Book of the Dead: Did you mean...?

A detail from a Book of the Dead, on papyrus showing hieratic writing of Hornefer, Ptolemaic Period, provenance unknown. (Museo Castello Sforzesco, Milan)

The Book of the Dead of Henuttawy. The winged serpent god Nehebkau is depicted on the left. In the center of the papyrus is Osiris, who lies beneath the personification of the night sky. On the right side of the scene, the goddess Nut arches...

A detail from the Book of the Dead of Tayesnakht from Thebes, Ptolemaic Period, 332-30 BCE. (Egyptian Museum, Turin)

This is the Book of the Dead of Hunefer (Hw-nfr). There are fully colored vignettes (scenes) with a colored border. The scenes demonstrate episodes in Hunefer's judgement in the afterlife. From Egypt. 19th Dynasty, 1292–1189 BCE. (The British...

Hieratic Book of the Dead of Padimin written on linen; mummy wrapping. From Akhmim, Egypt. Late Period, after 664 BCE. (The British Museum, London)

Magic was an integral aspect of life in ancient Egypt. The world was created through the power of heka (magic) as Atum stood on the primordial mound of the ben-ben in the middle of the endless waters of chaos with the god Heka, who personified...

A detail from the Book of the Dead of Tayesnakht from Thebes, Ptolemaic Period, 332-30 BCE. Pharaohs often wore two crowns to signify the unification of Lower and Upper Egypt. (Egyptian Museum, Turin)

Beginning in the 4th century BCE, funerary texts from "the Book of the Dead" were inscribed in hieratic directly on the wrappings of the mummy. Here, the deceased is named Djedher, son of Sekhmetnefret. Late Period, 4th century BCE or later...

The question of what happens after death has been addressed by religious beliefs and philosophies of every world culture throughout recorded history and ancient Egypt is famous for its own response to the mysteries of the afterlife. Their...

The Egyptian Book of the Dead, or better translated The Book of the Coming Forth by Day or Spells for Going Forth by Day is a collection of spells that help a deceased soul navigate the afterlife and make it to the Field of Reeds, or paradise...