt, 2004.
  • Nicholas Reeves and Richard Wilkinson, The Complete Valley of the Kings, 2008.
  • Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2010.