The First Ghosts
Most Ancient of Legacies
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Narrated by:
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Irving Finkel
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By:
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Irving Finkel
About this listen
Dr Irving Finkel, curator at the British Museum, explores why the belief in ghosts is what makes us human.
There are few things more in common across cultures than the belief in ghosts. Ghosts inhabit something of the very essence of what it is to be human. Whether we personally 'believe' or not, we are all aware of ghosts and the rich mythologies and rituals surrounding them. They have inspired, fascinated and frightened us for centuries - yet most of us are only familiar with the vengeful apparitions of Shakespeare, or the ghastly spectres haunting the pages of 19th-century Gothic literature. But their origins are much, much older....
The First Ghosts: Most Ancient of Legacies takes us back to the very beginning. A world-renowned authority on cuneiform, the form of writing on clay tablets that dates back to 3400 BC, Irving Finkel has embarked upon an ancient ghost hunt, scouring these tablets to unlock the secrets of the Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians to breathe new life into the first ghost stories ever written. In The First Ghosts, he uncovers an extraordinarily rich seam of ancient spirit wisdom that has remained hidden for nearly 4,000 years, covering practical details of how to live with ghosts, how to get rid of them and bring them back and how to avoid becoming one, as well as exploring more philosophical questions: what are ghosts, why does the idea of them remain so powerful despite the lack of concrete evidence and what do they tell us about being human?
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At the beginning of his career, Joseph Campbell developed a lasting fascination with the cultures of the Far East, and explorations of Buddhist and Hindu philosophy later became recurring motifs in his vast body of work. However, Campbell had to wait until middle age to visit the lands that inspired him so deeply. In 1954, he took a sabbatical from his teaching position and embarked on a year-long voyage through India, Thailand, Cambodia, Burma, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and finally Japan.
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What a journey!
- By Anonymous User on 08-11-18
By: Joseph Campbell
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The Great Shift
- Encountering God in Biblical Times
- By: James L. Kugel
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 15 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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Why does the Bible depict a world in which humans, with surprising regularity, encounter the divine - wrestling an angel, addressing a burning bush, issuing forth prophecy without any choice in the matter? These stories spoke very differently to their original audience than they do to us, and they reflect a radically distinct understanding of reality and the human mind. Yet over the course of the thousand-year biblical era, encounters with God changed dramatically.
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Changing Conceptions of God and the Self
- By DJ on 10-27-22
By: James L. Kugel
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The Ark Before Noah
- Decoding the Story of the Flood
- By: Irving Finkel
- Narrated by: Irving Finkel, Gareth Armstrong
- Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
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Story
Since the Victorian period, it has been understood that the story of Noah, iconic in the Book of Genesis, and a central motif in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, derives from a much older story that existed centuries before in ancient Babylon. But the relationship between the Babylonian and biblical traditions was shrouded in mystery. Then, in 2009, Irving Finkel, a curator at the British Museum and a world authority on ancient Mesopotamia, found himself playing detective.
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excellent, enlightening, entertaining
- By D. Littman on 07-17-14
By: Irving Finkel
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Odin
- Ecstasy, Runes, & Norse Magic
- By: Diana L. Paxson
- Narrated by: Jo Anna Perrin
- Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Odin: Ecstasy, Runes, and Norse Magic is the first book on Odin that is both historically sourced and accessible to a general audience. It explores Odin's origins, his appearances in sagas, old magic spells, and the Poetic Edda, and his influence on modern media, such as Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Each chapter features suggestions for rituals, exercises, and music so that listeners can comprehend and become closer to this complicated god.
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Too Much Wicca
- By Christopher M. on 11-03-21
By: Diana L. Paxson
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Uncovering Greek Mythology: A Beginner's Guide into the World of Greek Gods and Goddesses
- By: Lucas Russo
- Narrated by: Jared Zak
- Length: 3 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Get to know the Greek gods and goddesses, from the mighty Zeus, to the temperamental Poseidon, the beautiful Aphrodite, and every character from A to Z. Who wouldn’t want to hear about Zeus and his command of lightning, Hades and how he found his bride, the wisdom of Athena, and so many other stories that capture the imagination. These stories can do more than just entertain; they can also inspire and teach us lessons that were penned by the Greeks themselves.
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Wonderful book!!
- By Laura Preston on 12-07-22
By: Lucas Russo
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The Lost Gospel
- Decoding the Ancient Text That Reveals Jesus' Marriage to Mary the Magdalene
- By: Simcha Jacobovici, Barrie Wilson
- Narrated by: Bob Souer
- Length: 12 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Waiting to be rediscovered in the British Library is an ancient manuscript of the early Church, copied by an anonymous monk. The manuscript is at least 1,450 years old, possibly dating to the first century, Jesus' lifetime. And now, The Lost Gospel provides the first-ever translation from Syriac into English of this unique document that tells the inside story of Jesus' social, family, and political life. The Lost Gospel takes listeners on an unparalleled historical adventure through a paradigm-shifting manuscript.
