Title: The Egyptian Book of the Dead
Subject:
Author: E.A. Wallis Budge
Keywords:
Creator:
PDF Version: 1.2
Page No 1
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
E.A. Wallis Budge
Page No 2
Table of Contents
The Egyptian Book of the Dead .........................................................................................................................1
E.A. Wallis Budge...................................................................................................................................1
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
i
Page No 3
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
E.A. Wallis Budge
HYMN TO OSIRIS
A HYMN OF PRAISE TO RA WHEN HE RISETH IN THE EASTERN PART OF HEAVEN
NEKHT, THE CAPTAIN OF SOLDIERS, THE ROYAL SCRIBE, SINGETH A HYMN OF PRAISE TO
RA
HYMN TO OSIRIS UNNEFER
THE CHAPTERS OF COMING FORTH BY DAY
THE CHAPTER OF MAKING THE SAHU TO ENTER THE TUAT ON THE DAY OF THE
FUNERAL, WHEN THE FOLLOWING WORDS ARE TO BE SAID:
THE CHAPTER OF GIVING A MOUTH TO THE...
APPENDIX
THE CHAPTER OF COMING FORTH BY DAY AND OF OPENING UP A WAY THROUGH THE
AMEHET
TEXTS RELATING TO THE WEIGHING OF THE HEART OF ANI
THE SEVEN ARITS
THE PYLONS OF THE HOUSE OF OSIRIS
THE PRIESTS ANMUTEF AND SAMEREF
THE SPEECH OF THE PRIEST ANMUTEF
THE SPEECH OF THE PRIEST SAMEREF
THE JUDGES IN ANU
THE CHAPTER OF OPENING THE MOUTH OF THE OSIRIS ANI
THE CHAPTER OF BRINGING WORDS OF POWER TO THE OSIRIS ANI
THE CHAPTER WHICH MAKETH A MAN TO REMEMBER HIS NAME IN KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF GIVING A HEART TO THE OSIRIS ANI IN KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE HEART OF THE OSIRIS, THE ASSESSOR OF THE
DIVINE OFFERINGS OF ALL THE GODS, ANI, WHOSE WORD IS TRUTH BEFORE OSIRIS, BE
DRIVEN BACK FROM HIM IN KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE HEARTSOUL OF A MAN BE SNATCHED AWAY FROM
HIM IN KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF DRINKING WATER IN KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF DRINKING WATER AND OF NOT BEING BURNT UP BY FIRE
THE CHAPTER OF NOT BEING BOILED IN FIRE
THE CHAPTER OF GIVING AIR IN KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF GIVING AIR TO NU IN KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF GIVING AIR IN KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF SNUFFING THE AIR WITH WATER IN KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE HEART OF A MAN BE SNATCHED AWAY FROM HIM IN
KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF NOT ALLOWING THE HEART.... TO BE CARRIED AWAY DEAD IN
KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE HEARTCASE OF A MAN BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM
IN KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE HEART OF NU, WHOSE WORD IS TRUTH, BE CARRIED
AWAY FROM HIM IN KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE HEART OF NU, WHOSE WORD IS TRUTH, BE DRIVEN
AWAY FROM HIM IN KHERTNETER
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 1
Page No 4
THE CHAPTER OF BREATHING THE AIR AND OF HAVING POWER OVER WATER IN
KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF SNUFFING THE AIR, AND OF HAVING POWER OVER THE WATER IN
KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF NOT DYING A SECOND TIME IN KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF NOT ROTTING IN KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE BODY PERISH
THE CHAPTER OF NOT PERISHING AND OF BEING ALIVE IN KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF NOT GOING IN TO THE BLOCK OF THE GOD
THE CHAPTER OF NOT BEING TRANSPORTED TO THE EAST IN KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE HEAD OF A MAN BE CUT OFF FROM HIS BODY IN
KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF MAKING THE SOUL TO BE JOINED TO ITS BODY IN KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE SOUL OF A MAN BE HELD CAPTIVE IN KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF OPENING THE TOMB TO THE BASOUL AND THE SHADOW, AND OF
COMING FORTH BY DAY, AND OF HAVING MASTERY OVER THE TWO LEGS
APPENDIX
THE CHAPTER OF LIFTING UP THE FEET, AND OF COMING FORTH ON THE EARTH
THE CHAPTER OF FORCING A WAY INTO AMENTET [AND OF COMING FORTH] BY DAY
THE CHAPTER OF FORCING A WAY INTO THE TUAT
ANOTHER CHAPTER OF THE TUAT AND OF COMING FORTH BY DAY
THE CHAPTER OF COMING FORTH BY DAY AND OF LIVING AFTER DEATH
APPENDIX
THE CHAPTER OF COMING FORTH BY DAY AFTER FORCING AN ENTRANCE THROUGH THE
AAMHET
THE CHAPTER OF MAKING A MAN TO RETURN TO LOOK UPON HIS HOUSE ON EARTH
ANOTHER CHAPTER OF THE COMING FORTH OF A MAN BY DAY AGAINST HIS ENEMIES IN
KHERTNETER
THE CHAPTER OF COMING FORTH AGAINST ENEMIES IN KHERTNETER
A HYMN OF PRAISE TO RA WHEN HE RISETH UPON THE HORIZON, AND WHEN HE
SETTETH IN THE LAND OF LIFE
APPENDIX
A HYMN OF PRAISE TO RA WHEN HE RISETH IN THE EASTERN PART OF HEAVEN
THE CHAPTER OF THE NEW MOON
A HYMN TO RA [WHICH IS TO BE SUNG] ON THE DAY OF THE MONTH (THE DAY OF THE
NEW MOON) [WHEN] THE BOAT OF RA SAILETH
ANOTHER CHAPTER WHICH IS TO BE RECITED WHEN THE MOON RENEWETH ITSELF ON
THE DAY OF THE MONTH [WHEREON IT DOETH THIS]
THE CHAPTER OF ADVANCING TO THE TCHATCHAU CHIEFS OF OSIRIS
THE CHAPTER OF MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO A SWALLOW
[THE CHAPTER] OF MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO A HAWK OF GOLD
[THE CHAPTER OF] MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO A DIVINE HAWK
THE CHAPTER OF BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE PRINCE OF THE TCHATCHAU CHIEFS
[THE CHAPTER OF] MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO THE SERPENT SATA
[THE CHAPTER OF] MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO THE CROCODILEGOD
THE CHAPTER OF MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO PTAH
[THE CHAPTER OF] MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO THE SOUL OF TEM
APPENDIX
[THE CHAPTER OF] MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO THE BENU BIRD
[THE CHAPTER OF] MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO A HERON
APPENDIX
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 2
Page No 5
[THE CHAPTER OF] MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO THE LOTUS
APPENDIX
[THE CHAPTER OF] MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO THE GOD WHO LIGHTENETH
THE DARKNESS
THE CHAPTER OF NOT DYING A SECOND TIME
APPENDIX
[THE CHAPTER OF] ENTERING INTO THE HALL OF MAATI TO PRAISE OSIRIS
KHENTIAMENTI
APPENDIX
THE NEGATIVE CONFESSION
APPENDIX
ADDRESS TO THE GODS OF THE TUAT
THE CHAPTER OF THE DEIFICATION OF THE MEMBERS
APPENDIX
APPENDIX
THE CHAPTER OF REPULSING SLAUGHTER IN HENSU
THE CHAPTER OF A TET OF GOLD
APPENDIX
THE CHAPTER OF A TET OF CARNELIAN
APPENDIX
THE CHAPTER OF A HEART OF SEHERT STONE
THE CHAPTER OF THE HEADREST
THE CHAPTER OF THE HEADREST [OR PILLOW]
THE TEXTS IN THE FUNERAL CHAMBER
[HERE] BEGIN THE CHAPTERS OF SEKHETHETEPET, AND THE CHAPTERS OF COMING
FORTH BY DAY, OF ENTERING INTO AND COMING FORTH FROM KHERTNETER, OF
ARRIVING IN SEKHETAANRU, AND OF LIVING IN PEACE IN THE GREAT CITY, THE LADY
OF WINDS.
APPENDIX
THE CHAPTER OF PROVIDING THE DECEASED WITH MEAT, MILK, ETC.
ADDRESSES TO THE FOUR RUDDERS OF HEAVEN
ADDRESSES TO THE FOUR COMPANIES OF THE GODS
APPENDIX
THE BOOK OF MAKING PERFECT THE KHU
THE ADDRESSES OF THE FOUR RUDDERS
HYMN TO OSIRIS KHENTIAMENTI UNNEFER
SUTIMES, THE LIBATIONER AND PRESIDENT OF THE ALTAR CHAMBER OF THE APTS
THE CHAPTER OF THE PRAISE OF HATHOR, LADY OF AMENTET
THE CHAPTER OF THE FOUR TORCHES
HYMN TO OSIRIS
"Homage to thee, Osiris, Lord of eternity, King of the Gods, whose
names are manifold, whose forms are holy, thou being of hidden form in
the temples, whose Ka is holy. Thou art the governor of Tattu
(Busiris), and also the mighty one in Sekhem (Letopolis). Thou art the
Lord to whom praises are ascribed in the nome of Ati, thou art the
Prince of divine food in Anu. Thou art the Lord who is commemorated in
Maati, the Hidden Soul, the Lord of Qerrt (Elephantine), the Ruler
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 3
Page No 6
supreme in White Wall (Memphis). Thou art the Soul of Ra, his own
body, and hast thy place of rest in Henensu (Herakleopolis). Thou
art the beneficent one, and art praised in Nart. Thou makest thy
soul to be raised up. Thou art the Lord of the Great House in
Khemenu (Hermopolis). Thou art the mighty one of victories in
Shashetep, the Lord of eternity, the Governor of Abydos. The path
of his throne is in Tatcheser (a part of Abydos). Thy name is
established in the mouths of men. Thou art the substance of Two
Lands (Egypt). Thou art Tem, the feeder of Kau (Doubles), the Governor
of the Companies of the gods. Thou art the beneficent Spirit among the
spirits. The god of the Celestial Ocean (Nu) draweth from thee his
waters. Thou sendest forth the north wind at eventide, and breath from
thy nostrils to the satisfaction of thy heart. Thy heart reneweth
its youth, thou producest the.... The stars in the celestial heights
are obedient unto thee, and the great doors of the sky open themselves
before thee. Thou art he to whom praises are ascribed in the
southern heaven, and thanks are given for thee in the northern heaven.
The imperishable stars are under thy supervision, and the stars
which never set are thy thrones. Offerings appear before thee at the
decree of Keb. The Companies of the Gods praise thee, and the gods
of the Tuat (Other World) smell the earth in paying homage to thee.
The uttermost parts of the earth bow before thee, and the limits of
the skies entreat thee with supplications when they see thee. The holy
ones are overcome before thee, and all Egypt offereth thanksgiving
unto thee when it meeteth Thy Majesty. Thou art a shining SpiritBody,
the governor of SpiritBodies; permanent is thy rank, established is
thy rule. Thou art the welldoing Sekhem (Power) of the Company of the
Gods, gracious is thy face, and beloved by him that seeth it. Thy fear
is set in all the lands by reason of thy perfect love, and they cry
out to thy name making it the first of names, and all people make
offerings to thee. Thou art the lord who art commemorated in heaven
and upon earth. Many are the cries which are made to thee at the Uak
festival, and with one heart and voice Egypt raiseth cries of joy to
thee.
"Thou art the Great Chief, the first among thy brethren, the
Prince of the Company of the Gods, the stablisher of Right and Truth
throughout the World, the Son who was set on the great throne of his
father Keb. Thou art the beloved of thy mother Nut, the mighty one
of valour, who overthrew the Sebaufiend. Thou didst stand up and
smite thine enemy, and set thy fear in thine adversary. Thou dost
bring the boundaries of the mountains. Thy heart is fixed, thy legs
are set firm. Thou art the heir of Keb and of the sovereignty of the
Two Lands (Egypt). He (Keb) hath seen his splendours, he hath
decreed for him the guidance of the world by thy hand as long as times
endure. Thou hast made this earth with thy hand, and the waters, and
the winds, and the vegetation, and all the cattle, and all the
feathered fowl, and all the fish, and all the creeping things, and all
the wild animals therof. The desert is the lawful possession of the
son of Nut. The Two Lands (Egypt) are content to crown thee upon the
throne of thy father, like Ra.
