This volume by the Egyptologist Pascal Vernus captures the very essence of ancient Egypt - a civilization thoroughly imbued by the inspirational and multiform presence of the divine. Accompanied by 110 color photographs of treasures of Egyptian art and architecture, as well as impressive aerial views of the surrounding landscapes, Vernus' exploration of Egyptian divinity reveals the central role that religion played in Egyptian life and culture.

Vernus untangles the complex manifestations of deities, including the gods Osiris, Nut, Amun, and Ra, and explains the various roles they played - in all of their incarnations - in the fabric of Egyptian life. He discusses the implications of this polytheism on the daily lives of ancient Egyptians, as well as the unique, and short-lived, period of monotheism during the extraordinary reign of the pharaoh Akhenaten.

Reinforced by information from the most recent scholarship and archaeological investigations, and supplemented by a glossary, maps, and a chronology, The Gods of Ancient Egypt provides the reader with new insights into this subject.