Where to find sources for Ancient Egypt
For students and teachers who study Ancient Egypt, finding reliable historical sources can often feel overwhelming because the evidence survives in many different forms, including temple inscriptions, tomb paintings, papyrus texts, archaeological artefacts, and the writings of later Greek and Roman historians.
The collections gathered below provide access to some of the most useful online resources for both primary and secondary sources on Ancient Egyptian history.
Primary Sources
Collection of Egyptian Texts from St Andrew's University
This is a collection of various Egyptian primary source texts that show the original hieroglyphs with English translations.
This website provides a plethora of ancient texts, many in the original languages, along with English Translations.
Ancient Egypt - Ancient History Sourcebook
Fordham University provides a list of links to online primary sources from the classical era.
Egyptian Index - Bluffton University
A series of photos of ancient Egyptian sites. Useful for appendices in essays.
The Digital Karnak Project was designed and built at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).
The ETANA website is a searchable database of artefacts from across the Ancient Near East.
Early Egyptian History Sources
This collection of historical sources offers a detailed view of early Egyptian civilisation through the writings of ancient observers and later historians.
Ancient Egyptian Society Sources
The sources on this page explore how Greek writers such as Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus described Egyptian customs.
Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs Sources
These sources explore how hieroglyphs developed from picture signs into a sophisticated system that could express both objects and sounds.
Ancient Egyptian Pyramids Sources
The following historical sources examine how ancient writers and later historians described the Egyptian pyramids, particularly those at Giza.
Drawing on a range of ancient and modern sources, the materials here offer a detailed view of Egyptian religion and beliefs about the afterlife across different periods.
These sources examine the beliefs and rituals that developed across thousands of years of Egyptian history, from local cults and temple worship to myths about gods such as Osiris, Isis, Horus, and Re.
These historical sources on New Kingdom Egypt examine a period of warfare, imperial expansion, religious conflict, royal propaganda, and archaeological discovery.
Role of the Egyptian Pharaoh Sources
The sources collected on this page explore these different aspects of royal authority, from diplomatic correspondence and religious beliefs to military leadership and economic responsibilities.
A selection of sources on this topic.
These sources offer valuable evidence about both Tutankhamun and the remarkable discovery of his tomb.
Secondary Sources
Ancient Egypt - History of the Ancient World
A website that offers academic and popular articles about the Ancient World.
Ancient Egypt Flipboard Magazine
A collection of online articles and news reports about ancient Egypt.
Please Note: Some internet browsers do not handle the Flipboard website very well, and it is sometimes better to have the Flipboard App on your device to view the magazine.
Digital Egypt for Universities
A huge database of information for Egyptian history. It is created and maintained by the University College London.
An online academic database used by universities worldwide that is a superb resource for History students. To view full articles, you will require membership.
This searches internet sites for academic articles and books. It often only provides one or two pages, but it is often enough to find quotes and bibliographical details.
Search millions of free academic articles, chapters, and theses.