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Very well-crafted but uses lot of sketchy material
- By Leifen on 01-09-18
By: Simcha Jacobovici, and others
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Babylon
- Mesopotamia and the Birth of Civilization
- By: Paul Kriwaczek
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 12 hrs and 1 min
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Civilization was born 8,000 years ago, between the floodplains of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, when migrants from the surrounding mountains and deserts began to create increasingly sophisticated urban societies. In the cities that they built, half of human history took place. In Babylon, Paul Kriwaczek tells the story of Mesopotamia from the earliest settlements seven thousand years ago to the eclipse of Babylon in the sixth century BCE. Bringing the people of this land to life in vibrant detail, the author chronicles the rise and fall of power during this period.
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Solid overview 3000 years of history
- By Alsor2000 on 07-19-20
By: Paul Kriwaczek
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The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries
- By: W. Y. Evans-Wentz
- Narrated by: Jack Chekijian
- Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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The mysticism and fairy folklore of Celtic England, Scotland, the Isle of Man, Brittany, and Wales is explored in this production, which focuses on interviews conducted with everyday citizens about their beliefs, sightings, and encounters in the early 20th century, followed by an anthropological examination of evidence. It is an exploration of the spirit world, of the Sidhe, the "good people", who are claimed to interact mischievously with the populace - sometimes even abducting them and leaving only the victims' clothes behind, transporting them far distances, and killing livestock.
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A great eye witness primer of the world of fairy!
- By David The Critic on 01-31-21
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The 12th Planet
- Earth Chronicles Series, Book 1
- By: Zecharia Sitchin
- Narrated by: Stephen Bel Davies
- Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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The product of 30 years of intensive research, The 12th Planet is the first book in Zecharia Sitchin's prophetic Earth Chronicles series - a revolutionary body of work that offers indisputable documentary proof of humanity's extraterrestrial forefathers. Travelers from the stars, they arrived eons ago, and planted the genetic seed that would ultimately blossom into a remarkable species...called Man.
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Tough listen to start with
- By D. Dooley on 01-22-18
By: Zecharia Sitchin
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Chinese Mythology: A Comprehensive Guide to the Myths from the Orient
- By: John Feisel
- Narrated by: Ric Chetter
- Length: 3 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Indulge in the crazy, mystical, mythical aspects of Chinese folklore. You will learn about the most basic background information, the setting, the time period in which these tales were created, and so much more. Among others, you will become familiar with things like the myth of the sun and the moon; cultural aspects of ancient oriental society; amazing facts about Confucius and Confucianism; Buddhism and its role in China and mythology; stories about gods, heroes, stars, and saints; and so many other things.
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This deserves a positive review
- By Juan on 11-19-19
By: John Feisel
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Egyptian Mythology
- A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt
- By: Geraldine Pinch
- Narrated by: TJ Johnson
- Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
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From stories of resurrected mummies and thousand-year-old curses to powerful pharaohs and the coveted treasures of the Great Pyramids, ancient Egypt has had an unfaltering grip on the modern imagination. Now, in Egyptian Mythology, Geraldine Pinch offers a comprehensive introduction that untangles the mystery of Egyptian myth.
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does not tell mythology
- By Carlos on 07-12-21
By: Geraldine Pinch
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Traditional interpretations of the creatures of the Bible have sanded down their sharp, unsavory edges, transforming them into celestial beings of glory and light—or chubby, happy cherubs. Those cherubs? They're actually hybrid guardian monsters, more closely associated with the Egyptian sphinx than with flying babies. And the seraphim? Winged serpents sent to mete out God's vengeance. Demons aren't at war with angels; they're a distinct supernatural species used by Satan and by God. The pattern is chilling. Most of these monsters aren't God's opponents—they're God's entourage.
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In this sweeping history of the ancient Near East, Amanda Podany takes listeners on a gripping journey from the creation of the world's first cities to the conquests of Alexander the Great. The book is built around the life stories of many ancient men and women, from kings, priestesses, and merchants to brickmakers, musicians, and weavers. Their habits of daily life, beliefs, triumphs, and crises, and the changes that people faced over time are explored through their own written words and the buildings, cities, and empires in which they lived.
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word of advice
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Why have societies all across the world feared witchcraft? This book delves deeply into its context, beliefs, and origins in Europe's history. The witch came to prominence - and often a painful death - in early modern Europe, yet her origins are much more geographically diverse and historically deep. In this landmark book, Ronald Hutton traces witchcraft from the ancient world to the early modern state.
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Meticulously researched, dry but great.
