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Hathor Rising: The Power of the Goddess in Ancient Egypt

Hathor Rising: The Power of the Goddess in Ancient Egypt

List Price: $19.95
Your Price: $13.57
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: offers excellent information on the goddess Hathor
Review: Although the text is awkwardly laid out in three-column pages, the content of the book is excellent. The author focuses primarily on New Kingdom aspects of the Egyptian goddess Hathor, explaining her importance in history, religion, myth and art; and discusses Hathor's influence on Hatshepsut's reign. With black and white illustrations, the book is informative to those researching the role of women and Hathor.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: On the mark!
Review: Dr. Roberts has a deep understanding of the core structures of Egyptian religion, and in particular the Goddess dynamic and its fundamental importance in that system. I noticed an earlier reviewer that stated that Massey, Kuhn and Schwaller de Lubicz understood Egyptian Religion, and that this author did not. Nothing could be further from the truth. Those three men saw Egyptian religion in terms of the continuation of some vast and ancient tradition from the Golden or Hyperborean Age, rather than looking at Egypt on its own terms. I have even seen one author who went so far as to state that the Egyptians only passed along knowledge that they did not understand! Another author said that the Greeks and Romans, being closer in time to Ancient Egypt than we are, possessed a more valid understanding than we can ever have at the present. Again, such attitudes denigrate the realization and understanding within that civilization and allow for overlays that do not have any basis from an archaeological viewpoint, to say nothing of a religious or spiritual viewpoint.

One has to look at the dynamics of Egyptian religion in terms of its own expression and interpretation of reality, rather than imposing one's own interpretation. In a list of of twenty-five books essential for building an introductory knowledge base of Egyptian religion, I would rate this about #12. The books by R.A. and Isha de Lubicz would be somewhere around #30 and off the bottom of the list.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Faulty logic turns fact into fantasy
Review: I was disappointed to find that many of the author's assertions are supported by incorrect interpretations of historical customs. It was, therefore, impossible for me to consider those assertions. For example, the author holds that we can tell Hatchepsut was highly respected because there are so many statues in her honor. What the author ignores is the fact that the Pharaoh's (ALL of them) commissioned numerous statues of themselves during their reign. (Ramses the II seems to hold the record. I saw many hundreds of statues of him while in Egypt in January.) While Hatchepsut was arguably the most successful Pharaoh of Egypt, the statues are not proof of that. Such a basic misinterpretation destroyed the credibility of this author.

Hatchepsut was likely murdered by her son because she was very powerful and well respected, and because she would not turn over the rule to him. Many of the statues and glyphs of Hatchepsut were defaced by him and his followers after her death. Had the author pointed this out, it would have paid higher tribute to the power of women at the time because there is NO truly powerful person who has no enemies.

I have great respect for the ancient Egyptian culture, in part because women were respected as equals then. But in order to pay true respect to them and to understand the culture better, it is important to maintain a connection to facts, and resist glossing over those circumstances which aren't as palatable.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Off the mark
Review: I would recommend this book to anyone wanting some indepth information on this Goddess. It has alot of well know and not so well know facts and stories. If you are doing any research on this Goddess then this would be a must have book.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Original and Fascinating
Review: Ms Roberts provides an original and unusual insight into the feminine aspect of Egyptian religion exploring the importance of the goddess Hathor-Sekhmet. A fascinating read.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Insightful Read!
Review: This book is by far one of the most insightful books on Ancient Egyptian Theology. Ms. Roberts brings to light much information often neglected by "egyptologists" bent on focusing only on the male aspect of the very complicated Egyptian Cosmologies. The importance of Hathor in the roles of Kingship is a subject that I found fascinating and helped me understand more fully how the Egyptians viewed their Kings (and Queens)and the world around them. This is a must read for anyone bogged down by the out-dated material previously printed on the Egyptian Pantheon.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Insightful Read!
Review: This book is by far one of the most insightful books on Ancient Egyptian Theology. Ms. Roberts brings to light much information often neglected by "egyptologists" bent on focusing only on the male aspect of the very complicated Egyptian Cosmologies. The importance of Hathor in the roles of Kingship is a subject that I found fascinating and helped me understand more fully how the Egyptians viewed their Kings (and Queens)and the world around them. This is a must read for anyone bogged down by the out-dated material previously printed on the Egyptian Pantheon.


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