"Thou rollest up into the horizon, thou hast set light over the
darkness, thou sendest forth air from thy plumes, and thou floodest
the Two Lands like the Disk at daybreak. Thy crown penetrateth the
height of heaven, thou art the companion of the stars, and the guide
of every god. Thou art beneficent in decree and speech, the favoured
one of the Great Company of the Gods, and the beloved of the Little
Company of the Gods.
His sister [Isis] hath protected him, and hath repulsed the
fiends, and turned aside calamities (of evil). She uttered the spell
with the magical power of her mouth. Her tongue was perfect, and it
never halted at a word. Beneficent in command and word was Isis, the
woman of magical spells, the advocate of her brother. She sought him
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 4
Page No 7
untiringly, she wandered round and round about this earth in sorrow,
and she alighted not without finding him. She made light with her
feathers, she created air with her wings, and she uttered the death
wail for her brother. She raised up the inactive members of whose
heart was still, she drew from him his essence, she made an heir,
she reared the child in loneliness, and the place where he was not
known, and he grew in strength and stature, and his hand was mighty in
the House of Keb. The Company of the Gods rejoiced, rejoiced, at the
coming of Horus, the son of Osiris, whose heart was firm, the
triumphant, the son of Isis, the heir of Osiris."
REFERENCES
REFERENCES
Following is a list of frequentlymentioned geographical
locations, and their commonlyknown names:
Abtu Abydos
Abu Elephantine
Anu Heliopolis
Bast Bubastis
Hensu Herakleopolis
HetkaPtah Memphis
Khemenu Hermopolis
PerMenu Panopolis
Qerrt Elephantine
Sau Sais
Sekhem Letopolis
Suat Asyut
Tetu Busiris
Two Lands Upper and Lower Egypt
Unu Hermopolis
A HYMN OF PRAISE TO RA WHEN HE RISETH IN THE EASTERN PART OF HEAVEN:
Behold, the Osiris Ani, the scribe of the holy offerings of all the
gods, saith: Homage to thee, O thou who hast come as Khepera,
Khepera the creator of the gods, Thou art seated on thy throne, thou
risest up in the sky, illumining thy mother [Nut], thou art seated
on thy throne as the king of the gods. [Thy] mother Nut stretcheth out
her hands, and performeth an act of homage to thee. The domain of Manu
receiveth thee with satisfaction. The goddess Maat embraceth thee at
the two seasons of the day. May Ra give glory, and power, and
thruthspeaking, and the appearance as a living soul so that he may
gaze upon Herukhuti, to the KA of the Osiris the Scribe Ani, who
speaketh truth before Osiris, and who saith: Hail, O all ye gods of
the House of the Soul, who weigh heaven and earth in a balance, and
who give celestial food [to the dead]. Hail, Tatun, [who art] One,
thou creator of mortals [and] of the Companies of the Gods of the
South and of the North, of the West and of the East, ascribe ye praise
to Ra, the lord of heaven, the KING, Life, Strength, and Health, the
maker of the gods. Give ye thanks unto him in his beneficent form
which is enthroned in the Atett Boat; beings celestial praise thee,
beings terrestial praise thee. Thoth and the goddess Maat mark out thy
course for thee day by day and every day. Thine enemy the Serpent hath
been given over to the fire. The Serpentfiend Sebau hath fallen
headlong, his forelegs are bound in chains, and his hind legs hath
Ra carried away from him. The Sons of Revolt shall never more rise up.
The House of the Aged One keepeth festival, and the voices of those
who make merry are in the Great Place. The gods rejoice when they
see Ra crowned upon his throne, and when his beams flood the world
with light. The majesty of this holy god setteth out on his journey,
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 5
Page No 8
and he goeth onwards until he reacheth the land of Manu; the earth
becometh light at his birth each day; he proceedeth until he
reacheth the place where he was yesterday. O be thou at peace with me.
Let me gaze upon thy beauties. Let me journey above the earth. Let
me smite the Ass. Let me slit asunder the Serpentfiend Sebau. Let
me destroy Aepep at the moment of his greatest power. Let me behold
the Abtu Fish at his season, and the Ant Fish with the Ant Boat as
it piloteth it in its lake. Let me behold Horus when he is in charge
of the rudder [of the Boat of Ra], with Thoth and the goddess Maat
on each side of him. Let me lay hold of the towrope of the Sektet
Boat, and the rope at the stern of the Matett Boat. Let Ra grant to me
a view of the Disk (the Sun), and a sight of Ah (the Moon) unfailingly
each day. Let my Basoul come forth to walk about hither and thither
and whithersoever it pleaseth. Let my name be called out, let it be
found inscribed on the tablet which recordeth the names of those who
are to receive offerings. Let meals from the sepulchral offerings be
given to me in the presence [of Osiris], as to those who are in the
following of Horus. Let there be prepared for me a seat in the Boat of
the Sun on the day wheron the god saileth. Let me be received in the
presence of Osiris in the Land of Truthspeaking the Ka of Osiris
Ani.
APPENDIX
(From the Papyrus of Nekht, Brit. Mus. No. 10471, Sheet 21)
NEKHT, THE CAPTAIN OF SOLDIERS, THE ROYAL SCRIBE, SINGETH A HYMN OF PRAISE TO
RA,
and saith: Homage to thee, O thou glorious Being,
thou who art dowered [with all sovereignty]. O TemHeruKhuti
(TemHarmakhis), when thou risest in the horizon of heaven a cry of
joy goeth forth to thee from all people. O thou beautiful Being,
thou dost renew thyself in thy season in the form of the Disk,
within thy mother Hathor. Therefore in every place every heart
swelleth with joy at thy rising for ever. The regions of the South and
the North come to thee with homage, and send forth acclamations at thy
rising on the horizon of heaven, and thou illuminest the Two Lands
with rays of turquoise[coloured] light. O Ra, who art HeruKhuti, the
divine manchild, the heir of eternity, selfbegotten and selfborn,
king of the earth, prince of the Tuat (the Other World), governor of
Aukert, thou didst come from the Watergod, thou didst spring from the
Skygod Nu, who doth cherish thee and order thy members. O thou god of
life, thou lord of love, all men live when thou shinest; thou art
crowned king of the gods. The goddess Nut embraceth thee, and the
goddess Mut enfoldeth thee at all seasons. Those who are in thy
following sing unto thee with joy, and they bow down their foreheads
to the earth when they meet thee, the lord of heaven, the lord of
the earth, the King of Truth, the lord of eternity, the prince of
everlastingness, thou sovereign of all the gods, thou god of life,
thou creator of eternity, thou maker of heaven wherin thou art
firmly stablished.
The Company of the Gods rejoice at thy rising, the earth is glad
when it beholdeth thy rays; the people who have been long dead come
forth with cries of joy to behold thy beauties every day. Thou goest
forth each day over heaven and earth, and thou art made strong each
day be thy mother Nut. Thou passest over the heights of heaven, thy
heart swelleth with joy; and the Lake of Testes (the Great Oasis) is
content thereat. The Serpentfiend hath fallen, his arms are hewn off,
the Knife hath severed his joints. Ra liveth by Maat (Law), the
beautiful! The Sektet Boat advanceth and cometh into port. The South
and the North, and the West and East, turn to praise thee. O thou
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 6
Page No 9
First, Great God (PAUTA), who didst come into being of thine own
accord, Isis and Nephthys salute thee, they sing unto thee songs of
joy at thy rising in the boat, they stretch out their hands unto thee.
The Souls of the East follow thee, and the Souls of the West praise
thee. Thou art the Ruler of all the gods. Thou in thy shrine hast joy,
for the Serpentfiend Nak hath been judged by the fire, and thy
heart shall rejoice for ever. Thy mother Nut is esteemed by thy father
Nu.
HYMN TO OSIRIS UNNEFER
A Hymn of Praise to Osiris UnNefer, the great god who dwelleth in
Abtu, the king of eternity, the lord of everlastingness, who
traverseth millions of years in his existence. Thou art the eldest son
of the womb of Nut. Thou was begotten by Keb, the Erpat. Thou art
the lord of the Urrt Crown. Thou art he whose White Crown is lofty.
Thou art the King (Ati) of gods [and] men. Thou hast gained possession
of the sceptre of rule, and the whip, and the rank and dignity of
thy divine fathers. Thy heart is expanded with joy, O thou who art
in the kingdom of the dead. Thy son Horus is firmly placed on thy
throne. Thou hast ascended thy throne as the Lord of Tetu, and as
the Heq who dwelleth in Abydos. Thou makest the Two Lands to
flourish through Truthspeaking, in the presence of him who is the
Lord to the Uttermost Limit. Thou drawest on that which hath not yet
come into being in thy name of "Taherstanef." Thou governest the
Two Lands by Maat in thy name of "Seker." Thy power is widespread,
thou art he of whom the fear is great in thy name of "Usar" (or
"Asar"). Thy existence endureth for an infinite number of double henti
periods in thy name of "UnNefer."
Homage to thee, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and Prince of
Princes. Thou hast ruled the Two Lands from the womb of the goddess
Nut. Thou hast governed the Lands of Akert. Thy members are of
silvergold, thy head is of lapislazuli, and the crown of thy head is
of turquoise. Thou art An of millions of years. Thy body is all
pervading, O Beautiful Face in Tatchesert. Grant thou to me glory
in heaven, and power upon earth, and truthspeaking in the Divine
Underworld, and [the power to] sail down the river to Tetu in the form
of a living Basoul, and [the power to] sail up the river to Abydos in
the form of a Benu bird, and [the power to] pass in through and to
pass out from, without obstruction, the doors of the lords of the
Tuat. Let there be given unto me breadcakes in the House of
Refreshing, and sepulchral offerings of cakes and ale, and
propitiatory offerings in Anu, and a permanent homestead in
SekhetAaru, with wheat and barley therein to the Double of the
Osiris, the scribe Ani.
THE CHAPTERS OF COMING FORTH BY DAY
HERE BEGIN THE CHAPTERS OF COMING FORTH BY DAY, AND THE SONGS OF
PRAISING AND GLORIFYING WHICH ARE TO BE RECITED FOR "COMING FORTH" AND
FOR ENTERING INTO KHERTNETER, AND THE SPELLS WHICH ARE TO BE SAID
IN BEAUTIFUL AMENTET. THEY SHALL BE RECITED ON THE DAY OF THE FUNERAL,
ENTERING IN AFTER COMING FORTH.
The Osiris Ani, the Osiris the scribe Ani saith: Homage to thee,
O Bull of Amentet, Thoth the king of eternity is with me. I am the
great god by the side of the divine boat, I have fought for thee, I am
one of those gods, those divine chiefs, who proved the
truthspeaking of Osiris before his enemies on the day of the weighing
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 7
Page No 10
of words. I am thy kinsman Osiris. I am [one of] those gods who were
the children of the goddess Nut, who hacked in pieces the enemies of
Osiris, and who bound in fetters the legion of Sebau devils on his
behalf. I am thy kinsman Horus, I have fought on thy behalf, I have
come to thee for thy name's sake. I am Thoth who proved the truth of
the words of Osiris before his enemies on the day of the weighing of
words in the great House of the Prince, who dwelleth in Anu. I am
Teti, the son of Teti. My mother conceived me in Tetu, and gave
birth to me in Tetu. I am with the mourners [and with] the women who
tear out their hair and make lament for Osiris in TauiRekhti, proving
true the words of Osiris before his enemies. Ra commanded Thoth to
prove true the words of Osiris before his enemies; what was
commanded [for Osiris], let that be done for me by Thoth. I am with
Horus on the day of dressing Teshtesh. I open the hidden watersprings
for the ablutions of Urtab. I unbolt the door of the Shetait Shrine
in Rastau. I am with Horus as the protector of the left shoulder of
Osiris, the dweller in Sekhem. I enter in among and I come forth
from the Flamegods on the day of the destruction of the Sebau
fiends in Sekhem. I am with Horus on the day[s] of the festivals of
Osiris, at the making of offerings and oblations, namely, on the
festival which is celebrated on the sixth day of the month, and on the
day of the Tenat festival in Anu. I am the UAB priest (libationer)
in Tetu, Rera, the dweller in PerAsar. I exalt him that is upon the
high place of the country. I look upon the hidden things (the
mysteries) in Rastau. I recite the words of the liturgy of the
festival of the Soulgod in Tetu. I am the SEM priest, and [perform]
his duties. I am the URKHERPHEM priest on the day of placing the
Henu Boat of Seker upon its divine sledge. I have taken in my hand the
digging tool on the day of digging up the earth in Hensu.
Hail, O ye who make perfect souls to enter into the House of Osiris,
make ye the wellinstructed soul of the Osiris the scribe Ani, whose
word is true, to enter in and to be with you in the House of Osiris.
