Divine Egypt

A rare and captivating look at ancient Egyptian deities that demystifies their complex iconography to illuminate three millennia of life and religious practice

Ancient Egyptian religious practice flourished across millennia and encompassed a staggering array of gods, goddesses, and other divine beings. This publication outlines the rich iconography used to represent Egyptian deities--from the stately falcon-headed Horus, associated with power and kingship, to the fearsome lion-headed Sakhmet--and explores how these representations evolved alongside the roles of the gods themselves. Illustrated with more than 300 exceptional works of art, including statuary, figurines, jewelry, animal mummies, and coffins, Divine Egypt examines the expansive set of features used to symbolize more than 20 deities and their variations while also familiarizing readers with the meaning and cultural significance of each figure. World-renowned scholars explain how the ancient Egyptians recognized and understood divine images and the otherworldly nature of their gods. Essential reading for lovers of Egyptian art, this book enriches our understanding of not only the deities of ancient Egypt but also the lives of all strata of ancient Egyptian society.

Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press

Exhibition Schedule:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
(October 12, 2025-January 19, 2026)

Diana Craig Patch is Lila Acheson Wallace Curator in Charge in the Department of Egyptian Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Brendan Hainline is a research associate in the Department of Egyptian Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.