The term “Book of the Deceased” is used today to refer to a collection of ancient Egyptian writings that the Egyptians thought would aid the dead in navigating the afterlife. Sometimes copies of these manuscripts are interred with the dead.

However, it was the “Coffin Text” and the “Pyramid Text” engraved on the walls of the pyramids from which the “Book of the Dead,” which rose to fame under the New Kingdom, originated. Pyramid Texts originally emerged in the Fifth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom, whereas Coffin Texts were more common during the Middle Kingdom period (about 2030 BC to 1640 BC) (c. 2465 BC to 2323 BC).

Assisting spells for the deceased in the afterlifeA “Book of the Dead” is made up of separate chapters or spells. Due of the term’s connection to speech, the ancient Egyptians wrote the word “incantation” in hieroglyphs of a human mouth.

Not a single common book is discovered in every burial. Instead, unique spells are included in each copy. No single book contains every spell that is known; rather, it simply contains a representative sampling, and no two volumes are alike.

The name “The Book That Will Come to Day by Day” that the ancient Egyptians gave these manuscripts reflects their idea that spells were offered to help the dead enter the hereafter as a spirit that was possessed by the dead.

The “Book of the Dead” became popular during the New Kingdom, but it is derived from the “Coffin Text” and the “Pyramid Text” carved on the walls of the pyramids. Coffin Texts were popular during the Middle Kingdom period (circa 2030 BC to 1640 BC), while Pyramid Texts first appeared in the Fifth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom (c. 2465 BC to 2323 BC).

Spells that assist the dead in the afterlifeThe “Book of the Dead” consists of individual chapters or spells. The ancient Egyptians used the word “incantation” written in hieroglyphs of the human mouth because the term was related to speech.

There is not a single standard book found in every grave. Instead, each copy contains different spells. There is no single book that contains all known spells, but only a reasonable sample, and no two books are alike.

The ancient Egyptians referred to these texts as “The Book That Will Come to Day by Day” reflecting the Egyptian belief that spells were provided to aid the dead in entering the afterlife as a spirit that was possessed by the dead. honor.

Barry Kemp, professor emeritus of Egyptology at the University of Cambridge, UK, and author of “How to Read Egyptian Books of the Dead”, writes: “Some spells appear more frequently in the books of the dead. copies of the “Book of the Dead” than others and some are considered almost essential. One of these important spells is now called Magic 17, which discusses the importance of the sun god Re (also known as Ra), one of the most important Egyptian gods.

The ancient Egyptians believed that the body of the deceased could be altered in the afterlife so that a person could travel to a place with “gods, demons, mysterious places, and potential obstacles.” hidden”. The chapters of the “Book of the Dead” described some of the things one might encounter – such as the solemn heart ceremony, in which one’s actions are balanced with the feathers of the goddess Maat, a god associated with justice.

The mantras are often illustrated. Geraldine Pinch, an Egyptologist, wrote in her book Egyptian Myths: “A very brief introduction to the paintings of great importance in the honorary text collection of the New Kingdom, today is given called the Book of the Dead. “(Oxford University Press, 2004)”.

“Many owners of the Book of the Dead cannot read the hieroglyphic texts, but they can understand the intricate motifs that summarize the contents of the incantations.”