Let him hear even as ye hear; let him have sight even as ye have
sight; let him stand up even as ye stand up; let him take his seat
even as ye take your seats.
Hail, O ye who give cakes and ale to perfect souls in the House of
Osiris, give ye cakes and ale twice each day (in the morning and in
the evening) to the soul of the Osiris Ani, whose word is true
before the gods, the Lords of Abydos, and whose word is true with you.
Hail, O ye who open up the way, who act as guides to the roads [in
the Other World] to perfect souls in the House of Osiris, open ye up
for him the way, and act ye as guides to the roads to the soul of
the Osiris, the scribe, the registrary of all the offerings made to
the gods, Ani, [whose word is true] with you. May he enter the House
of Osiris with boldness, and may he come forth therefrom in peace. May
there be no opposition made to him, and may he not be sent back
[therefrom]. May he enter in under favour [of Osiris], and may he come
forth gratified [at the acceptance of] his true words. May his
commands be performed in the House of Osiris, may his words travel
with you, may he be glorious as ye are. May he be not found to be
light in the Balance, may the Balance dispose of his case.
(In the Turin Papyrus, ed. Lepsius, this Chapter ends with the
following.)
Permit thou not me to be judged according to the mouths of the
multitude. May my soul lift itself up before [Osiris], having been
found to have been pure when on earth. May I come into thy presence, O
Lord of the gods; may I arrive at the Nome of Maati (Truth); may I
rise up on my seat like a god endowed with life; may I give forth
light like the Company of the Gods who dwell in heaven; may I become
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 8
Page No 11
like one of you; may I lift up my footsteps in the town of KherAha;
may I look upon the Sektet Boat of the god, Saah, the holy one, as
it passeth across the sky; may I not be repulsed; may I look upon
the Lords of the Tuat, or, according to another reading, the Company
of the Gods; may I smell the savour of the divine food of the
Company of the Gods; may I sit down with them; may my name be
proclaimed for offerings by the KHERHEB priest at the sacrificial
table; may I hear the petitions which are made when offerings are
presented; may I draw nigh unto the Neshem Boat; and may neither my
Heartsoul nor its lord be repulsed.
Homage to thee, O Chief of Amentet, thou god Osiris, who dwellest in
the town of Nifuur. Grant thou that I may arrive in peace in Amentet.
May the Lords of TaTchesert receive me, and may they say unto me:
"Hail, hail; welcome, welcome!" May they make ready for me a seat by
the side of the President of the Chiefs; may the Nursinggoddesses
receive me at the seasons, and may I come forth into the presence of
UnNefer true of word. May I be a Follower of Horus in Rastau, and of
Osiris in Tetu; and may I perform all the transformations which my
heart may desire to make in every place wherein my Double (KA) wisheth
to be.
RUBRIC: If this text be known [by the deceased] upon earth or if
he causeth it to be done in writing upon [his] coffin, then will he be
able to come forth on any day he pleaseth, and to enter into his
habitation unrepulsed. Cakes and ale and joints of meat from those
which are on the altar of Ra shall be given unto him, and his
homestead shall be among the fields of the Field of Reeds
(SekhetAaru), and wheat and barley shall be given unto him therein,
and he shall flourish there even as he flourished upon earth.
APPENDIX
(From the Papyrus of NekhtuAmen, ed. Naville, I, 5)
THE CHAPTER OF MAKING THE SAHU TO ENTER THE TUAT ON THE DAY OF THE FUNERAL,
WHEN THE FOLLOWING WORDS ARE TO BE SAID:
Homage to thee, O
thou who dwellest in the Holy Hill (SetTchesert) of Amentet! the
Osiris, the royal scribe, NekhtuAmen, whose word is true, knoweth
thee, he knoweth thy name. Deliver thou him from the worms which are
in Rastau, which live upon the bodies of men and women, and feed upon
their blood, for Osiris, the favoured servant of the god of his
city, the royal scribe NekhtuAmen, knoweth you, and he knoweth your
names. Let the order for his protection be the first command of
Osiris, the Lord to the Uttermost Limit, who keepeth his body
hidden. May he give him release from the Terrible One who dwelleth
at the bend of the River of Amentet, and may he decree the acts that
will make him to rise up. Let him pass on to him whose throne is
placed within the darkness, who giveth light in Rastau. O thou Lord
of Light, come thou and swallow up the worms which are in Amentet. Let
the Great God who dwelleth in Tetu, and who is himself unseen, hear
his prayers, and let those who cause afflictions hold him in fear as
he cometh forth with the sentence of their doom to the Divine Block. I
the Osiris, the royal scribe, NekhtuAmen, come, bearing the decree of
Nebertcher, and I am the Horus who taketh possession of his throne
for him. His father, the lord of all those who are in the Boat of
his Father Horus, hath ascribed praise unto him. He cometh bearing
tidings....... let him see the town of Anu. Their chief shall stand on
the earth before him, the scribes shall magnify him at the doors of
their assemblies, and thy shall swathe im with swathings in Anu. He
hath led heaven captive, and he hath seized the earth in his grasp.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 9
Page No 12
Neither the heavens nor the earth can be taken away from him, for,
behold, he is Ra, the firstborn of the gods. His mother shall nurse
him, and shall give him her breast on the horizon.
RUBRIC: The words of this Chapter shall be said after [the deceased]
is laid to rest in Amentet; by means of them the region Tennt shall
be contented with her lord. And the Osiris, the royal scribe,
NekhtuAmen, whose word is truth, shall come forth, and he shall
embark in the Boat of Ra, and [his] body upon its bier shall be
counted up, and he shall be established in the Tuat.
THE CHAPTER OF GIVING A MOUTH TO THE OSIRIS ANI, THE SCRIBE, AND TELLER OF THE
OFFERINGS WHICH ARE MADE TO ALL THE GODS, WHOSE WORD IS TRUE, WHO SAITH:
I rise up out of the Egg in the Hidden Land.
May my mouth be given unto me that I may speak therewith in the
presence of the Great God, the Lord of the Tuat. Let not my hand and
my arm be repulsed in the presence of the Chiefs (Tchatchau) of any
god. I am Osiris, the Lord of Rastau. May I, the Osiris, the scribe
Ani, whose word is true, have my portion with him who is on the top of
the Steps (Osiris). According to the desire of my heart I have come
forth from the Island of Nesersert, and I have extinguished the fire.
APPENDIX
[The following passage is taken from the Saite Recension]
[THE CHAPTER OF GIVING A MOUTH TO THE OSIRIS, THE SCRIBE ANI, WHO SAITH]:
Homage to thee, O thou lord of brightness, Governor of the
Temple, Prince of the night and of the thick darkness. I have come
unto thee. I am shining, I am pure. My hands are about thee, thou hast
thy lot with thy ancestors. Give thou unto me my mouth that I may
speak with it. I guide my heart at its season of flame and of night.
RUBRIC: If this Chapter be known by the Osiris the scribe Ani,
upon earth, [or if it be done] in writing upon [his] coffin, he
shall come forth by day in every form which he pleaseth, and he
shall enter into [his] abode, and shall not be repulsed. And cakes,
and ale, and joints of meat [from those which are on] the altar of
Osiris shall be given unto him; and he shall enter in peace into
SekhetAaru, conformably to the decree of the Dweller in Busiris.
Wheat and barley (dhura) shall be given unto him therein, and he shall
flourish there just as he did upon earth; and he shall do whatsoever
it pleaseth him to do, even as do the Company of the Gods who are in
the Tuat, regularly and continually, for millions of times.
(From the Paprys of Nebseni, Sheet 3)
THE CHAPTER OF COMING FORTH BY DAY AND OF OPENING UP A WAY THROUGH THE
AMEHET:
Behold, the scribe Nebseni, whose word is truth, saith:
Homage to you, O ye Lords of Kau, ye who are without sin, and who live
for the endless and infinite aeons of time which make up eternity. I
have opened up a way for myself to you. I have become a spirit in my
forms, I have gotten the mastery over my words of magical power, and I
am adjudged a spirit; therefore deliver ye me from the Crocodile
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 10
Page No 13
[which liveth in] this Country of Truth. Grant ye to me my mouth
that I may speak therewith, and cause ye that sepulchral offerings
shall be made unto me in your presence, for I know you, and I know
your names, and I know also the name of the mighty god before whose
face ye set your celestial food. His name is "Tekem." [When] he
openeth up his path on the eastern horizon of heaven, [when] he
alighteth towards the western horizon of heaven, may he carry me along
with him, and may I be safe and sound. Let not the Mesqet make an
end of me, let not the Fiend (Sebau) gain the mastery over me, let
me not be driven away from the doors of the Other World, let not you
doors be shut in my face, for my cakes are in the city of Pe, and my
ale is in the city of Tep. And there, in the celestial mansions of
heaven which my divine father Tem hath stablished, let my hands lay
hold upon the wheat and the barley, which shall be given unto me
therein in abundant measure, and may the son of my own body make ready
for me my food therein. And grant ye unto me when I am there
sepulchral meals, and incense, and unguents, and all the pure and
beautiful things whereon the god liveth, in every deed for ever, in
all the transformations which it pleaseth me [to perform], and grant
unto me the power to float down and to sail up the stream in the Field
of Reeds (SekhetAaru), [and may I reach Sekhethetepet (the Field
of Offerings)]. I am the twin Liongods (Shu and Tefnut).
TEXTS RELATING TO THE WEIGHING OF THE HEART OF ANI
THE NAMES OF THE GODS OF THE GREAT COMPANY: 1. Ra Harmakhis, the
Great God in his boat. 2. Temu. 3. Shu. 4. Tefnut. 5. Keb. 6. Nut, the
Lady of Heaven. 7. Isis. 8. Nephthys. 9. Horus, the Great God. 10.
Hathor, Lady of Amentet. 11. Hu. 12. Sa.
THE PRAYER OF ANI: My heart, my mother; my heart, my mother! My
heart whereby I came into being! May nought stand up to oppose me at
[my] judgment, may there be no opposition to me in the presence of the
Chiefs (Tchatchau); may there be no parting of thee from me in the
presence of him that keepeth the Balance! Thou art my KA, which
dwelleth in my body; the god Khnemu who knitteth together and
strengtheneth my limbs. Mayest thou come forth into the place of
happiness whither we go. May the Sheniu officials, who make the
conditions of the lives of men, not cause my name to stink, and may no
lies be spoken against me in the presence of the God. [Let it be
satisfactory unto us, and let the Listener god be favourable unto
us, and let there be joy of heart (to us) at the weighing of words.
Let not that which is false be uttered against me before the Great
God, the Lord of Amentet. Verily, how great shalt thou be when thou
risest in triumph.]
THE SPEECH OF THOTH: Thoth, the judge of right and truth of the
Great Company of the Gods who are in the presence of Osiris, saith:
Hear ye this judgment. The heart of Osiris hath in very truth been
weighed, and his Heartsoul hath borne testimony on his behalf; his
heart hath been found right by the trial in the Great Balance. There
hath not been found any wickedness in him; he hath not wasted the
offerings which have been made in the temples; he hath not committed
any evil act; and he hath not set his mouth in motion with words of
evil whilst he was upon earth.
SPEECH OF THE DWELLER IN THE EMBALMMENT CHAMBER (ANUBIS): Pay
good heed, O righteous Judge to the Balance to support [the testimony]
thereof. Variant: Pay good heed to the weighing in the Balance of
the heart of the Osiris, the singingwoman of Amen, Anhai, whose
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 11
Page No 14
word is truth, and place thou her heart in the seat of truth in the
presence of the Great God.
THE SPEECH OF THE GODS: The Great Company of the Gods say to
Thoth who dwelleth in Khemenu: That which cometh forth from thy
mouth shall be declared true. The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is
true, is holy and righteous. He hath not committed any sin, and he
hath done no evil against us. The devourer Ammit shall not be
permitted to prevail over him. Meat offerings and admittance into
the presence of the god Osiris shall be granted unto him, together
with an abiding habitation in the Field of Offerings (Sekhethetepet),
as unto the Followers of Horus.
THE SPEECH OF HORUS TO OSIRIS IN INTRODUCING ANI TO HIM: Horus, the
son of Isis, saith: I have come to thee, O UnNefer, and I have
brought unto thee the Osiris Ani. His heart is righteous, and it
hath come forth from the Balance; it hath not sinned against any god
or any goddess. Thoth hath weighed it according to the decree
pronounced unto him by the Company of the Gods, and it is most true
and righteous. Grant thou that cakes and ale may be given unto him,
and let him appear in the presence of the god Osiris, and let him be
like unto the Followers of Horus for ever and ever.
