Ancient Egypt Translated For The First Time: Book Of The Dead

Panel from the Book of the Dead.

A tale old as time, Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs have been read and translated into many languages across the world through out the ages. For the first time today they have been published in modern English by a Cambridge Academic who was able to translate these ancient texts found on papyri and rock faces in Egypt.

The book was published by Penguin Classics and has been acclaimed around the world as a groundbreaking accomplishment. As these writings have never before been published together in an accessible collection, this is truly an event for Egyptologists and history enthusiasts around the world.

When asked about his new venture Toby Wilkinson the academic behind the book said that he started working on ancient Egyptian texts because there was a missing dimension of how ancient texts and Egypt as a whole is viewed by the world.



Hieroglyphs themselves depend on pictures and symbols, there are so very few experts and specialists that have been able to read hieroglyphs let alone being able to gain a full understanding of these texts. Hieroglyphics is a time old Egyptian writing tradition that had lasted for over 3500 years in Egypt and they have remained inaccessible and largely overlooked by our modern world and cultures today.

I think most importantly what will surprise people is the insight he gives to the well known image of Ancient Egypt beyond the Pharaoh's and Pyramids. For so many years these ancient writings and texts have been looked upon as mere decorations or artifacts instead of treasured writings and today -Toby Wilkinson has set out to change that for the world.



Take, for example, the words ‘aa’ and ‘wer’, both have been conventionally translated as ‘great’. The Egyptians seem to have understood a distinction – hence a god is often described as ‘aa’ but seldom as ‘wer’ – but it is beyond our grasp,” Wilkinson explained.

The book gathers literary fiction texts such as “The Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor” telling the story of a magical island, letters that date from 1930 BC and official inscriptions that record a “cataclysmic thunderstorm.”

“I was here with my brothers and my children … we totaled 75 snakes … Then a star fell and they were consumed in flames … If you are brave and your heart is strong, you will embrace your children, you will kiss your wife and you will see your house,” the tale reads.



Toby Wilkinson has taken upon himself a task like no other, deciphering the rich Ancient Egyptian languages and texts is not easily accomplished. Not many people know that their are actually several types of Hieroglyphs; Ancient Egyptian, Middle Egyptian and Newer Writing Styles that are derived from these texts. We are very excited to hear about Toby's ambitious approach in making these writings available to the English speaking population of the world, being able to express everything told into English is an exciting and challenging task!