The Litany of Re (A Modern Reader's Edition)

The Litany of Re is one of the oldest and most luminous scriptures of the ancient world, a night liturgy of praise spoken to the sun god as he voyages through the underworld. Written more than three thousand years ago for the pharaohs buried in the Valley of the Kings, it invokes the god in his seventy-five secret forms, names his powers, overthrows the serpent of darkness, and gathers the blessed dead into the boat of the sun. This new edition renders the classic into clear, present-day English, faithful to its poetic spirit and its actual structure, so that modern readers can experience its strange and moving beauty without specialized knowledge. An introduction, glossary, and reading guide illuminate the world of ancient Egypt. The Litany of Re has been treasured across centuries for a simple reason: in its depths, it asks what it means for light to die and rise again, and it answers with extraordinary tenderness. Part of The World Scriptures Library.