THE SPEECH OF ANI: And the Osiris Ani saith: Behold, I am in thy
presence, O Lord of Amentet. There is no sin in my body. I have not
spoken that which is not true knowingly, nor have I done anything with
a false heart. Grant thou that I may be like unto those favoured
ones who are in thy following, and that I may be an Osiris greatly
favoured of the beautiful god, and beloved of the Lord of the Two
Lands, I who am a veritable royal scribe who loveth thee, Ani, whose
word is true before the god Osiris.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BEAST AMMIT: Her forepart is like that of a
crocodile, the middle of her body is like that of a lion, her hind
quarters are like those of a hippopotamus.
HERE BEGIN THE PRAISES AND GLORIFYINGS OF COMING OUT FROM AND OF
GOING INTO THE GLORIOUS KHERTNETER, WHICH IS IN THE BEAUTIFUL
AMENTET, OF COMING FORTH BY DAY IN ALL THE FORMS OF EXISTENCE WHICH IT
MAY PLEASE THE DECEASED TO TAKE, OF PLAYING AT DRAUGHTS, OF SITTING IN
THE SEH HALL, AND OF APPEARING AS A LIVING SOUL:
The Osiris the scribe Ani saith after he hath arrived in his haven
of rest now it is good for [a man] to recite [this work whilst he is]
upon earth, for then all the words of Tem come to pass
"I am the god Tem in rising. I am the Only One. I came into
existence in Nu. I am Ra who rose in the beginning, the ruler of
this [creation]."
Who is this?
"It is Ra, when at the beginning he rose in the city of Hensu,
crowned like a king for his coronation. The Pillars of the god Shu
were not as yet created, when he was upon the steps of him that
dwelleth in Khemenu.
"I am the Great God who created himself, even Nu, who made his names
to become the Company of the Gods as gods."
Who is this?
"It is Ra, the creator of the names of his limbs, which came into
being in the form of the gods who are in the train of Ra.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 12
Page No 15
"I am he who cannot be repulsed among the gods."
Who is this?
"It is Temu, the dweller in his disk, but others say that it is Ra
when he riseth in the eastern horizon of the sky.
"I am Yesterday, I know Today."
Who is this?
"Yesterday is Osiris, and Today is Ra, when he shall destroy the
enemies of Nebertcher (the lord to the uttermost limit), and when he
shall establish as prince and ruler his son Horus.
"Others, however, say that Today is Ra, on the day when we
commemorate the festival of the meeting of the dead Osiris with his
father Ra, and when the battle of the gods was fought, in which
Osiris, the Lord of Amentet, was the leader."
What is this?
"It is Amentet, [that is to say] the creation ofthe souls of the
gods when Osiris was leader in SetAmentet.
"Others, however, say that it is the Amentet which Ra hath given
unto me; when any god cometh he must rise up and fight for it.
"I know the god who dwelleth therein."
Who is this?
"It is Osiris. Others, however, say that his name is Ra, and that
the god who dwelleth in Amentet is the phallus of Ra, wherewith he had
union with himself.
"I am the Benu bird which is in Anu. I am the keeper of the volume
of the book (the Tablet of Destiny) of the things which have been
made, and of the things which shall be made."
Who is this?
"It is Osiris.
"Others, however, say that it is the dead body of Osiris, and yet
others say that it is the excrement of Osiris. The things which have
been made, and the things which shall be made [refer to] the dead body
of Osiris. Others again say that the things which have been made are
Eternity, and the things which shall be made are Everlastingness,
and that Eternity is the Day, and Everlastingness the Night.
"I am the god Menu in his coming forth; may his two plumes be set on
my head for me."
Who is this?
"Menu is Horis, the Advocate of his father [Osiris], and his
coming forth means his birth. The two plumes on his head are Isis
and Nephthys, when these goddesses go forth and set themselves
thereon, and when they act as his protectors, and when they provide
that which his head lacketh.
"Others, however, say that the two plumes are the two exceedingly
large uraei which are upon the head of their father Tem, and there are
yet others who say that the two plumes which are upon the head of Menu
are his two eyes.
"The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is true, the registrar of all
the offerings which are made to the gods, riseth up and cometh into
his city."
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 13
Page No 16
What is this [city]?
"It is the horizon of his father Tem.
"I have made an end of my shortcomings, and I have put away my
faults."
What is this?
"It is the cutting of the navel string of the body of the Osiris the
scribe Ani, whose word is true before all the gods, and all his faults
are driven out.
What is this ?
"It is the purification [of Osiris] on the day of his birth.
"I am purified in my great double nest which is in Hensu on the
day of the offerings of the followers of the Great God who dwelleth
therein."
What is the "great double nest"?
"The name of one nest is 'Millions of years,' and 'Great Green
[Sea]' is the name of the other, that is to say 'Lake of Natron' and
'Lake of Salt.'
"Others, however, say the name of the one is 'Guide of Millions of
Years,' and that 'Great Green Lake' is name of the other. Yet others
say that 'Begetter of Millions of Years' is the name of one, and
'Great Green Lake' is the name of the other. Now, as concerning the
Great God who dwelleth therein, it is Ra himself.
"I pass over the way, I know the head of the Island of Maati."
What is this?
"It is Rastau, that is to say, it is the gate to the South of
Nerutef, and it is the Northern Gate of the Domain (Tomb of the god).
"Now, as concerning the Island of Maati, it is Abtu.
"Others, however, say that it is the way by which Father Tem
travelleth when he goeth forth to SekhetAaru, [the place] which
produceth the food and sustenance of the gods who are [in] their
shrines.
"Now the Gate Tchesert is the Gate of the Pillars of Shu, that is to
say, the Northern Gate of the Tuat.
"Others, however, say that the Gate of Tchesert is the two leaves of
the door through which the god Tem passeth when he goeth forth to
the eastern horizon of the sky.
"O ye gods who are in the presence [of Osiris], grant to me your
arms, for I am the god who shall come into being among you."
Who are these gods?
"They are the drops of blood which came forth from the phallus of Ra
when he went forth to perform his own mutilitation. These drops of
blood sprang into being under the forms of the gods Hu and Sa, who are
in the bodyguard of Ra, and who accompany the god Tem daily and
every day.
"I, Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, have filled for thee
the utchat (the Eye of Ra, or of Horus), when it had suffered
extinction on the day of the combat of the Two Fighters (Horus and
Set)."
What was this combat?
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 14
Page No 17
It was the combat which took place on the day when Horus fought with
Set, during which Set threw filth in the face of Horus, and Horus
crushed the genitals of Set. The filling of the utchat Thoth performed
with his own fingers.
"I remove the thundercloud from the sky when there is a storm
with thunder and lightning therein."
What is this?
"This storm was the raging of Ra at the thundercloud which [Set]
sent forth against the Right Eye of Ra (the Sun). Thoth removed the
thundercloud from the Eye of Ra, and brought back the Eye living,
healthy, sound, and with no defect in it to its owner.
"Others, however, say that the thundercloud is caused by sickness
in the Eye of Ra, which weepeth for its companion Eye (the Moon); at
this time Thoth cleanseth the Right Eye of Ra.
"I behold Ra who was born yesterday from the thighs of the goddess
Mehurt; his strength is my strength, and my strength is his strength."
Who is this?
"Mehurt is the great Celestial Water, but others say that Mehurt
is the image of the Eye of Ra at dawn at his birth daily.
"[Others, however, say that] Mehurt is the utchat of Ra.
"Now Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, is a very great one
among the gods who are in the following of Horus; they say that he
is the prince who loveth his lord."
Who are the gods who are in the train of Horus?
"[They are] Kesta, Hapi, Taumutef, and Qebhsenuf.
"Homage to you, O ye lords of right and truth, ye sovereign
princes (Tchatcha) who [stand] round about Osiris, who do away utterly
sins and offences, and who are in the following of the goddess
Hetepsekhus, grant ye that I may come unto you. Destroy ye all the
faults which are within me, even as ye did for the Seven Spirits who
are among the followers of their lord Sepa. Anpu (Anubis) appointed to
them their places on the day [when he said unto them], "Come ye
hither."
Who are the "lords of right and truth"?
"The lords of right and truth are Thoth and Astes, the Lord of
Amentet.
"The Tchatcha round about Osiris are Kesta, Hapi, Tuamutef, and
Qebhsenuf, and they are also round about the Constellation of the
Thigh (the Great Bear), in the northern sky.
"Those who do away utterly sins and offences, and who are in the
following of the goddess Hetepsekhus, are the god Sebek and his
associates who dwell in the water.
"The goddess Hetepsekhus is the Eye of Ra.
"Others, however, say that it is the flame which accompanieth Osiris
to burn up the souls of his enemies.
"As concerning all the faults which are in Osiris, the registrar
of the offerings which are made unto all the gods, Ani, whose word
is truth, [these are all the offences which he hath committed
against the Lords of Eternity] since he came forth from his mother's
womb.
"As concerning the Seven Spirits who are Kesta, Hapi, Tuamutef,
Qebhsenuf, Maaatef, Kheribeqef and Herukhentienariti, these did
Anubis appoint to be protectors of the dead body of Osiris.
"Others, however, say that he set them round about the holy place of
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 15
Page No 18
Osiris.
"Others say that the Seven Spirits [which were appointed by
Anubis] were Netchehnetcheh, Aatqetqet, Nertanefbesefkhentihehf,
Aqheramiunnutf, TesheraritiamiHetanes,
Ubesherperemkhetkhet, and Maaemkerhannefemhru.
"The chief of the Tchatcha (sovereign princes) who is in Naarutef is
Horus, the Advocate of his father.
"As concerning the day wherein [Anubis said to the Seven Spirits],
'Come ye hither,' [the allusion here] is to the words 'Come ye
hither,' which Ra spake unto Osiris."
Verily may these same words be said unto me in Amentet.
"I am the Divine Soul which dwelleth in the Divine Twingods."
Who is this Divine Soul?
"It is Osiris. [When] he goeth into Tetu, and findeth there the Soul
of Ra, the one god embraceth the other, and two Divine Souls spring
into being within the Divine Twingods."
APPENDIX
(From the Papyrus of Nebseni, Brit. Mus. No. 9900, Sheet 14, ll.
16ff.)
"As concerning the Divine Twingods they are Herunetchhertefef
and HerukhentenAriti (Horus the Advocate of his father [Osiris],
and Horus the sightless).
"Others say that the double Divine Soul which dwelleth in the Divine
Twingods is the Soul of Ra and the Soul of Osiris, and yet others say
that it is the Soul which dwelleth in Shu, and the Sould which
dwelleth in Tefnut, and that these two Souls form the double Divine
Soul which dwelleth in Tetu.
"I am the Cat which fought near the Persea Tree in Anu on the
night when the foes of Nebertcher were destroyed."
Who is this Cat?
"This male Cat is Ra himself, and he was called 'Mau' because of the
speech of the god Sa, who said concerning him: 'He is like (mau)
unto that which he hath made'; therefore, did the name of Ra become
'Mau.'
"Others, however, say that the male Cat is the god Shu, who made
over the possessions of Keb to Osiris.
"As concerning the fight which took place near the Persea Tree in
Anu [these words have reference to the slaughter] of the children of
rebellion, when righteous retribution was meted out to them for [the
evil] which they had done.
"As concerning the 'night of the battle,' [these words refer to] the
invasion of the eastern portion of the heaven by the children of
rebellion, whereupon a great battle arose in heaven and in all the
earth.
"O thou who art in thine egg (Ra,) who showest from thy Disk, who
risest on thy horizon, and dost shine with golden beams in the
height of heaven, like unto whom there is none among the gods, who
sailest above the Pillars of Shu, who sendest forth blasts of fire
from thy mouth, [who illuminest the Two Lands with thy splendour,
deliver] thou Nebseni, the lord of fealty [to Osiris], from the god
whose form is hidden, and whose eyebrows are like unto the two arms of
the Balance on the night when the sentences of doom are promulgated."
Who is this invisible god?
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 16
Page No 19
"It is Anaf (he who bringeth his arm.).
"As concerning 'the night when the sentences of doom are
promulgated,' it is the night of the burning of the damned, and of the
overthrow of the wicked at the Block, and of the slaughter of souls."
Who is this [slaughterer of souls]?
"It is Shesmu, the headsman of Osiris.
"[Concerning the invisible god] some say that he is Aapep when he
riseth up with a head bearing upon it [the feather of] Maat (Truth).
