Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. cARTEm Publishing House. EA Wallis Budge. Portrait by Travis Simpkins

Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. cARTEm Publishers. EA Wallis Budge. Portrait by Travis Simpkins

     Early in 2020, I was contacted by Cartem Publishers in Spain and was asked to be a contributor to an edition of the Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. Dr. Zahi Hawass (probably the most famous archaeologist in the world) was involved as well and he wrote the introduction. My work was to pay tribute to Sir E.A. Wallis Budge, former Keeper of Antiquities at the British Museum and translator of the most commonly published text of the Papyrus of Ani (Book of the Dead). I am proud to see the end result and am honored to have been invited. This project was organized in collaboration with the British Museum, which owns the papyrus. It was a pleasure to work with the editorial staff in Madrid. This large book, a study guide for the papyrus facsimile, turned out beautifully (hardcover, 7 lbs, 536 pages, 390 images). For those unfamiliar, the Book of the Dead consists of a corpus of incantations, magical words and spells, designed to assist the deceased on their journey through the Duat (underworld/afterlife). It is one of the most important texts of the ancient world.

The study guide book can be purchased here:

cartembooks.com

Dr. Zahi Hawass, Archaeologist. Egyptology. by Travis Simpkins

Dr. Zahi Hawass. Archaeologist. Egyptologist. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Dr. Zahi Hawass

Archaeologist / Egyptologist

former Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs

by Travis Simpkins

Dr. Zahi Hawass: Ancient Egyptian Mummy

For more info, please visit:

www.drhawass.com

Dr. Zahi Hawass. Egyptologist. by Travis Simpkins. Loot

"The Master Game" by Graham Hancock and Robert Bauval

The Master Game

by Graham Hancock & Robert Bauval

Disinformation, 2011

Brief Review by Travis Simpkins

     Begun in the early 1990's, some of the research conducted by Graham Hancock and Robert Bauval for The Master Game: Unmasking the Secrets Rulers of the Wold was previously released in an earlier book titled Talisman. The Master Game is a bulked-up and more comprehensive work, expanding and updating the material for a 21st Century perspective.

     In essence, this well-written volume attempts to "trace the course through history of two interrelated underground religions, Gnosticism and Hermeticism." Ever subdued and reemerging, the theory suggests this hidden faith and it's mystic teachings were protected and passed down to the present day by way of Ancient Egyptian astronomer priests, Gnostic and Hermetic sages, Cathars, the Knights Templar, Renaissance scholars, the Rosicrucians, the Illuminati and the Freemasons. Well known historic leaders, intellectuals and innovators played key roles in the secret enlightenment, including Alexander the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte, the Medici Dynasty, Dr. John Dee, Giordano Bruno, Count Alessandro di Cagliostro, Sir Christopher Wren, Albert Pike, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and other American Founding Fathers.

     Examining how this secret religion and it's Masonic symbols and ideals have shaped the modern world, great emphasis is placed on the street design and monument placement in major cities and their alignment with the stars. Ancient Egypt seems to be an ever-present reference point. Aerial views of Paris and Washington, DC show intriguing similarities with proposed plans of post-fire London, as well as with ancient cities like Rome, Heliopolis and Alexandria. 

     The first 90% of the book is fascinating and by no means anti-Masonic, presented as an open-minded academic and intellectual journey down the paths of possibility that interweave through Masonic history. The last chapters, however, deal with the modern Israeli/Palestinian conflict and tend to delve deeper into the realm of conspiracy views. Overall, the tome lays out an original idea, and is a free-thinking and enjoyable 600-page sojourn.

Egyptian Pyramids- Giza: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Hermetic Alchemy: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Isis Unveiled - Louvre: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Alexander the Great: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

The Knights Templar: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Temple Mount - Jerusalem: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Sir Christopher Wren: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

The Structure of Freemasonry: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Count Cagliostro: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Count Cagliostro: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

The Coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Loge Bonaparte: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Napoleon Bonaparte Enthroned: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Paris, France: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Washington, DC: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

The Statue of Liberty: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Washington, DC: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Benjamin Franklin, Freemason: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

George Washington Masonic Ceremony: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

George Washington, Freemason: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

George Washington Masonic Memorial: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

IM Pei - Pyramid, Louvre: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Albert Pike, Scottish Rite Freemason: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

House of the Temple. Washington, DC: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Missing Obelisk. Luxor, Egypt: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Obelisk. Paris, France: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Washington Monument: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Harry S. Truman, Freemason: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Robert Bauval: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Pyramids. Egypt. Millennium: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Robert Bauval, Zahi Hawass and Graham Hancock: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Graham Hancock: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Robert Bauval and Isis: The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Talisman. The Master Game. Graham Hancock

