The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts
2006; Society of Biblical Literature; Volume: 125; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
1934-3876
Autores Tópico(s)Historical and Linguistic Studies
ResumoThe Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts, by James P. Allen. SBLWAW 23. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature; Leiden: Brill, 2005. Pp. x + 471. $39.95/$199.00 (paper/cloth). ISBN 1589831829/9004137777. The Pyramid Texts comprise the oldest body of religious literature produced by the priests of Old Kingdom Egypt (late third millennium B.C.E.). Written in primitive Egyptian hieroglyphic, they can be extremely difficult to read much less understand. Thus, any new translation is a welcome event, not least because the texts exercise such a profound influence upon later Egyptian literature (the Coffin Texts, e.g., often cite the Pyramid Texts as canonical). Inscribed on the walls of the royal tombs of several pharaohs (Unis, Teti, Pepi I, Merenre, Pepi II, and Queen Neith), the Pyramid Texts were first discovered in 1880, but new finds have been made as recently as 2001 (the texts of Ankhesenpepi II). Important to both Egyptologists and scholars of comparative religion, the Pyramid Texts preserve a fascinating portrait of the nature and structure of the universe, the character and color of the afterlife, and the gods' role in helping the pharaoh's ka (individual life force) reunite with its ba (individual soul) to transform the dead monarch into a fully-functioning akh (cosmic being). This volume includes a short introduction (1-14) followed by clear English translations of the Pyramid Texts of Unis (15-64), the Pyramid Texts of Teti (65-96), the Pyramid Texts of Pepi I (97-208), the Pyramid Texts of Merenre (209-38), the Pyramid Texts of Pepi II (239-308), and the Pyramid Texts of Neith (309-36). This is followed by variant readings of each text (337-74), a concordance of text numbers (375-418), a bibliography (419-24), a glossary of Egyptian terms (425-44), and a subject index (445-71). Overall the book sets out to do two things: (1) provide an updated English translation of all the Pyramid Texts (with the exception of Iput II, Wedjebetni, and Ibi); and (2) rearrange them in their most likely order of ritual incantation. From the standpoint of sheer intellectual achievement, it is hard to imagine another contribution to the Society of Biblical Literature's Writings from the Ancient World series more erudite, more comprehensive, or more accomplished than this one. The introduction addresses the history of the translation and editing of the Pyramid Texts, their various genres (offering and insignia rituals, resurrection rituals, mourning rituals, etc.), their religious function, and their portrayal of the Unseen World. Like other Egyptologists (e.g., S. Quirke, The Cult of Ra: Sun-Worship in Ancient Egypt [New York: Thames & Hudson, 2001]), Allen interprets these texts traditionally and exactingly, yet without sacrificing clarity (the glossary is helpful, if not exhaustive). …
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