But others say that he is Horus when he riseth up with two heads,
whereon one beareth [the feather of] Maat, and the other [the symbol
of] wickedness. He bestoweth wickedness on him that worketh
wickedness, and right and truth upon him that followeth
righteousness and truth.
"Others say that he is Heruur (the Old Horus), who dwelleth in
Sekhem; others say that he is Thoth; others say that he is
NeferTem; and others say that he is Sept who doth bring to nought the
acts of the foes of Nebertcher.
"Deliver thou the scribe Nebseni, whose word is truth, from the
Watchers, who carry murderous knives, who possess cruel fingers, and
who would slay those who are in the following of Osiris."
May these Watchers never gain the mastery over me, and may I never
fall under their knives!
Who are these Watchers?
"They are Anubis and Horus, [the latter being] in the form of
Horus the sightless. Others, however, say that they are the Tchatcha
(sovereign princes of Osiris), who bring to nought the operations of
their knives; and others say that they are the chiefs of the Sheniu
chamber.
"May their knives never gain the mastery over me. May I never fall
under the knives wherewith they inflict cruel tortures. For I know
their names, and I know the being, Matchet, who is among them in the
House of Osiris. He shooteth forth rays of light from his eye, being
himself invisible, and he goeth round about heaven robed in the flames
which come from his mouth, commanding Hapi, but remaining invisible
himself. May I be strong on earth before Ra, may I arrive safely in
the presence of Osiris. O ye who preside over your altars, let not
your offerings to me be wanting, for I am one of those who follow
after Nebertcher, according to the writings of Khepera. Let me fly
like a hawk, let me cackle like a goose, let me lay always like the
serpentgoddess Nehebka."
Who are those who preside over their altars?
"Those who preside over their altars are the similitude of the Eye
of Ra, and the similitude of the Eye of Horus.
"O RaTem, thou Lord of the Great House [in Anu], thou Sovereign
(life, strentgh, health [be to thee]) of all the gods, deliver thou
the scribe Nebseni, whose word is truth, from the god whose face is
like unto that of a greyhound, whose brows are like those of a man,
who feedeth upon the dead, who watcheth at the Bend of the Lake of
Fire, who devoureth the bodies of the dead, and swalloweth hearts, and
who voideth filth, but who himself remaineth unseen."
Who is this greyhoundfaced god?
"His name is 'Everlasting Devourer,' and he liveth in the Domain [of
Fire] (the Lake of Unt).
"As concerning the Domain of Fire, it is that Aat which is in
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 17
Page No 20
Naarutef, and is near the Sheniu chamber. The sinner who walketh
over this place falleth down among the knives [of the Watchers].
"Others, however, say that the name of this god is 'Mates,' and that
he keepeth watch over the door of Amentet; others say that his name is
'Beba,' and that he keepeth watch over the Bend [of the stream] of
Amentet, and yet others say that his name is 'Herisepef.'
"Hail, Lord of Terror, Chief of the Lands of the South and North,
thou Lord of the Desert, who dost keep prepared the block of
slaughter, and who dost feed on the intestines [of men]!"
Who is this Lord of Terror?
"It is the Keeper of the Bend [of the stream] of Amentet."
Who is this Keeper?
"It is the Heart of Osiris, which is the devourer of all slaughtered
things.
"The Urrt Crown hath been given unto him, with gladness of heart, as
Lord of Hensu."
Who is this?
"He to whom the Urrt Crown hath been given with gladness of heart as
Lord of Hensu is Osiris. He was bidden to rule among the gods on the
day of the union of earth [with earth] in the presence of Nebertcher."
Who is this?
"He who was bidden to rule among the gods is the son of Isis
(Horus), who was appointed to rule in the room of his father Osiris.
"As concerning [the words] 'day of the union of earth with earth,'
they have reference to the union of earth with earth in the coffin
of Osiris, the Soul that liveth in Hensu, the giver of meat and drink,
the destroyer of wrong, and the guide to the everlasting paths."
Who is this?
"It is Ra himself."
"[Deliver thou the Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth]
from the great god who carrrieth away souls, who eateth hearts, who
feedeth upon offal, who keepeth watch in the darkness, who dwelleth in
the Seker Boat; those who live in sin fear him."
Who is this?
"It is Suti, but others say that it is Smamur, the soul of Keb.
"Hail, Khepera in thy boat, the two Companies of the Gods are in thy
body. Deliver thou the Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth,
from the Watchers who pass sentences of doom, who have been
appointed by the god Nebertcher to protect him, and to fasten the
fetters on his foes, and who slaughter in the torture chambers;
there is no escape from their fingers. May they never stab me with
their knives, may I never fall helpless into their chambers of
torture. I have never done the things which the gods hate. I am he who
is pure in the Mesqet chamber. And saffron cakes have been brought
unto him in Tannt."
Who is this?
"It is Khepera in his boat; it is Ra himself.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 18
Page No 21
"As concerning the Watchers who pass sentences of doom, they are the
Apes Isis and Nephthys.
"As concerning the things which the gods hate, they are acts of
deceit and lying. He who passeth through the place of purification
within the Mesqet chamber is Anpu (Anubis), who is hard by the
coffer which containeth the inward parts of Osiris. He to whom saffron
cakes have been brought in Tannt is Osiris.
"Others, however, say that the saffron cakes in Tannt represent
heaven and earth, and others say that they represent Shu, the
strengthener of the Two Lands in Hensu; and others say that they
represent the Eye of Horus, and that Tannt is the burialplace of
Osiris.
"Tem hath builded thy house, and the double Liongod hath laid the
foundations of thy habitation. Lo! medicaments have been brought.
Horus purifieth Set and Set strengtheneth, and Set purifieth and Horus
strengtheneth.
"The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth before Osiris,
hath come into this land, and he hath taken possession thereof with
his two feet. He is Tem, and he is in the city.
"Turn thou back, O Rehu, whose mouth shineth, whose head moveth,
turn thou back before his strength." Another reading is, 'Turn thou
back from him who keepeth watch, and is himself unseen.' Let the
Osiris Ani be safely guarded. He is Isis, and he is found with her
hair spread over him; it is shaken out over his brow. He was conceived
by Isis, and engendered by Nephthys, and they have cut away from him
the things which should be cut from him.
"Fear followeth after thee, terror is about thine arms. Thou hast
been embraced for millions of years by arms; mortals go round about
thee. Thou smitest down the mediators of thy foes, and thou seizest
the arms of the power of darkness. Thy two sisters (Isis and Nephthys)
are given to thee for thy delight. Thou hast created that which is
in Kheraha, and that which is Anu. Every god feareth thee, for thou
art exceedingly great and terrible; thou [avengest] every god on the
man who curseth him, and thou shootest arrows at him. Thou livest
according to thy will. Thou art Uatchet, the Lady of Flame, evil
befalleth those who set themselves up against thee."
What is this?
"'Hidden in form, given of Menhu,' is the name of the "tomb. 'He who
seeth what is on his hand' is the name of Qerau, or, as others say, it
is the name of the Block.
"Now, he whose mouth shineth and whose head moveth is the phallus of
Osiris, but others say it is [the phallus] of Ra. 'Thou spreadest
thy hair, and I shake it out over his brow" is said concerning Isis,
who hideth in her hair, and draweth it round about her.
"Uatchet, the Lady of Flames, is the Eye of Ra."
THE SEVEN ARITS
The First Arit.
The name of the Doorkeeper is Sekhetherashtaru. The name of the
Watcher is Smetti. The name of the Herald is Hakheru.
The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, shall say when he cometh unto
the First Arit: "I am the mighty one who createth his own light. I
have come unto thee, O Osiris, and, purified from that which
defileth thee, I adore thee. Lead on. Name not the name of Rastau
to me. Homage to thee, O Osiris, in thy might and in thy strength in
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 19
Page No 22
Rastau. Rise up and conquer, O Osiris, in Abtu. Thou goest round
about heaven, thou sailest in the presence of Ra, thou lookest upon
all the beings who have knowledge. Hail, Ra, thou who goest round
about in the sky, I say, O Osiris in truth, that I am the Sahu
(Spiritbody) of the god, and I beseech thee not to let me be driven
away, nor to be cast upon the wall of blazing fire. Let the way be
opened in Rastau, let the pain of the Osiris be relieved, embrace
that which the Balance hath weighed, let a path be made for the Osiris
in the Great Valley, and let the Osiris have light to guide him on his
way."
The Second Arit.
The name of the Doorkeeper is Unhat. The name of the Watcher is
Seqther. The name of the Herald is Ust.
The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, shall say [when he cometh to
this Arit]: "He sitteth to carry out his heart's desire, and he
weigheth words as the Second of Thoth. The strength which protecteth
Thoth humbleth the hidden Maati gods, who feed upon Maat during the
years of their lives. I offer up my offerings [to him] at the moment
when he maketh his way. I advance, and I enter on the path. O grant
thou that I may continue to advance, and that I may attain to the
sight of Ra, and of those who offer up [their] offerings."
The Third Arit.
The name of the Doorkeeper is Unemhauatuentpehui. The name of the
Watcher is Seresher. The name of the Herald is Aa.
The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, shall say [when he
cometh to this Arit]: "I am he who is hidden in the great deep. I am
the Judge of the Rehui, I have come and I have done away the offensive
thing which was upon Osiris. I tie firmly the place on which he
standeth, coming forth from the Urt. I have stablished things in Abtu,
I have opened up a way through Rastau, and I have relieved the pain
which was in Osiris. I have balanced the place whereon he standeth,
and I have made a path for him; he shineth brilliantly in Rastau."
The Fourth Arit.
The name of the Doorkeeper is Khesefherashtkheru. The name of the
Watcher is Serestepu. The name of the Herald is Khesefat.
The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, shall say [when he
cometh to this Arit]: "I am the Bull, the son of the ancestress of
Osiris. O grant ye that his father, the Lord of his godlike
companions, may bear witness on his behalf. I have weighed the
guilty in judgment. I have brought unto his nostrils the life which is
ever lasting. I am the son of Osiris, I have accomplished the journey,
I have advanced in KhertNeter."
The Fifth Arit.
The name of the Doorkeeper is Ankhfemfent. The name of the Watcher
is Shabu. The name of the Herald is Tebherkhakheft.
The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, shall say [when he
cometh to this Arit]: "I have brought unto thee the jawbone in
Rastau. I have brought unto thee thy backbone in Anu. I have gathered
together his manifold members therein. I have driven back Aapep for
thee. I have spit upon the wounds [in his body]. I have made myself
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 20
Page No 23
a path among you. I am the Aged One among the gods. I have made
offerings to Osiris. I have defended him with the word of truth. I
have gathered together his bones, and have collected all his members."
The Sixth Arit.
The name of the Doorkeeper is Atektaukehaqkheru. The name of
the Watcher is Anher. The name of the Herald is Atesher[ari]she.
The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, shall say [when he
cometh to this Arit]: "I have come daily, I have come daily. I have
made myself a way. I have advanced over that which was created by Anpu
(Anubis). I am the Lord of the Urrt Crown. I am the possessor [of
the knowledge of] the words of magical power, I am the Avenger
according to law, I have avenged [the injury to] his Eye. I have
defended Osiris. I have accomplished my journey. The Osiris Ani
advanceth with you with the word which is truth."
The Seventh Arit:
The name of the Doorkeeper is Sekhmetemtsusen. The name of the
Watcher is Aamaakheru. The name of the Herald is Khesefkhemi.
The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, shall say [when he
cometh to this Arit]: "I have come unto thee, O Osiris, being purified
from foul emissions. Thou goest round about heaven, thou seest Ra,
thou seest the beings who have knowledge. [Hail], thou, ONE! Behold,
thou art in the Sektet Boat which traverseth the heavens. I speak what
I will to his Sahu (Spiritbody). He is strong, and cometh into
being even [as] he spake. Thou meetest him face to face. Prepare
thou for me all the ways which are good [and which lead] to thee."
RUBRIC: If [these] words be recited by the spirit when he shall come
to the Seven Arits, and as he entereth the doors, he shall neither
be turned back nor repulsed before Osiris, and he shall be made to
have his being among the blessed spirits, and to have dominion among
the ancestral followers of Osiris. If these things be done for any
spirit he shall have his being in that place like a lord of eternity
in one body with Osiris, and at no place shall any being contend
against him.
THE PYLONS OF THE HOUSE OF OSIRIS
The following shall be said when one cometh to the FIRST PYLON.
