Ancient Egyptian Myths and Legends is the second in the World Book Myths and Legends Series. It shares a general set of appendices---a bibliography, glossary of mythological characters and terms, and cumulative index---with the rest of the books in the series, and as with the other books in the series, Ancient Egyptian Myths and Legends elaborates on the history of the region, its significant mythological figures, and how we've come to know about these myths. The rest of the book consists of Philip Ardagh's lively and engaging retelling of seven Egyptian myths. Included are such well-known stories as the death of Osiris and the defeat of Seth as well as some lesser-known myths---the Pharaoh and the Thief and Shipwrecked on the Island of Ka, for example. ( )

Discovered while I was investigating the bibliography of Philip Ardagh - a British children's author whose fictional series include The Eddie Dickens Trilogy and The Unlikely Exploits - the eight-volume World Book Myths and Legends Series was published here in the United States in 2002. Somewhat more modest in scale than similar projects - such as the multiple-volume The World Mythology Series - these books each feature a small selection of tales from their highlighted culture, and include extensive suggestions for further reading at the rear, as well as a mythological "Who's Who," a glossary, and an inclusive index.

This installment focuses on the mythology of ancient Egypt, presenting seven stories about the gods and goddesses of that land. Here the reader will learn of The Murder of a God, in which the jealous Seth, god of chaos, kills his brother Osiris, eventual ruler of the dead, and steals his throne; and of The Search for Osiris, in which the murdered god's bereaved widow and sister Isis, goddess of fertility, searches for her lost husband. Here too is The Fight for the Throne, in which Isis and Osiris' son, Horus, must battle Seth for the throne of Egypt. In The End of Humankind, the reader will encounter the almost-destruction of humanity, as a result of disrespect shown to the sun-god Ra; and in The Pharaoh and the Thief, they will meet an exceptionally skilled thief who wins an extraordinary reward. Shipwrecked on the Island of Ka offers an exploration - through a sailor's tale of being shipwrecked - of the vagaries of fate and divine whim; and The Secret Name of Ra see Isis involved in a cunning scheme to learn the secret name that is the source of Ra's power.

I haven't read enough Egyptian mythology to know how accurate Ardagh's retelling is, but it certainly reads well - pleasant and engaging. The accompanying illustrations by Danuta Mayer, including decorative borders and full and half-page plates, are colorful and appealing - clearly influenced by the art of ancient Egypt. All in all, although I would not say that it was extraordinarily exciting, this would still make an excellent introduction to Egyptian mythology for the younger reader. ( )

this book is amazing!it has some much stories to tell that you cant just leave the book lying around the desk!it talks about all these gods.and what they did.te stories made perfect sence to me.the Egyptians new how to make a good myth,some of these myhts teaches you lessons.for example,it teaches you how not to be jelous like how Seth(god of chaos)was with Osiris (god of the underworld).also to apricate things,for instence Ra (the createor god)was mad that they didnt honor him like thaye do to the other gods.so he told Hathor(goddess of love and beauty0 to be a shape of a lioness.and so she did and kiled the citizens of egypt as told by Ra.read this book to see more of this myth.