So wrote a scribe of ancient Egypt trying to persuade his son to follow in his footsteps by describing the hideousness of other professions. Did you know, that one factor in the Egyptian funerary cult was fear that the dead would return as ghosts or vampires to injure the living? These are just some of the fascinating facts about ancient Egyptian life to be found in this book by Dr. Budge, one of the foremost Egyptologists of the century. It is by far the most useful coverage of one of the greatest and most civilized nations of antiquity. The author begins with a history of ancient Egypt and a list of its kings, and then plunges into the daily life of the people from the cradle to the grave and beyond - their manners and customs, trade and commerce, their literature and religious beliefs. Dr. Budge examines the Egyptian family and school, the furniture, jewelry, food and drink of the household, Egyptian society, Egyptians at work and play, Egyptian religion and its temples, its numerous gods and priests, Egyptian writing (hieroglyphic, hieratic, demotic and coptic), literature and knowledge of medicine, astrology and alchemy. The book concludes with the Egyptian dead, Heaven and Hell, and the future life. - from Amzon