In addition to their astonishing legacy of artifacts and burial sites, the ancient Egyptians also produced a rich body of writing about the quest for immortality.The Egyptian Book of Living and Dyingtraces humankind's progress from birth to death to the mysterious realm of the afterlife, with this mortal cycle 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. In particular, theBook of the Deademphasizes the hazardous voyage of the soul as it makes its way through the Underworld in search of the eternal paradise. This illuminating work will help bring readers one step closer to the spirit of the ancient Egyptians. - Reveals the mysteries of the ancient Egyptians' fascinating and amazingly diverse belief system, and the rich tapestry of their myths - Includes a wealth of quotations from ancient sources, including spells from theBook of the Deadand mystical ritual incantations - Contains more than 90 evocative photographs of ancient Egyptian sites and artifacts, plus more than 40 specially commissioned color artworks.