The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, saith: "Lady of
tremblings, highwalled, the sovereign lady, the lady of
destruction, who uttereth the words which drive back the destroyers,
who delivereth from destruction him that cometh." The name of her
Doorkeeper is Neruit.
The following shall be said when one cometh to the SECOND PYLON. The
Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, saith: "Lady of heaven,
Mistress of the Two Lands, devourer by fire, Lady of mortals, who
art infinitely greater than any human being." The name of her
Doorkeeper is MesPtah.
The following shall be said when one cometh to the THIRD PYLON.
The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, saith: "Lady of the
Altar, the mighty lady to whom offerings are made, greatly beloved one
of every god sailing up the river to Abydos." The name of her
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 21
Page No 24
Doorkeeper is Sebqa.
The following shall be said when one cometh to the FOURTH PYLON. The
Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, saith: "Prevailer with
knives, Mistress of the Two Lands, destroyer of the enemies of the
StillHeart (Osiris), who decreeth the release of those who suffer
through evil hap." The name of her Doorkeeper is Nekau.
The following shall be said when one cometh to the FIFTH PYLON.
The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, saith: "Flame, Lady of
fire, absorbing the entreaties which are made to her, who permitteth
not to approach her the rebel." The name of her Doorkeeper is
HentiReqiu.
The following shall be said when one cometh to the SIXTH PYLON.
The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, saith: "Lady of light,
who roareth mightily, whose breadth cannot be comprehended. Her like
hath not been found since the beginning. There are serpents over which
are unknown. They were brought forth before the StillHeart." The name
of her Doorkeeper is Semati.
The following shall be said when one cometh to the SEVENTH PYLON.
The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, saith: "Garment
which envelopeth the helpless one, which weepeth for and loveth that
which it covereth." The name of her Doorkeeper is Saktif.
The following shall be said when one cometh to the EIGHTH PYLON. The
Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, saith: "Blazing fire,
unquenchable, with farreaching tongues of flame, irresistible
slaughterer, which one may not pass through fear of its deadly
attack." The name of her Doorkeeper is Khutchetef.
The following shall be said when one cometh to the NINTH PYLON.
The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, saith:
"Chieftainess, lady of strength, who giveth quiet of heart to the
offspring of her lord. Her girth is three hundred and fifty khet,
and she is clothed with green feldspar of the South. She bindeth up
the divine form and clotheth the helpless one. Devourer, lady of all
men." The name of her Doorkeeper is Arisutchesef.
The following shall be said when one cometh to the TENTH PYLON.
The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, saith: "Goddess of the
loud voice, who maketh her suppliants to mourn, the awful one who
terrifieth, who herself remaineth unterrified within." The name of her
Doorkeeper is Sekhenur.
Nu, the steward of the keeper of the seal, saith when he cometh to
the ELEVENTH PYLON of Osiris: "I have made my way, I know you, and I
know thy name, and I know the name of her who is within thee: She
who slayeth always, consumer of the fiends by fire, mistress of
every pylon, the lady who is acclaimed on the day of darkness" is
thy name. She inspecteth the swathing of the helpless one.
The Osiris Nu, the steward of the keeper of the seal, saith when
he cometh to the TWELFTH PYLON of Osiris: "I have made my way, I
know you, and I know thy name, and I know the name of her who is
within thee: Invoker of thy Two Lands, destroyer of those who come
to thee by fire, lady of spirits, obeyer of the word of thy Lord" is
thy name. She inspecteth the swathing of the helpless one.
The Osiris Nu, the steward of the keeper of the seal, saith when
he cometh to the THIRTEENTH PYLON of Osiris: "I have made my way, I
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 22
Page No 25
know you and I know thy name, and I know the name of her who is within
thee: Osiris foldeth his arms about her, and maketh Hapi (the
Nilegod), to emit splendour out of his hidden places" is thy name.
She inspecteth the swathing of the helpless one.
The Osiris Nu, the steward of the keeper of the seal, saith when
he cometh to the FOURTEENTH PYLON of Osiris: "I have made my way, I
know thee, and I know thy name, and I know the name of her who is
within thee. Lady of might, who trampleth on the Red Demons, who
keepeth the festival of Haaker on the day of the hearing of faults" is
thy name. She inspecteth the swathing of the helpless one.
THE FIFTEENTH PYLON. The Osiris Heruemkhebit, whose word is truth,
shall say when he cometh to this pylon: "Fiend, red of hair and
eyes, who appeareth by night, and doth fetter the fiend in his lair.
Let her hands be given to the StillHeart in his hour, let her advance
and go forward" is thy name. She inspecteth the swathing of the
helpless one.
THE SIXTEENTH PYLON. The Osiris Heruemkhebit, whose word is truth,
shall say when he cometh to this pylon: "Terrible one, lady of the
rainstorm, destroyer of the souls of men, devourer of the bodies of
men, orderer, producer, and maker of slaughter" is thy name. She
inspecteth the swathing of the helpless one.
THE SEVENTEENTH PYLON. The Osiris Heruemkhebit, whose word is
truth, shall say when he cometh to this pylon: "Hewerinpieces in
blood, Ahibit, lady of hair" is thy name. She inspecteth the
swathing of the helpless one.
THE EIGHTEENTH PYLON. The Osiris Heruemkhebit, whose word is
truth, shall say when he cometh to this pylon: "Firelover, pure
one, lover of slaughterings, cutter off of heads, devoted one, lady of
the Great House, slaughterer of fiends at eventide" is thy name. She
inspecteth the swathing of the helpless one.
THE NINETEENTH PYLON. The Osiris Heruemkhebit, whose word is
truth, shall say when he cometh to this pylon: "Lightgiver for
life, blazing all the day, lady of strength [and of] the writings of
the god Thoth himself" is thy name. She inspecteth the swathings of
the White House.
THE TWENTIETH PYLON. The Osiris Heruemkhebit, whose word is truth,
shall say when he cometh to this pylon: "Dweller in the cavern of
her lord, her name is Clother, hider of her creations, conqueror of
hearts, swallower [of them]" is thy name. She inspecteth the swathings
of the White House.
THE TWENTYFIRST PYLON. The Osiris Heruemkhebit, whose word is
truth, shall say when he cometh to this pylon: "Knife which cutteth
when [its name] is uttered, slayer of those who approach thy flame" is
thy name. She possesseth hidden plans.
APPENDIX
(From the Turin Papryus, ed. Lepsius, Bl. 64, the text referring
to the twentyfirst Pylon.)
THE OSIRIS AUFANKH, WHOSE WORD IS TRUTH, SAITH: Hail, saith Horus, O
Twentyfirst pylon of the StillHeart! I have made the way. I know
thee. I know thy name. I know the name of the goddess who guardeth
thee. "Sword that smiteth at the utterance of its own name, stinking
face, overthrower of him that approacheth her flame" is thy name. Thou
keepest the hidden things of the avenger of the god, thou guardest
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 23
Page No 26
them. Amam is his name. He maketh the ash trees (cedars) not to
grow, and the shenu trees (acacias) not to blossom, and preventeth
copper from being found in the mountain. The Tchatcha (Chiefs) of this
Pylon are Seven Gods. Tchen, or Anthch (At), is the name of the one at
the door. Hetepmes is the name of another there. Messep is the name of
another there. Utchara is the name of another there. Beq is the name
of another there. Anp (Anubis) is the name of another there.
I have made the way. I am MenuHeru, the avenger of his father,
the heir of his father UnNefer. I have come. I have given [offerings]
to my father Osiris. I have overthrown all his enemies. I have come
daily with the word of truth, the lord of fealty, in the house of my
father Tem, the Lord of Anu, I, the Osiris Aufankh, whose word is
truth in the southern heaven. I have done what is right for him that
made the right, I have celebrated the Haker festival to the lord
thereof. I have acted as the leader of the festivals. I have given
cakes to the Lords of the Altar. I have been the leader of the
propitiatory offerings, cakes, ale, oxen, geese, to my father Osiris
UnNefer. I am the protector of the Basoul, I have made the Benu bird
to appear [by my] words. I have come daily into the house of the god
to make offerings of incense. I have come with the shenti tunic. I
have set the Neshem Boat afloat on the water. I have made the word
of Osiris Khenti Amenti to be truth before his enemies. I have carried
away in a boat all his enemies to the slaughterhouse of the East, and
they shall never escape from the wardship of the god Keb who
dwelleth therein. I have made the Kefaiu gods of Ra to stand up, I
have made his word to be truth. I have come as a scribe. I have
explained [the writings]. I have made the god to have power over his
legs. I have come into the house of him that is upon his mountain
(Anubis). I have seen the Chief of the Seh hall. I have entered into
Rastau. I have made myself invisible. I have found for myself the
boundary. I have approached Nerutef. I have clothed the naked. I
have sailed up the river to Abydos. I have performed the ceremonies of
Hu and Sa. I have entered the house of Astes. I have made supplication
to the Khati gods and to Sekhmet in the temple of Net (Neith), or
the Aged Ones. I have entered Rastau. I have made myself invisible. I
have found the frontier. I have approached Nerutef. I have clothed the
naked. I have sailed up the river to Abydos. I have performed the
ceremonies of Hu and Sa. I have received. I have risen like a king
crowned. I fill my seat on the throne in the place of my father, the
God Who was at the beginning. I have praised the Meskhen of
Tatchesert. My mouth is full of Maat (Truth). I have overwhelmed
the Akhekhau serpents. I have come into the Great House with [my] body
in a flourishing condition. I have caused myself to travel in the Boat
of Hai. The myrrh unguent of..... is in the hair of men (Rekhit). I
have entered into the House of Astes. I have approached with worship
the two Khati gods and Sekhmet, who are in the temple of the Aged
One [in Anu].
[And the god Osiris saith:] "Thou hast come, thou shalt be a
favoured one in Tetu, O Osiris Aufankh, whose word is truth, the
son of the lady ShertenMenu, whose word is truth."
THE PRIESTS ANMUTEF AND SAMEREF
THE SPEECH OF THE PRIEST ANMUTEF.
I have come unto you, O ye great Tchatcha Chiefs who dwell in
heaven, and upon earth, and in KhertNeter, and I have brought unto
you the Osiris Ani. He hath not committed any act which is an
abomination before all the gods. Grant ye that he may live with you
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 24
Page No 27
every day.
The Osiris the scribe Ani adoreth Osiris, Lord of Rasta, and the
Great Company of the Gods who live in KhertNeter. He saith: "Homage
to thee, Khenti Amenti, UnNefer, who dwellest in Abtu. I come to
thee. My heart holdeth Truth. There is no sin in my body. I have not
told a lie wittingly, I have not acted in a double manner. Grant
thou to me cakes, let me appear in the presence, at the altar of the
Lords of Truth, let me go in and come forth from KhertNeter [at
will], let not my Heartsoul be driven away [from me]; and grant me
a sight of the Disk and the beholding of the Moon for ever and ever.
THE SPEECH OF THE PRIEST SAMEREF.
I have come unto you, O ye Tchatcha Chiefs who dwell in Rasta, and I
have brought unto you the Osiris Ani, grant ye unto him cakes, and
water, and air, and a homestead in Sekhethetep as to the followers of
Horus.
The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, adoreth Osiris,
the Lord of everlastingness, and the Tchatcha Chiefs, the Lords of
Rasta. He saith: "Homage to thee, O King of KhertNeter, thou Governor
of Akert! I have come unto thee. I know thy plans, I am equipped
with the forms which thou takest in the Tuat. Give thou to me a
place in KhertNeter, near the Lords of Truth. May my homestead be
lasting in Sekhethetep, may I receive cakes in thy presence."
THE JUDGES IN ANU
Hail, Thoth, who madest to be true the word of Osiris against his
enemies, make thou the word of the scribe Nebseni to be true against
his enemies, even as thou didst make the word of Osiris to be true
against his enemies, in the presence of the Tchatcha Chiefs who are
with Ra and Osiris in Anu, on the night of the "things of the
night," and the night of battle, and of the fettering of the Sebau
fiends, and the day of the destruction of the enemies of Nebertcher.
Now the great Tchatcha Chiefs in Anu are Tem, Shu, Tefnut, [Osiris
and Thoth]. Now the "fettering of the Sebau fiends" signifieth the
destruction of the Smaiu fiends of Set, when he wrought iniquity a
second time.
Hail, Thoth, who didst make the word of Osiris to be true against
his enemies, make thou the word of the Osiris Ani to be true against
his enemies, with the great Tchatcha Chiefs who are in Tetu, on the
night of setting up the Tet in Tetu.
