2. As Texts
• Derived from 5th/6th Dyn. Pyramid Texts
• Selection of material made for each copy
• Ramesside Period sees writing of many other texts:
• Book of Caverns
• Book of the Earth
• Litany of Re
• Book of the Divine Cow
3. As Objects
• commissioned in preparation for their own funeral, or by the relatives
• produced to order by teams of scribes
• often prefabricated in funerary workshops, with spaces being left for the name of
the deceased to be written in later.
• expensive items; one source gives the price of a Book of the Dead scroll as one
deben of silver, perhaps half the annual pay of a labourer
• many instances of its re-use in everyday documents, creating palimpsests.
• dimensions vary: 40m-1m long & 15cm-45 cm
• written in collumns of cursive hieroglyphs separated by black line with framed
illustrations
• most text in black, red used for the titles of spells, opening and closing sections of
spells, the instructions to perform spells correctly in rituals, and also for the
names of dangerous creatures
7. As Ritual – BoD spell 23 in Papyrus Ani
“Spell for the opening of the mount of the Osiris
Ani.
My mouth is opened by Ptah and what was on my
mouth has been loosened by my local god. Thoth
comes indeed, filled and equipped with magic,
and the bonds of Seth which restricted my mouth
have been loosened. Atum has warded them off
and has cast away the restriction of Seth. My
mouth is opened, my mouth is split open by Shu
with that iron harpoon of his with which he split
open the mouths of the gods. I am Sakhmet, and I
sit beside Her who is in the great wind of the sky; I
am Orion the Great who dwells with the Souls of
Heliopolis.”
8. As Magic
• Spells for protection, escape, powers (e.g. breathing underwater), gaining
sustenance, entry…
• Spell 24: “I am Atum-Khepri who came into being of himself upon the lap of his
mother Nut, who gave jackals to those who are in Abydos and hunting-dogs to
those who are in the tribunal. I have collected this magic in every place where it
was, from the possession of anyone who possessed it, more speedily than a
hound, more swiftly than a shadow. O you who bring the ferry boat of Ra,
strengthen your rope in the north wind. Ferry upstream to the Island of Fire
beside the realm of the dead, collect this magic from wherever it may be, from
the possession of anyone who may possess it, more speedily than a hound, more
swiftly than a shadow. Transform yourself into a heron, the mother who created
you; the gods are hushed, your mother has made you warm for the gods. Now
there is given to me this magic, to whomsoever it may belong, more speedily
than a hound, more swiftly than a shadow.”
9. As Moral Instruction – Declaration of
Innocence (BoD spell 125)
Hail Far-strider who came forth from Heliopolis, I have done no falsehood.
Hail Fire-embracer who came forth from Kheraha, I have not robbed.
Hail Nosey who came forth from Hermopolis, I have not been rapacious.
Hail Swallower of shades who came forth from the cavern, I have not stolen.
Hail Dangerous One who came forth from Rosetjau, I have not killed men.
Hail Double Lion who came forth from the sky, I have not destroyed food-supplies.
Hail Fiery Eyes who came forth from Letopolis, I have done no crookedness.
Hail Flame which came forth backwards, I have not stolen the gods offerings.
Hail Bone-breaker who came forth from Heracleopolis, I have not told lies.
Hail Green of Flame who came forth from Memphis, I have no taken food.
Hail You of the cavern who came forth from the West, I have not been sullen.
Hail White of teeth who came forth from the Faiyum, I have not transgressed.
Hail Blood-eater who came forth from the shambles, I have not killed a sacred
bull.
Hail Eater of entrails who came forth from the House of Thirty, I have not
committed perjury.
Hail Lord of Truth who came forth from Maaty, I have not stolen bread.
Hail Wanderer who came forth from Bubastis, I have not eavesdropped.
Hail Pale One who came forth from Heliopolis, I have not babbled.
Hail Doubly evil who came forth from Andjet, I have not disputed except
concerning my own property.
Hail Wememty-snake who came forth from the place of execution, I have not
fornicated with a child.
Hail You who see whom you bring who came forth from the House of Min, I have
not misbehaved.
Hail You who are over the Old One who came forth from Imau, I have not made terror.
Hail Demolisher who came forth from Xois, I have not transgressed.
Hail Disturber who came forth from Weryt, I have not been hot-tempered.
Hail Youth who came forth from the Heliopolitan nome, I have not been deaf to words of truth.
Hail Foreteller who came forth from Wenes, I have not made disturbance.
Hail You of the altar who came forth from the secret place, I have not hoodwinked.
Hail You whose face is behind him who came forth from the Cavern of Wrong, I have neither
misconducted myself nor copulated with a boy.
Hail Hot-foot who came forth from the dusk, I have not been neglectful.
Hail You of the darkness who came forth from the darkness, I have not been quarrelsome.
Hail Bringer of your offering who came forth from Sais, I have not been unduly active.
Hail Owner of faces who came forth from Nedjefet, I have not been impatient.
Hail Accuser who came forth from Wetjenet, I have not transgressed my nature, I have not
washed out the picture of a god.
Hail Owner of horns who came forth from Asyut, I have not been voluble in speech.
Hail Nefertum who came forth from Memphis, I have done no wrong, I have seen no evil.
Hail Tempsep who came forth from Busiris, I have not made conjuration against the king.
Hail You who acted according to your will, who came forth from Tjebu, I have not waded in water.
Hail Water-smiter who came forth from the Abyss, I have not been loud-voiced.
Hail Prosperer of the common folk who came forth from your house, I have not reviled mankind.
Hail Bestower of good who came forth from the Harpoon nome, I have not been puffed up..
Hail Bestower of powers who came forth from the City, I have not made distinctions for myself.
Hail Serpent with raised head, who came forth from the cavern, I am not wealthy except with my
own property.
Hail Carrier-off of His Portion who came forth from the Silent Land, I have not blasphemed God in
my city.
10.
11. Book of the Dead
• Book of Coming Forth by Day
• Initially restricted to private tombs, but some parts in Royal tombs
from time of Merneptah
• Intended to assist the deceased in the afterlife – comprised a
collection of hymns, spells and instructions to allow the deceased to
pass through obstacles in the afterlife.
• Most commonly written on a papyrus scroll and placed in the coffin
or burial chamber of the deceased
12. Am Duat (What is in the Netherworld)
• Book of the Secret Chamber
• Unlike other funerary texts this was reserved only for pharaohs (until
Dynasty XXI almost exclusively) or very favoured nobility.
• The dead pharaoh is taking this same journey, ultimately to become one
with Re and live forever.
• The underworld is divided into 12 hours of the night, each representing
different allies and enemies for the Pharaoh/sun god to encounter.
• Purpose of the Amduat is to give the names of these gods and monsters to
the spirit of the dead Pharaoh, so he can call upon them for help or use
their name to defeat them.
13. Book of Gates
• Narrates the passage of a newly deceased soul into
the next world, corresponding to the journey of the
sun through the underworld during the 12 hours of
the night.
• The soul is required to pass through a series of
‘gates’ at different stages in the journey.
• Each gate is associated with a serpent and two gods
who must be named correctly in order to pass.
• Usually inscribed in burial chamber and pillared
halls or sarcophagus
