Presents an approach to analysing the image of ancient Egyptian kings and gods. This book studies textual evidence rather than iconography, focusing on mentions of the king's White and Red Crowns and demonstrates that they possess a symbolism that transcends the terrestrial sphere to encompass the divine and the cosmos, death, and rebirth.

A major section reinterprets the famous 'Cannibal Spell' as a description of sunrise that fits seamlessly with the themes of other texts. This study will be of great interest not just to Egyptologists but also for the parallels it offers for styles of royal and divine symbolism that are found in many civilisations.