Now the great Tchatcha Chiefs who are in Tetu are Osiris, Isis,
Nephthys, and Horus the avenger of his father. Now the "setting up
of the Tet in Tetu" signifieth [the raising up of] the shoulder of
Horus, the Governor of Sekhem. They are round about Osiris in the band
[and] the bandages.
Hail, Thoth, who didst make the word of Osiris to be true against
his enemies, make thou the word of the Osiris Ani to be true against
his enemies, with the great Tchatcha Chiefs who are in Sekhem, on
the night of the "things of the night" in Sekhem.
Now the great Tchatcha Chiefs who are in Sekhem are
Herukhentienariti and Thoth who is with the Tchatcha Chiefs of
Nerutef. Now the night of the "things of the night festival"
signifieth the dawn on the sarcophagus of Osiris.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 25
Page No 28
Hail, Thoth, who didst make the word of Osiris to be true against
his enemies, make thou the word of the Osiris the scribe Ani to be
true against his enemies, with the great Tchatcha Chiefs who are in
the double town PeTep, on the night of setting up the "Senti" of
Horus, and of establishing him in the inheritance of the possessions
of his father Osiris.
Now the great Tchatcha Chiefs who are in PeTep are Horus, Isis,
Kesta (Mesta) and Hapi. Now the "setting up of the 'Senti' of Horus"
hath reference to the words which Set spake to his followers, saying
"Set up the Senti."
Hail, Thoth, who didst make the word of Osiris to be true against
his enemies, make thou the word of the Osiris the scribe Ani to be
true, in peace, against his enemies, with the great Tchatcha Chiefs
who are in the Lands of the Rekhti (TaiuRekhti), in the night when
Isis lay down, and kept watch to make lamentation for her brother
Osiris.
Now the great Tchatcha Chiefs who are in TaiuRekhti are Isis,
Horus, Kesta (Mesta) [Anpu and Thoth].
Hail, Thoth, who didst make the word of Osiris true against his
enemies, make thou the word of Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is
truth, in peace, to be true against his enemies, with the great
Tchatcha Chiefs who are in Abtu, on the night of the god Haker, when
the dead are separated, and the spirits are judged, and when the
procession taketh place in Teni.
Now the great Tchatcha Chiefs who are in Abtu are Osiris, Isis,
and Upuat.
Hail, Thoth, who didst make the word of Osiris to be true against
his enemies, make thou the word of the Osiris, the scribe and assessor
of the sacred offerings which are made to all the gods, Ani, to be
true against his enemies, with the Tchatcha Chiefs who examine the
dead on the night of making the inspection of those who are to be
annihilated.
Now the great Tchatcha Chiefs who are present at the examination
of the dead are Thoth, Osiris, Anpu and Asten (read Astes). Now the
inspection (or, counting) of those who are to be annihilated
signifieth the shutting up of things from the souls of the sons of
revolt.
Hail, Thoth, who didst make the word of Osiris true against his
enemies, make thou the word of the Osiris the scribe Ani to be true
against his enemies, with the great Tchatcha Chiefs who are present at
the digging up of the earth [and mixing it] with their blood, and of
making the word of Osiris to be true against his enemies.
As concerning the Tchatcha Chiefs who are present at the digging
up of the earth in Tetu: When the Smaiu fiends of Set came [there],
having transformed themselves into animals, these Tchatcha Chiefs slew
them in the presence of the gods who were there, and they took their
blood, and carried it to them. These things were permitted at the
examination [of the wicked] by those [gods] who dwelt in Tetu.
Hail, Thoth, who didst make the word of Osiris to be true against
his enemies, make thou the word of the Osiris [the scribe] Ani to be
true against his enemies, with the great Tchatcha Chiefs who are in
Nerutef on the night of the "Hidden of Forms."
Now the great Tchatcha Chiefs who are in Nerutef are Ra, Osiris, Shu
and Bebi.
Now, the night of the "Hidden of Forms" referreth to the placing
on the sarcophagus [of Osiris] the arm, the heel, and the thigh of
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 26
Page No 29
Osiris UnNefer.
Hail, Thoth, who didst make the word of Osiris true against his
enemies, make thou the word of the Osiris, whose word is truth, to
be true against his enemies, with the great Tchatcha Chiefs who are in
Rasta, on the night when Anpu lay with his arms on the things by
Osiris, and when the word of Horus was make to be true against his
enemies.
The great Tchatcha Chiefs who are in Rasta are Horus, Osiris, and
Isis. The heart of Osiris is happy, the heart of Horus is glad, and
the two halves of Egypt (Aterti) are well satisfied thereat.
Hail, Thoth, who didst make the word of Osiris true against his
enemies, make thou the word of the Osiris the scribe Ani, the assessor
of the holy offerings made to all the gods, to be true against his
enemies, with the Ten great Tchatcha Chiefs who are with Ra, and
with Osiris, and with every god, and with every goddess, in the
presence of the god Nebertcher. He hath destroyed his enemies, and
he hath destroyed every evil thing which appertained to him.
RUBRIC: If this Chapter be recited for, or over, the deceased, he
shall come forth by day, purified after death, according to the desire
of his heart. Now if this Chapter be recited over him, he shall
progress over the earth, and he shall escape from every fire, and none
of the evil things which appertain to him shall ever be round about
him; never, a million times over, shall this be.
THE CHAPTER OF OPENING THE MOUTH OF THE OSIRIS ANI.
To be said: The
god Ptah shall open my mouth, and the god of my town shall unfasten
the swathings, the swathings which are over my mouth. Thereupon
shall come Thoth, who is equipped with words of power in great
abundance, and shall untie the fetters, even the fetters of the god
Set which are over my mouth. And the god Tem shall cast them back at
those who would fetter me with them, and cast them at him. Then
shall the god Shu open my mouth, and make an opening into my mouth
with the same iron implement wherewith he opened the mouth of the
gods. I am the goddess Sekhmet, and I take my seat upon the place by
the side of Amtur the great wind of heaven. I am the great
Stargoddess Saah, who dwelleth among the Souls of Anu. Now as
concerning every spell, and every word which shall be spoken against
me, every god of the Divine Company shall set himself in opposition
thereto.
THE CHAPTER OF BRINGING WORDS OF POWER TO THE OSIRIS ANI,
who
saith: I am TemKhepera who produced himself on the thighs of his
divine mother. Those who dwell in Nu have been made wolves, and those
who are among the Tchatcha Chiefs have become hyenas. Behold, I will
gather together to myself this charm from the person with whom it is
[and from the place] wherein it is [and it shall come to me] quicker
than a greyhound, and swifter that light. Hail, thou who bringest the
FerryBoat of Ra, thou holdest thy course firmly and directly in the
north wind as thou sailest up the river towards the Island of Fire
which is in KhertNeter. Behold, thou shalt gather together to thee
this charm from wheresoever it may be, and from whomsoever it may be
with [and it shall come to me] quicker than a greyhound, and swifter
than light. It (the charm) made the transformations of Mut; it
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 27
Page No 30
fashioned the gods [or] kept them silent; by it Mut gave the warmth
[of life] to the gods. Behold, these words of power are mine, and
they shall come unto me from wheresoever they may be, or with
whomsoever they may be, quicker than greyhounds and swifter than
light, or, according to another reading, "swifter than shadows."
APPENDIX
THE CHAPTER WHICH MAKETH A MAN TO REMEMBER HIS NAME IN KHERTNETER.
[The deceased] saith: Let my name be given to me in
the Great House (Perur), and let me remember my name in the House
of Fire (Per Neser), on the night wherein the years are counted up,
and the number of the months is told. I am dwelling with the Divine
One, I take my seat on the eastern side of the sky. If any god
cometh after me, I shall be able to declare his name forthwith.
THE CHAPTER OF GIVING A HEART TO THE OSIRIS ANI IN KHERTNETER.
He saith: Let my heart be with me in the House of Hearts. Let my
heartcase be with me in the House of heartcases. Let my heart be
with me, and let it rest in [me or] I shall not eat the cakes of
Osiris in the eastern side of the Lake of Flowers, nor have a boat
wherein to float down the river, nor a boat to sail up the river to
thee, nor be able to embark in a boat with thee. Let my mouth be to me
that I may speak therewith. Let my legs be to me that I may walk
therewith. Let my arms be to me that I may overthrow the foe
therewith. Let the two doors of the sky be opened to me. May Keb,
the Erpat of the gods, open his jaws to me. May he open my two eyes
which are blinded by swathings. May he make me to lift up my legs in
walking which are tied together. May Anpu make my thighs to become
vigorous. May the goddess Sekhmet raise me, and lift me up. Let me
ascend into heaven, let that which I command be performed in
HetkaPtah. I know how to use my heart. I am master of my heartcase.
I am master of my hands and arms. I am master of my legs. I have the
power to do that which my KA desireth to do. My Heartsoul shall not
be kept a prisoner in my body at the gates of Amentet when I would
go in in peace and come forth in peace.
THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE HEART OF THE OSIRIS, THE ASSESSOR OF THE
DIVINE OFFERINGS OF ALL THE GODS, ANI, WHOSE WORD IS TRUTH BEFORE OSIRIS, BE
DRIVEN BACK FROM HIM IN KHERTNETER.
He saith: My
heart of my mother. My heart of my mother. My heartcase of my
transformations. Let not any one stand up to bear testimony against
me. Let no one drive me away from the Tchatcha Chiefs. Let no one make
thee to fall away from me in the presence of the Keeper of the
Balance. Thou art my KA, the dweller in my body, the god Khnemu who
makest sound my members. Mayest thou appear in the place of
happiness whither we go. Let not make my name to stink Shenit
Chiefs, who make men to be stable. [Let it be satisfactory unto us,
and let the listening be satisfactory unto us, and let there be joy of
heart to us at the weighing of words. Let not lies be told against
me before the Great God, the Lord of Amentet. Verily, how great
shalt thou be when thou risest up in triumph!]
RUBRIC I: These words are to be said over a scarab of green stone
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 28
Page No 31
encircled with a band of refined copper, and [having] a ring of
silver; which shall be placed on the neck of the Khu (the deceased),
etc.
RUBRIC II (From the Papyrus of Nu, Sheet 21): If this Chapter be
known [by the deceased] he shall be declared a speaker of the truth
both upon earth and in KhertNeter, and he shall be able to perform
every act which a living human being can perform. Now it is a great
protection which hath been given by the god. This Chapter was found in
the city of Khemenu upon the slab of ba, which was inlaid with
[letters of] genuine lapislazuli, and was under the feet of [the
statue] of the god, during the reign of His Majesty, the King of the
South and North, Menkaura (Mycerinus), true of word, by Prince
Herutataf, who found it during a journey which he made to inspect
the temples. One Nekht was with him who was diligent in making him
to understand it, and he brought it to the king as a wonderful
object when he perceived that it was a thing of great mystery, [the
like of] which had never [before] been seen or looked upon. This
Chapter shall be recited by a man who is ceremonially clean and
pure, who hath not eaten the flesh of animals, or fish, and who hath
not had intercourse with women. And behold, thou shalt make a scarab
of green stone, with a rim [plated] with gold, which shall be placed
above the heart of a man, and it shall perform for him the "opening of
the mouth." And thou shalt anoint it with myrrh unguent, and thou
shalt recite over it the following words of magical power. [Here
follows the text of the Chapter of Not Letting the Heart of Ani Be
Taken from Him.]
THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE HEARTSOUL OF A MAN BE SNATCHED AWAY FROM
HIM IN KHERTNETER.
The Osiris the scribe Ani saith:I,
even I, am he who cometh forth from the Celestial Water (Akeb). He
(Akeb) produced abundance for me, and hath the mastery there in the
form of the River.
(This is a portion of a longer Chapter which is included in the
appendix.)
APPENDIX
(The following is from the Papyrus of Neferubenf, Naville, op.
cit., I, Bl. 72.)
THE CHAPTER OF DRINKING WATER IN KHERTNETER.
The am khent priest, Neferubenf, whose word is truth, saith: I, even I, am he who cometh
forth from the god Keb. The waterflood is given to him, he hath
become the master thereof in the form of Hapi. I, the am khent
Neferubenf, open the doors of heaven. Thoth hath opened to me the
doors of Qebh (the Celestial Waters). Lo, Hepi Hepi, the two sons of
the Sky, mighty in splendour, grant ye that I may be master over the
water, even as Set had dominion over his evil power on the day of
the storming of the Two Lands. I pass by the Great Ones, arm to
shoulder, even as they pass that Great God, the Spirit who is
equipped, whose name is unknown. I have passed by the Aged One of
the shoulder. I am Neferubenf, whose word is truth. Hath opened to
me the Celestial Water Osiris. Hath opened to me the Celestial Water
ThothHapi, the Lord of the horizon, in his name of "Thoth, cleaver of
the earth." I am master of the water, as Set is master of his
weapon. I sail over the sky, I am Ra, I am Ru. I am Sma. I have
eaten the Thigh, I have seized the bone and flesh. I go round about
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 29
Page No 32
the Lake of SekhetAr. Hath been given to me eternity without limit.
