The Egyptian Book of the Dead is a collection of spells which enable the soul of the deceased to navigate the afterlife. The famous title was given the work by western scholars; the actual title would translate as The Book of Coming Forth by Day or Spells for Going Forth by Day.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 2670 BCE - c. 2613 BCEConcepts later included in Book of the Dead inscribed in tombs of Third Dynasty of Egypt.
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1991 BCE - 1802 BCEThe Egyptian Book of the Dead written on papyrus and included in tombs of the 12th Dynasty of Egypt.
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c. 1600 BCESpells of The Egyptian Book of the Dead divided into chapters.
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1570 BCE - 1069 BCEThe Egyptian Book of the Dead printed on demand throughout Egypt; book is a best-seller from period of the New Kingdom onwards.
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c. 650 BCEText of The Egyptian Book of the Dead fixed at 190 Spells.
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323 BCE - 30 BCEThe Egyptian Book of the Dead continues in popular use through the Ptolemaic Dynasty, the last to rule Egypt before the coming of Rome.
