in the pyramid of Unas, the last King of the 5th
dynasty, are known to exist. However, some have
claimed that a large portion ofThe Book of the
Deadis older than the Mena period, the founding
king of dynastic Egypt. This entry looks at the
contents and history of that book.
What It ContainsThe Book of the Deadwas considered a funerary
text that accompanied the body of the deceased
and was therefore connected to the transition into
the afterlife. The people of Kemet shared a rever-
ence for the afterlife.The Book of the Deadis a
compilation of about 200 chants or spells.
However, the chants or spells that appeared in the
tombs were often those that were considered more
important and affordable for families. The spells
were mainly written on papyrus, but could also be
found inscribed on coffins, amulets, tombs, and
wall figures.
The Book of the Deadis about of the venera-
tion of the afterlife. The nature of objects, animals,
human, and deities is presented in mythology and
allegory. According toThe Book of the Dead, the
ancients believed that life here on Earth as well as
the afterlife were extensions of each other; hence,
there were no starting and ending points. They
viewed life and death as an evolutionary process
and continuation of the soul’s journey through the
universe. This idea is closely related to the concept
of reincarnation, both in the physical and spiritual
realms. The ancient Africans in Egypt also strongly
believed that the spells inThe Book of the Dead
would help in the process of resurrecting the spiri-
tual body and the immortalizing of the soul.
Within The Book of the Dead, the people were
able to see the elaboration of the battle between
good and evil, such as the story of Horus and Set.
The Book of the Dead was used when the
deceased would be buried with some composi-
tions, particularly those that symbolized success-
ful matriculation into the afterlife. The ancient
Africans also believed that securing these ritualis-
tic spells alongside the body of the deceased
would help him or her transcend lower obstacles,
avoid corruption of the tomb, and guarantee a
sound body and existence in heaven. The texts
were also used during funerary rites as prayers,
litanies, and chants. They particularly detailed
and emphasized the state of the departed and any
trials and tribulations they may have encountered
as they approached their destination.
The spells were wrapped in mummy bandage in
a hallowed statuette. The inscriptions were mainly
written in hieroglyphics, but also recognized in
cursive scripts, hieratic, demotic, and colorful
illustrations. The purpose of The Book of the
Deadwas to provide the deceased with a compi-
lation of spells to ensure a safe transition and
passing into the afterlife. The ability of the
deceased to identify with Osiris was the result of
acceptance into the afterworld. The spells con-
tained therein reflected the cult of Osiris.
In some senses, the words ofThe Book of the
Deadare known as the Doctrine of Eternal Life
because they allude to the internal makeup of man
and his struggles within himself as reflected in
the nine inseparable affinities of man: (a) natural
body, (b) spiritual body, (c) heart/ab, (d) double/ka,
(e) soul/ba, (f) shadow/khaibit, (g) ethereal casing
or spirit, (h) form/sekhem, and (i) name. For the
Egyptians, the synchrony of these characteristics
provides the basis and definition of eternal life.
Chapter 125 ofThe Book of the Deadon Weighing
of the Heart describes the judgment of lifetime
behavior prior to admission into the afterlife.How It Developed
The Book of the Deadgives us no evidence of
authorship except for attributing later versions to
Thoth/Tehuti. Later the Greeks claimThe Book of
the Dead in its genre of classic literature. Of
course, there are four versions ofThe Book of the
Deadreflected throughout four time periods.
The first version, Heliopolitan, was edited by
priests of the College of Annu, named Heliopolis by
the Greeks. It was originally written in hieroglyph-
ics and known from five copies inscribed on the
walls and chamber of the pyramids of the 5th and
6th dynasties at Sakkara. Sections of this version
were also inscribed in tombs, sarcophagi, coffin, ste-
lae, and papyri from 11th dynasty to about 200 AD.
The second version, the Theban rendition, was
also written on papyrus in hieroglyphics and
divided into sections or chapters in use during the
18th to 20th dynasties. The Theban version is highly
artistic, reflecting more actual artwork than texts. It
was incomplete and unfair in its representation; itBook of the Coming Forth by Day (The Book of the Dead) 137