Egypt

The self-image of the West and Europe's sense of identity derive from the field of tension between two poles: Jerusalem versus Athens, Israel versus Hellas, the revelations of Judeo-Christian mysticism versus the declaration of reason and humanity. This, however, does not exhaust the spectrum. Both Israel and Greece were influenced, in different ways, by Egypt, and such influences form an integral part of Western historical consciousness.

Detailing and interpreting fundamental mnemonic structures in Ancient Egypt, Jan Assman's book analyzes the mental, intellectual, religious, cultural and political framework of a civilization whose traces and messages have been passed down to us via the great manifestations of Egyptian culture, a culture that can certainly no longer be regarded as extinct. Egypt has always played an immensely important role in the cultural memory of Europe. It is a part of our past which we confront not only in historical speculation and research but carry with us forever.