Osiris and the Egyptian Resurrection by E.A.Wallis Budge

Publishing: 1911 G.P. Putnam Sons; First Edition

Beautiful two volume set in the desired binding variant. This is the first and best edition of Budges extensive study on ancient Egyptian beliefs regarding the afterlife and the worship of Osiris. In the same year, a book club edition published by the Medici Society was also released. This edition featured single-page plates instead of fold-outs and had reduced color quality, and blind stamped covers among other differences.

This is a detailed explanation of Osirism. Wallis Budge carefully explores the cult of Osiris by studying many Egyptian texts and the writings of authors like Herodotus, Diodorus, and Plutarch. He also looks at recent research from Sudan and other African regions. Budge connects the worship of Osiris to African religions. He examines topics such as the meaning of the name “Osiris” (which is “Asar” in Egyptian), the symbols linked to him, and ideas about the heaven of Osiris from the VIth dynasty. He discusses Osiriss connections to cannibalism, human sacrifice, and dancing. Osiris is also viewed as an ancestral spirit, judge of the dead, moon-god, and bull-god.

Large colour fold-out frontispiece in both volumes, b&w illustrations, fold-out charts.

Condition: publishers cloth boards with gilt impressed panel on front boards, Osiris hieroglyph to spine, slight shelfwear with only faint sunning to spine, small portion of the board damaged along the edges (see photos), clean copies in Very Good condition