What Is the Egyptian Book of the Dead? Getty Iris

For example, additional bandages from the same three mummies represented in our collection are now found in collections around the world. Another goal is to identify the present locations of the full group of ushabtis discovered in Neferibresaneith’s tomb; so far we’ve found them in places from San Jose, California to Cuba, from Poland to India. It’s important to trace the ownership history of the manuscripts—how they were collected and sold and what those relationships mean.

Judgment

This information can help contextualize related manuscripts, reveal connections to older sale groups, or document patterns of site discovery over time. In short, to know an object, you have to know its history, and that in turn allows you to tell richer stories. These mummiform figurines were animated in the afterlife by reciting the spell (Spell 6) inscribed on their bodies. This ushabti is one of 336 that were excavated from the tomb of a man named Neferibresaneith at Saqqara, Egypt. The impact of the Book isn’t just limited to pop culture, it has also left its mark on the academic world. Studying the New Kingdom period, when the Book was widely used, helps us understand how our fascination with this rich, ancient civilization continues to shape our own society.

• “Book of the Dead” is a modern term to describe a series of ancient Egyptian funerary spells that helped the deceased find their way to the afterlife in order to become united with the god of the dead, Osiris.
• Priests designed spells to protect the dead or to guide them through the Tuat, past the different obstacles on the journey.
• Scribes organized the Saite compilations into four sections, each of which had a set theme and position.
• Grave-robbers found rolls of papyrus with mummies and called them the “book of the dead men” or the “book of the dead.” These titles did not refer to the contents of the scrolls because the robbers did not know what was in them.

Spell 125 (a vignette from which is illustrated below), for example, lists a number of sins they must deny having committed in life PLAY BOOK OF DEAD ONLINE when they appear before Osiris. The Book of the Dead refers to cultural texts from ancient Egypt that represent beliefs about death and the afterlife. These texts serve as guides for individuals, outlining concepts related to life’s end and what follows. The Book of the Dead reflects the spiritual understanding and practices of ancient Egyptians, illustrating their rich cultural heritage concerning mortality and the journey after death.

Over time, we can see how people’s relationship to the Book of the Dead became more personal. One way in which this evolving relationship manifested was in the use of Book of the Dead spells on strips of linen that were laid over the mummy, putting the spells in direct physical contact with the deceased. It involved comparing the weight of the deceased’s heart with the feather of the goddess Ma’at. The outcome of this comparison would decide their fate in the afterlife, with the purity of their heart being the deciding factor.

The outcomes of the judging process in the Book of the Dead often influence the direction of the deceased’s journey in the afterlife. It represents a declaration of innocence made before Osiris, the god of the underworld, where the departed asserts they haven’t indulged in wrongdoings such as lying or stealing. This statement holds substantial weight in determining their destiny in the world beyond. It means that I was cleansed on the day of my birth in the two great and noble marshes which are in Heracleopolis on the day when the common folk make offerings to the Great God who is therein. Spell 17 describes the nature of the creator god Atum and is the longest text in the book. Spell 6 enables Shabti figures to pass into the next life with the dead and labor on their behalf.

Purpose and Function

The presence of protective spells highlights the ancient Egyptians’ belief in malevolent forces that could harm the soul. The Book of the Dead was personalized for individuals, meaning different versions of the text could be found in various tombs, reflecting the beliefs and desires of the deceased. Our group of mummy bandages belong to the Ptolemaic Period, around 305–30 B.C., when Egypt was under the rule of the Greek successor dynasty that followed Alexander the Great’s conquest. Book of the Dead papyri continued to be produced during this time as well, and three of our papyri are Ptolemaic in date.

The Book of the Dead is not a single, canonical book, but rather a collection of individual texts and spells that varied from one version to another, tailored to the needs and resources of the deceased. The Egyptian Book of the Dead is also nothing like The Tibetan Book of the Dead, although these two works are often equated as well. The similarity it shares with the Egyptian work is that it is intended to comfort the soul and lead it out of the body and on to the afterlife. The Book of the Dead, as noted, was never used for magical transformations on earth; the spells only worked in the afterlife.

The Book of the Dead serves as a significant aspect of ancient Egyptian funerary practices, designed to assist the deceased on their journey in the afterlife. This text is rich with spells, prayers, and incantations that provide guidance and support as the soul transitions from the mortal realm into the divine world. Created over several centuries, the Book of the Dead reflects the evolving beliefs and practices of ancient Egyptians. It was commonly written on papyrus scrolls and often accompanied by striking illustrations that brought the text to life and offered visual representations of the rituals needed for the afterlife. The Book of the Dead is an ancient Egyptian funerary text that was used as a guide for the deceased in the afterlife.

The texts were usually written on papyrus scrolls, but could also be found inscribed on tomb walls and coffins. Scribes specialized in funerary texts would customize each Book of the Dead for the individual deceased. This evolution marked a significant democratization of the afterlife, making the promise of rebirth and eternal life available to anyone who could afford to commission a copy of the book. This period saw the texts inscribed not only on the walls of tombs but also on papyrus scrolls placed within the tombs, allowing for more personalized compilations of spells.

Many spells were personalized, meaning that individuals could include specific requests for protection or guidance in their own Book of the Dead. Many different versions of the Book of the Dead were created for individuals, featuring personal spells tailored to their specific needs and circumstances. The earliest text we own is an 18th Dynasty papyrus that was made sometime around 1450–1380 B.C., during the height of Egypt’s New Kingdom. The papyrus, which belonged to a woman named Ra-webenes, includes Spell 149, in which the deceased encounters 14 “mounds” in the afterlife, each of which has its own inhabitants.