E.A. Wallis Budge's book "The Literature of the Ancient Egyptians" provides a thorough account of ancient Egypt's literary traditions. Budge was a British Egyptologist who specialized in translating and researching old Egyptian writings. The book gives a general overview of the different literary genres that were produced in ancient Egypt, such as myths, hymns, religious texts, and historical accounts. Budge offers thorough analyses and translations of a number of significant manuscripts, such as the Pyramid Texts, the Coffin Texts, and the Book of the Dead. According to Budge, numerous books in ancient Egyptian literature were produced with the intention of offering direction and protection in the afterlife. These texts were closely related to religious rituals and beliefs. In addition, he emphasizes the role of oral tradition in the dissemination of ancient Egyptian literature, pointing out that numerous writings were transmitted down the generations of scribes and storytellers. Budge explores the works' importance within the larger literary traditions of the ancient world and provides a thorough historical and cultural context for them throughout the whole book. In addition, he talks on the difficulty in deciphering the intricate hieroglyphic scripts used in ancient Egyptian literature. In general, "The Literature of the Ancient Egyptians" is a crucial tool for everyone interested in the ancient Egyptian literary traditions. The exacting translations and astute analysis of Budge open a priceless glimpse into the vast and intricate cultural legacy of this prehistoric civilization.
E.A. Wallis Budge spent his life from 1857 to 1934. From 1894 to 1924, Budge oversaw the collection of Egyptian and Assyrian artifacts at the British Museum. He was also a Hebrew Scholar, a Tyrwhitt Scholar at the University of Cambridge, and a Former Scholar of Christ's College. He amassed a sizable collection of papyri texts in Coptic, Greek, Arabic, Syriac, Ethiopian, and Egyptian. He took part in a lot of archaeological excavations in Sudan, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. The Papyrus of Ani, popularly known as the Egyptian Book of the Dead, was translated by Budge. He also examined a number of Egyptian rituals, languages, and religious practices. His written contributions included a comprehensive dictionary of hieroglyphs, translated manuscripts, and hieroglyphs. The published writings of Budge covered a wide range of Egyptian cultural topics, including religion, mythology, and magical rituals. In 1920, he was knighted. On November 23, 1934, E.A. Wallis Budge passed away in London, England. In the recently renamed Department of Egyptian and Assyrian Antiquities, Budge first worked at the British Museum in 1883. He was at first assigned to the Assyrian section but soon moved to the Egyptian section.
