In this book, Charlotte Booth sets out to investigate eight of the most common myths about Egypt, their origins and how they have developed, in an attempt to separate fact from fiction. These range from the River Nile itself, through the pyramids and mummification, to three of the most famous names to have come out of ancient Egypt: Hatshepsut, Akhenaten and Cleopatra and the reputation of Alexandria as a city of ancient learning. The book concludes with a look at the important role which the myth of ancient Egypt has played in Western culture through the centuries, from art and architecture to the hundreds of films, cartoons and books which have been inspired by Egypt.