Includes bibliographical references (pages 566-585) and index.

The temple of the world. First Excursus: Ordinary days and feast days -- Heliopolis: The city of the sun -- Memphis: The white wall -- Hermopolis: The city of the eight -- The kingdom of Amun. Second excursus: The great festivals of the king of gods -- Amarna: City of the heretic -- Tanis: The Thebes of the north -- Abydos: The sacred land. Third excursus: Osirian mythology -- Philae: The pearl of Egypt -- Edfu: The throne of Horus -- Dendera: The Heliopolis of Hathor. Fourth excursus: The lady of the turquoise -- Alexander's City by Egypt. Final excursus: A brief outline of the overall architectural history of the ancient Egyptian temple.

"Despite the prominence of ancient temples in the landscape of Egypt, books about them are surprisingly rare. This new and essential publication from a prominent Czech scholar answers the need for a study that goes beyond temple architecture to examine the spiritual, economic, and political aspects of these institutions and the dominant roles they played. Miroslav Verner presents a deeper and more complex study of major ancient Egyptian religious centers, their principal temples, their rise and decline, their religious doctrines, cults, rituals, feasts, and mysteries. Also discussed are the various categories of priests, the organization of the priesthood, and its daily services and customs. Each chapter offers the reader essential and up-to-date information about temple complexes and the history of their archaeological exploration, in the context of the spiritual dimension and cultural legacy of ancient Egypt."--Publisher's website.