Robert Bauval- "The Master Game"

Dr. Zahi Hawass, Archaeologist and Author. by Travis Simpkins

Dr. Zahi Hawass, 2015. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Dr. Zahi Hawass

Archaeologist / Egyptologist

former Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs

by Travis Simpkins

Dr. Zahi Hawass: Ancient Egyptian Mummy

For more info, please visit:

www.drhawass.com

Dr. Zahi Hawass. by Travis Simpkins. The Golden King

Dr. Zahi Hawass, Egyptologist. by Travis Simpkins

Dr. Zahi Hawass, 2015. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Dr. Zahi Hawass

Archaeologist / Egyptologist

former Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs

by Travis Simpkins

Dr. Zahi Hawass: Ancient Egyptian Mummy

For more info, please visit:

www.drhawass.com

Dr. Zahi Hawass. by Travis Simpkins. Egyptian Tomb

Dr. Zahi Hawass, Egyptologist. by Travis Simpkins

Dr. Zahi Hawass, 2015. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Dr. Zahi Hawass

Archaeologist / Egyptologist

former Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs

by Travis Simpkins

Dr. Zahi Hawass: Ancient Egyptian Mummy

For more info, please visit:

www.drhawass.com

Dr. Zahi Hawass. by Travis Simpkins. President Barack Obama in Egypt

Portrait of Dr. Zahi Hawass, Archaeologist. by Travis Simpkins

Dr. Zahi Hawass, 2015. by Travis Simpkins

Portrait Sketch of

Dr. Zahi Hawass

Archaeologist / Egyptologist

former Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs

by Travis Simpkins

Dr. Zahi Hawass: Ancient Egyptian Mummy

For more info, please visit:

www.drhawass.com

Dr. Zahi Hawass. by Travis Simpkins. Tutankhamun

Secrets: The Sphinx of Ancient Egypt

Secrets: The Sphinx

by Travis Simpkins

     Produced for the Smithsonian Channel, Secrets: The Sphinx (2013) provides an intriguing 45-minute look at the primary mysteries surrounding the Ancient Egyptian Sphinx in Giza: When was it created? and whom does the carved face atop the lion's body represent? Because it is carved directly from the bedrock, rather than assembled by blocks, it is difficult for archaeologists to accurately date the Sphinx based on construction. Surrounding structures and geographical features help fill in the gaps and shed some light on the mystery. The first theory presented is controversial, relating to the disproportionate body to head ratio of the Sphinx, and surmises the the carved human head was actually  adapted and re-carved later on from a much older statue representing a lion that predated the Pyramids. Further theories, much more traditional in scope, focus on the positioning of the Sphinx in the foreground of the Pyramids. Cases are made for the Sphinx being created by the "Pyramid Pharaohs"  Khufu, and alternately by his son, Khafre. Zahi Hawass, the famous Egyptologist, provides brief insight. However, the best and most brilliant contributions to the episode are provided by Melinda Hartwig, Associate Professor at Georgia State University. Delightful and photogenic, Dr. Hartwig's eloquent delivery and energy is truly engaging. In the end, the enduring mystery of the Sphinx still remains, but an enjoyable and informative presentation has been made.

The Ancient Egyptian Sphinx of Giza: Secrets: The Sphinx

Melinda Hartwig   Photo: S. Smith: Secrets: The Sphinx

The Ancient Egyptian Sphinx of Giza partly excavated: Secrets: The Sphinx

Melinda Hartwig with the Great Pyramid and Sphinx: Secrets: The Sphinx

The Ancient Egyptian Sphinx of Giza: Secrets: The Sphinx

The Ancient Egyptian Sphinx of Giza as a Lion?: Secrets: The Sphinx

The Ancient Egyptian Sphinx of Giza: Secrets: The Sphinx

The Ancient Egyptian Sphinx of Giza: Secrets: The Sphinx

Zahi Hawass: Secrets: The Sphinx

The Ancient Egyptian Sphinx of Giza: Secrets: The Sphinx

Dr. Melinda Hartwig   Photo: M. Knorr: Secrets: The Sphinx

The Ancient Egyptian Sphinx of Giza: Secrets: The Sphinx

Melinda Hartwig: Secrets: The Sphinx

The Ancient Egyptian Sphinx of Giza partly excavated: Secrets: The Sphinx

Melinda Hartwig in "Secrets: The Sphinx"