BOOK OF THE DEAD

• The Book of the Dead is a collection of ancient Egyptian funerary texts.
• Book of the Dead is also known as "The Chapters of Coming Forth by Day" in ancient Egypt.
• It contains spells, prayers, and incantations to guide the deceased in the afterlife.
• It was written on papyrus scrolls or tomb walls and buried with the dead.
• It was written in hieroglyphs, hieratic, or demotic scripts.
• Wealthier Egyptians commissioned personalized versions.
• The Book of the Dead is written on papyrus scrolls and buried with the deceased.
• Body undergoes mummification, and amulets/spells are placed for protection.
• Du’at


  Underworld
• The soul begins its journey, guided by the spells and instructions.
• Encounters gates, rivers, and magical guardians.
• The deceased recites specific spells to overcome challenges like: Crossing fiery lakes. Defeating demons and hostile spirits. Avoiding traps and curses.
• The Opening of the Mouth spell restores senses (sight, speech, and breath).
• Ensures the ka (spirit) and ba (personality) can reunite with the body.
• Conducted in the Hall of Ma’at.
• Anubis leads the deceased to the scales where:

  The heart is weighed against the Feather of Ma’at.
• Thoth records the result.
• If the scales balance, the soul is deemed pure.
• The deceased moves on to the Field of Reeds.
• If unbalanced, the heart is devoured by Ammit, leading to eternal destruction.
• The soul boards the solar barque (sun boat) with Ra.
• Travels through the 12 regions of the night (symbolizing hours).
• Encounters further tests, using spells to progress.
• The deceased reaches paradise (Field of Reeds), a perfect mirror of Egypt.
• Reunites with family and loved ones who also passed the judgment.
• The soul achieves immortality.
• Becomes one with the gods or continues a fulfilling life in the afterlife.
• A demon with the head of a crocodile, the body of a lion, and the hindquarters of a hippopotamus.


  Ammit
• Goddess of truth, balance, and justice.

  Ma'at
• Jackal-headed god of embalming and the dead.


  Anubis
• Guides the deceased and oversees the weighing of the heart.


  Anubis
• Sun god and creator deity.


  Ra
• Central figure of the Book of the Dead.


  The deceased
• Falcon-headed god, son of Isis and Osiris.

  Horus
• God of the afterlife, resurrection, and judgment.


  Osiris
• Represents the feather used in the heart-weighing ceremony.


  Ma'at
• Records the outcome of the Weighing of the Heart.


  Thoth
• Devours the hearts of those deemed unworthy, condemning them to eternal destruction.

  Ammit
• Must recite the spells and follow the guidance to achieve immortality.


  The deceased
• Symbolizes divine kingship and helps protect the deceased from evil.


  Horus