Egyptian Myth and Legend

The book “Egyptian Myth and Legend” by Donald A. Mackenzie, published in London in 1913 in English, constitutes a fundamental study of the mythology and religious beliefs of Ancient Egypt. The author, a renowned British folklorist and historian, unveils for the reader the rich world of the Egyptian pantheon, ancient cosmogonic myths, legends of the afterlife, the cult of the pharaohs, and the sacred symbolism underlying one of the greatest civilizations of antiquity. The book offers a detailed examination of the figures of Osiris, Isis, Horus, Ra, Anubis, and other deities, analyzing their roles in the religious and social life of the Egyptians. Special attention is devoted to concepts of death and resurrection, funerary rites, the “Book of the Dead”, and belief in the posthumous judgment of Osiris as a central element of the ancient Egyptian worldview. The edition is supplemented with historical commentary and a comparative analysis of the belief systems of various ancient cultures. Mackenzie draws parallels between Egyptian myths and the traditions of Mesopotamia, Greece, and other civilizations, highlighting shared archetypes and the distinctive features of the development of human religious thought.