Reflections of Osiris: Lives from Ancient Egypt

by John D. Ray

Spanning more than two millennia, Reflections of Osiris opens a small window into a timeless world, capturing the flavor of life in ancient Egypt through vivid profiles of eleven actual people and the god Osiris.
Some of the figures profiled here are famous. Ray discusses Imhotep, whom he calls "Egypt's Leonardo"--the royal architect of the Step Pyramid, high priest of the sun cult, and a man of great medical skill. We meet Hatshepsut, a rare female Pharaoh, who had herself depicted as a male figure in temple scenes, ceremonial beard and all. Horemheb, who rose from local politician to general and finally to king. And the legendary magician, Pharaoh Nectanebo II, the greatest builder of temples. Equally intriguing are the lives of everyday Egyptians who are also resurrected here. There is Heqanakhte, a cantankerous peasant farmer who has problems with his sons--and they with their stepmother. And Petiese, a scribe whose petition to the authorities preserves a feud stretching back over generations. Most fascinating of all are the people of the Serapeum: a Greek recluse, his brother (a rootless adolescent and police informer), two temple dancers with financial difficulties, and a temple
scribe. All of whom we come to know intimately--even their dreams. Last comes the god Osiris, judge of the netherworld, creator of the land of Egypt, before whom all would appear at the end of their lives.
Reflections of Osiris captures the full spectrum of life in ancient Egypt. With more than twenty halftones and several maps, this superb volume will fascinate anyone interested in an inside look at the great ancient civilization of the Nile.

Genres: History, Egyptology, Egypt, Nonfiction, Religion, Biography

192 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2002

About the author

John D. Ray is the Herbert Thompson Reader in Egyptology in the University of Cambridge and Fellow of Selwyn College. He previously worked in the British Museum and has been a Visiting Professor at Yale and the University of Chicago. He writes regularly for The Times (London), TLS, and The London
Review of Books. A well-known radio commentator, he presented the recent BBC-TV documentary "Ramesses the Great."

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reflections of Osiris is a book that was written for those who know little about Ancient Egypt. It sketches the story of this civilisation through the biographies of twelve individuals, stretching from the Old Kingdom to the Ptolemaic period.

I should probably name the subjects of Ray's biographies. In chronological order, they are Imhotep, Heqanakhte, Hatshepsut, Horemheb, Khaemwaset, Petiese , Nectanebo II and five "People of the Serapeum".

The biographies run for about 20 pages each and Ray's writing is engrossing. I loved the way he is able to draw out personalities for those historical figures he writes about. As someone who knows a lot about Ancient Egypt, I found his interpretations intriguing, particularly his take on Hatshepsut and Horemheb. However, I have to be a killjoy and point out the difficulty and perhaps futility in assigning personalities to people who have been dead thousands of years without detouring into the world of fiction.

I also wonder if Reflections of Osiris is something that the "lay reader" will be disappointed by. I love it for focusing on less known figures, but the intended audience probably wants to read about the individuals that they have already heard of (Tutankhamun, Cleopatra). At least Tutankhamun plays a supporting role in Ray's biography of Horemheb. The most famous individuals with their own biographies are probably Hatshepsut and Imhotep.

This probably sounds like I'm be overly critical. I think Reflections of Osiris is well-worth reading, especially if someone is interested in one of the subjects of the biographies. It's just important to know that you can't necessarily trust the accuracy behind the personalities that Ray gives these subjects.

To finish up, a quote that made the Ramesses II fangirl I was back when I first read this RAGE, but makes me now laugh:

He [Ramesses II] is the Jupiter of the Pharaonic institution … brilliant from a distance, but essentially a giant ball of gas. Ramesses II is the hieroglyphic equivalent of hot air.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes you have a meal and it was well made but wasn't enough so you are still hungry, this book is like that it leaves you with an unsatisfied feeling.

The idea is great, highlight a selection of figures from the entire classic Egyptian period that range from a semi mythical architect to a complaining gentry farmer from early to late classic Egypt. It is a great way to demonstrate the near incomprehensibly scale of Egyptian history and to point out the diversity and similarities in both time and society. The persons highlighted were well chosen and are informative to say the least especially Hatsjepsoet and the people of Serapeum for revealing historical sources I had never heard off and giving a well written insight in their personal lives.

My complaint is that it wasn't enough, you only get a bare minimum of the material conditions and never structured to point out how people lived. Every chapter should have started with a brief summary of the material changes that happened between chapters and persons highlighted, what people ate, how they dressed, lived, worked, organised. It is there but very inconsistent and you have to read between lines. The result was that Egyptian history remains one block of continuity and uniformity which was precisely what the author wanted to mend.

Overall a decent book but not enough if you want to understand the field of study that is Egyptology, as a second or third book to read on the subject this would do nicely.

[Jain · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a book for historians, this work isn't particularly helpful. While it's clear that Ray writes from an informed perspective, references are few and far between.

As a book for enthusiasts, this book is great. Ray really delivers in terms of characterization, and does his best, working from as few remaining and fragmentary sources as we have, to make half-remembered ancient lives vivid and real.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up to see what the author would write about Imhotep (yes, I know he is NOT the guy from the Brendan Fraser movies!) and Hatshepsut. Each biography was only about 20 pages or so long. I will have to look elsewhere for more in depth biographies of these two important figures from ancient history.

[Thesilverqueen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting more of real and common people like the farmer and temple recluses. Parts about imhotep, hatsheput and haromheb weren't very interesting on that regard and we didn't actually learn about their opinions and actual livesibut simple historical facts.

[Curtiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at the lives of eight ancient Eqyptians, from Imhotep circa 2650 BC, to Hor of Sebennytos circa 200-150 BC.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at the enormity of Ancient Egypt while at the same time introducing us to both common and royal individuals and their stories.

[Zjay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elegant. The story of regular people whose lives we know something about because of cave paintings or random surviving documents. Excellent way to inform us about daily life in Egypt.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written book but I would have liked to have more women mentioned.

[Gwynfor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my full review of this book on my blog!

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting slice of ancient Egyptian life - shows how little we know about the everyday life of those times.