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Since the Victorian period, it has been understood that the story of Noah, iconic in the Book of Genesis, and a central motif in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, derives from a much older story that existed centuries before in ancient Babylon. But the relationship between the Babylonian and biblical traditions was shrouded in mystery. Then, in 2009, Irving Finkel, a curator at the British Museum and a world authority on ancient Mesopotamia, found himself playing detective.
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excellent, enlightening, entertaining
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Drawing on decades of research around the world - touching on the first known horoscope, a statue ordered into exile, and the mystical power of tattoos - Gosden shows what magic can offer us today and how we might use it to rethink our relationship with the world. Magic is an original, singular, and sweeping work of scholarship, and its revelations will leave a spell on the listener.
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word of advice
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loved this whole book
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What listeners say about The First Ghosts
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Citizen Kane
- 06-19-24
pure joy
This work is an excellent balance of scholarship and entertainment. The presentation is extremely engaging.
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- Sarah B
- 07-09-24
Ghostly enthusiasm
This book was very interesting and incredibly detailed. I enjoyed the in depth details. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves history and has a fascination with ghost.
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- TedJameson
- 09-07-24
Lovingly told by an incomparable expert
Irving Finkel is one of the greatest experts in Mesopotamian writing, history and culture on Earth. He is the reason that we can , 4000 years after its inception, play the Royal Game of Ur as easily as monopoly. He shows an ability to interpret ancient writing in a manner that not only demonstrates erudition but which passes a common-sense sniff test as well.
This book centers on ancient conceptions of the afterlife , and more specifically those people who have been there and returned. We get detours to discuss related topics like immortality, divination, witchcraft etc. but tye focus is strongly on the spirits of the dead. Dr. Finkel always addresses the topic in terms of how the ancients would have understood their own surroundings- interpreting their concepts for the reader's comprehension, but never losing sight of the lived experience. This speaks to the author's obvious love of his subject. He relishes getting inside the hearts and minds of our bronze age predecessors. He has not just a grasp of their thought processes but a transparent affection for them. Finkel also clearly loves a good ghost story, not just from the perspective of an academic but the way that a grandfather might enjoy telling a campfire tale to some attentive children.
The book is narrated by Dr. Finkel who has a pleading delivery and a voice made for storytelling. The producers left in some takes where the author pauses mid sentence to take a long breath or swallow, and after a few of these instances it can grate slightly. I think a more attentive production team might have asked for some re-takes, but this is a minor quibble. Similarly, Dr. Finkel allows himself a few detours (giving a chapter over to identifying the name of a certain prince in a parable , using cross-comparison of several sources) that obviously fascinate him but may strain the attention of any non-Assyriologist listening. These are very much the exception not the rule.
In summary: the subject is fascinating, the author is one of history's greatest experts in the field, and the narration is a pleasure to listen to.
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- Glen C Rollins
- 07-18-23
MORE IRVING FINKEL PLEASE
This book was fantastic! if you are at all interested in ghosts or Mesopotamia, or ancient history writ large, The First Ghosts is a fantastic read.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Heather Freeman
- 11-17-22
Wonderful text and performance
Fantastic! Irving Finkel's voice is completely charming and well supplemented by the two voice actors in this fascinating analysis of early ghosts. Highly recommended.
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- Amazon Customer
- 12-22-21
Very informative, fun to listen to!
I really enjoyed listening to Irving Finkel read his new book on ghosts. He makes the ghost stories, spells, and tales of the underworld from the Ancient Cuneiform texts come alive. He is very funny throughout. His Afterword has the best argument I ever heard on why people could believe in ghosts and why those who adamantly don't are really ignoring the past.
Audible should get Irving Finkel to read other books by other authors. There is nothing dull, dry, or stuffy in his reading.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Alan K.
- 11-05-22
Odd but loved it
Won't be for everyone , but if you love history , and the odd things of life it might be the thing for you. It is like sitting in the class of your favorite, one of a kind, prof who missed his calling as a stage actor .
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- New Yorker
- 01-02-22
Original, informed and brilliant.
A must read for anyone into in myth and magic hoping also for pragmatic explanation. This is THE book on ghosts, past present and future with many laughs along the way. Finkel tackles matters of life and death without cliche and with great insight and humour. I downloaded Audible version liking to hear the authors own voice.
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- Kiyomisa
- 01-25-24
a delight to listen to
Irving has wonderful insights and a beautiful British sense of humor. And he sounds just like Terry Pratchett. It's like being taught by Merlin from Sword in thr Stone, and he constantly reminds us that these were people like us. I've listened to it multiple times andnlove it each time
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- Josh Nelson
- 10-09-24
Great!
This was a fantastic October listen, I also love that the Dr. narrated it himself! Very informative.
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