Legends of the Gods (eBook)

E. A. Wallis Budge, born Ernest Alfred Thompson Wallis Budge, was a distinguished English Egyptologist, Orientalist, and philologist who had a profound impact on the admission and interpretation of ancient Egyptian literature and culture. His tenure at the British Museum, where he had responsibilities related to the department of Egyptian and Assyrian antiquities, enabled him to become an influential figure in the early 20th century archaeological and philological circles. Budge was born on July 27, 1857, and educated at Cambridge University. His literary corpus is extensive, demonstrating a prolific and accessible writing style that brought ancient civilizations to the public consciousness. One of his notable works, 'Legends of the Gods,' exemplifies his passion for compiling and translating ancient texts, making them available to a wider audience. In this work, Budge offers an in-depth exploration of Egyptian mythology, providing insight into the religious and mythological framework that underpinned this ancient society (Budge, E. A. Wallis. 'Legends of the Gods: The Egyptian Texts, edited with Translations'). His contributions to Egyptology were significant, although later assessments of his methodology and conclusions have prompted revisions by subsequent scholars. Nonetheless, Budge's efforts played a key role in the popularization of Egyptology and the appreciation for ancient Near Eastern civilizations within both academic and public spheres.