Behold, I am the heir of eternity, to whom hath been given
everlastingness.
(The following two Chapters are from the Papyrus of Nu, Sheets 7 and
12)
THE CHAPTER OF DRINKING WATER AND OF NOT BEING BURNT UP BY FIRE
[IN KHERTNETER]. Nu saith: Hail, Bull of Amentet! I am brought
unto thee. I am the paddle of Ra wherewith he transported the Aged
Gods. Let me neither be burnt up nor destroyed by fire. I am Beb,
the firstborn son of Osiris, to whom every god maketh an offering in
the temple of his Eye in Anu. I am the divine Heir, the Mighty One,
the Great One, the Resting One. I have made my name to flourish.
Deliverer, thou livest in me [every day].
THE CHAPTER OF NOT BEING BOILED IN FIRE.
Nu saith: I am the paddle which is equipped, wherewith Ra transported the Aged Gods,
which raised up the emissions of Osiris from the Lake of blazing fire,
and he was not burned. I sit down like the Lightgod, and like Khnemu,
the Governor of lions. Come, cut away the fetters from him that
passeth by the side of this path, and let me come forth therefrom.
THE CHAPTER OF GIVING AIR IN KHERTNETER.
The Osiris Ani saith: I am the Egg which dwelt in the Great Cackler. I keep ward over that
great place which Keb hath proclaimed upon earth. I live; it liveth. I
grow up, I live, I snuff the air. I am Utchaaab. I go round about his
egg [to protect it]. I have thwarted the moment of Set. Hail, Sweet
one of the Two Lands! Hail, dweller in the tchefa food! Hail,
dweller in the lapislazuli! Watch ye over him that is in his
cradle, the Babe when he cometh forth to you.
APPENDIX
(From the Papyrus of Nu, Sheet 12)
THE CHAPTER OF GIVING AIR TO NU IN KHERTNETER.
He saith: Hail, thou God Temu, grant thou unto me the sweet breath which dwelleth in
thy nostrils! I am the Egg which is in Kenkenur (the Great
Cackler), and I watch and guard that mighty thing which hath come into
being, wherewith the god Keb hath opened the earth. I live; it liveth;
I grow, I live, I snuff the air. I am the god Utchaaabet, and I go
about his egg. I shine at the moment of the mighty of strength,
Suti. Hail, thou who makest sweet the time of the Two Lands! Hail,
dweller among the celestial food. Hail, dweller among the beings of
blue (lapislazuli), watch ye to protect him that is in his nest,
the Child who cometh forth to you.
THE CHAPTER OF GIVING AIR IN KHERTNETER.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 30
Page No 33
Nu saith: I am the jackal of jackals. I am Shu. I draw air from the presence of the Lightgod,
from the uttermost limits of heaven, from the uttermost limits of
earth, from the uttermost limits of the pinion of Nebeh bird. May
air be given unto this young divine Babe. [My mouth is open, I see
with my eyes.]
THE CHAPTER OF SNUFFING THE AIR WITH WATER IN KHERTNETER.
Hail, Tem. Grant thou unto me the sweet breath which dwelleth in thy
nostrils. I am he who embraceth that great throne which is in the city
of Unu. I keep watch over the Egg of Kenkenur (the Great Cackler).
I grow and flourish as it groweth and flourisheth. I live as it
liveth. I snuff the air as it snuffeth the air.
THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE HEART OF A MAN BE SNATCHED AWAY FROM HIM IN
KHERTNETER.
The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, saith: Get thee back, O messenger of every god! Art thou come to
[snatch away] my heartcase which liveth? My heartcase which liveth
shall not be given unto thee. [As] I advance, the gods hearken unto my
propitiation [prayer] and they fall down on their faces [whilst]
they are on their own land.
APPENDIX
(From the Papyrus of Nu)
THE CHAPTER OF NOT ALLOWING THE HEART.... TO BE CARRIED AWAY DEAD IN
KHERTNETER.
[Nu, whose word is truth, saith]: My heart is with me,
and it shall never come to pass that it be carried away. I am the Lord
of Hearts, the slayer of the heartcase. I live in truth, I have my
being therein. I am Horus, the Dweller in Hearts, [I am] in the
Dweller in the body. I have life by my word, my heart hath being. My
heartcase shall not be snatched away from me, it shall not be
wounded, it shall not be put in restraint if wounds are inflicted upon
me. [If] one take possession of it I shall have my being in the body
of my father Keb and in the body of my mother Nut. I have not done
that which is held in abomination by the gods. I shall not suffer
defeat [for] my word is truth.
THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE HEARTCASE OF A MAN BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM
IN KHERTNETER.
The Osiris Ani saith: Hail, ye who steal and
crush heartcases [and who make the heart of a man to go through its
transformations according to his deeds: let not what he hath done harm
him before you]. Homage to you, O ye Lords of Eternity, ye masters
of everlastingness, take ye not this heart of Osiris Ani into your
fingers, and this heartcase, and cause ye not things of evil to
spring up against it, because this heart belongeth to the Osiris
Ani, and this heartcase belongeth to him of the great names
(Thoth), the mighty one, whose words are his members. He sendeth his
heart to rule his body, and his heart is renewed before the gods.
The heart of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, is to him; he hath
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 31
Page No 34
gained the mastery over it. He hath not said what he hath done. He
hath obtained power over his own members. His heart obeyeth him, he is
the lord thereof, it is in his body, and it shall never fall away
therefrom. I command thee to be obedient unto me in KhertNeter. I,
the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, in peace; whose word is truth
in the Beautiful Amentet, by the Domain of Eternity.
APPENDIX
(From the Papyrus of Nu, Sheet 5)
THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE HEART OF NU, WHOSE WORD IS TRUTH, BE CARRIED
AWAY FROM HIM IN KHERTNETER.
He saith: Hail, thou Liongod! I am Unb (the Blossom). That which is held in abomination to
me is the block of slaughter of the god. Let not this my heartcase be
carried away from me by the Fighting Gods in Anu. Hail, thou who
dost wind bandages round Osiris, and who hast seen Set. Hail, thou who
returnest after smiting and destroying him before the mighty ones!
This my heart weepeth over itself before Osiris; it hath made
supplication for me. I have given unto him and I have dedicated unto
him the thoughts of the heart in the House of the god (Usekhher),
have brought unto him sand at the entry to Khemenu. Let not this my
heartcase be carried away from me. I make you to ascend his throne,
to fetter heartcases for him in Sekhethetep, [to live] years of
strength away from things of all kinds which are abominations to
him, to carry off food from among the things which are thine, and
which are in thy grasp through thy strength. And this my heartcase is
devoted to the decrees of the god Tem, who guideth me through the
caverns of Suti, but let not this my heart, which hath performed its
desire before the Tchatcha Chiefs who are in KhertNeter, be given
to him. When they find the leg and the swathings they bury them.
THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE HEART OF NU, WHOSE WORD IS TRUTH, BE DRIVEN
AWAY FROM HIM IN KHERTNETER.
He saith: My heart of my mother. My heart of my mother. My heartcase of my existence upon
the earth. Let no one stand up against me when I bear testimony in the
presence of the Lords of Things. Let it not be said against me and
of that which I have done "He hath committed acts which are opposed to
what is right and true," and let not charges be brought up against
me in the presence of the Great God, the Lord of Amentet. Homage to
thee, O my heart (ab). Homage to thee, O my heartcase. Homage to you,
O my reins. Homage to you, O ye gods, who are masters of [your]
beards, and who are holy by reason of your sceptres. Speak ye for me
words of good import to Ra, and make ye me to have favour in the sight
of Nehebkau.
THE CHAPTER OF BREATHING THE AIR AND OF HAVING POWER OVER WATER IN
KHERTNETER.
The Osiris Ani saith: Open to me! Who art thou?
Whither goest thou? What is thy name? I am one of you. Who are these
with you? The two Merti goddesses (Isis and Nephthys). Thou separatest
head from head when [he] entereth the divine Mesqen chamber. He
causeth me to set out for the temple of the gods Kemheru.
"Assembler of souls" is the name of my ferryboat. "Those who make the
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 32
Page No 35
hair to bristle" is the name of the oars. "Sert" ("Goad") is the
name of the hold. "Steering straight in the middle" is the name of the
rudder; likewise, [the boat] is a type of my being borne onward in the
lake. Let there be given unto me vessels of milk, and cakes, and
loaves of bread, and cups of drink, and flesh, in the Temple of Anpu.
RUBRIC: If the deceased knoweth this Chapter, he shall go into,
after coming forth from KhertNeter of [the Beautiful Amentet].
THE CHAPTER OF SNUFFING THE AIR, AND OF HAVING POWER OVER THE WATER IN
KHERTNETER.
The Osiris Ani saith: Hail, thou Sycamore tree of the goddess Nut!
Give me of the [water and of the] air which
is in thee. I embrace that throne which is in Unu, and I keep guard
over the Egg of Nekekur. It flourisheth, and I flourish; it liveth,
and I live; it snuffeth the air, and I snuff the air, I the Osiris
Ani, whose word is truth, in [peace].
THE CHAPTER OF NOT DYING A SECOND TIME IN KHERTNETER.
The Osiris Ani saith: My hiding place is opened, my hiding place is opened.
The Spirits fall headlong in the darkness, but the Eye of Horus hath
made me holy, and Upuati hath nursed me. I will hide myself among you,
O ye stars which are imperishable. My brow is like the brow of Ra.
My face is open. My heartcase is upon its throne, I know how to utter
words. In very truth I am Ra himself. I am not a man of no account.
I am not a man to whom violence can be done. Thy father liveth for
thee, O son of Nut. I am thy son, O great one, I have seen the
hidden things which are thine. I am crowned upon my throne like the
king of the gods. I shall not die a second time in KhertNeter.
THE CHAPTER OF NOT ROTTING IN KHERTNETER.
The Osiris Ani saith: O thou who art motionless, O thou who art motionless, O thou whose
members are motionless, like unto those of Osiris. Thy members shall
not be motionless, they shall not rot, they shall not crumble away,
they shall not fall into decay. My members shall be made [permanent]
for me as if I were Osiris.
RUBRIC: If this Chapter be known by the deceased he shall never
see corruption in KhertNeter.
APPENDIX
(From the Papyrus of Nu, Sheet 18)
THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE BODY PERISH.
The Osiris Nu saith: Homage to thee, O my divine father Osiris! I come to embalm thee. Do
thou embalm these my members, for I would not perish and come to an
end [but would be] even like unto my divine father Khepera, the divine
type of him that never saw corruption. Come then, strengthen my
breath, O Lord of the winds, who dost magnify these divine beings
who are like unto thyself. Stablish me, stablish me, and fashion me
strongly, O Lord of the funeral chest. Grant thou that I may enter
into the land of everlastingness, according to that which was done for
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 33
Page No 36
thee, along with thy father Tem, whose body never saw corruption,
and who himself never saw corruption. I have never done that which
thou hatest, nay, I have acclaimed thee among those who love thy KA.
Let not my body become worms, but deliver thou me as thou didst
deliver thyself. I pray thee, let me not fall into rottenness, as thou
lettest every god, and every goddess, and every animal, and every
reptile, see corruption, when the soul hath gone out of them, after
their death.
And when the soul hath departed, a man seeth corruption, and the
bones of his body crumble away and become stinking things, and the
members decay one after the other, the bones crumble into a helpless
mass, and the flesh turneth into foetid liquid. Thus man becometh a
brother unto the decay which cometh upon him, and he turneth into a
myriad of worms, and he becometh nothing but worms, and an end is made
of him, and perisheth in the sight of the god of day (Shu), even as do
every god, and every goddess, and every bird, and every fish, and
every creeping worm, and every reptile, and every beast, and every
thing whatsoever. Let [all the Spirits fall] on their bellies [when]
they recognize me, and behold, the fear of me shall terrify them;
and thus also let it be with every being that hath died, whether it be
animal, or bird, or fish, or worm, or reptile. Let life [rise out
of] death. Let not the decay caused by any reptile make an end [of
me], and let not [enemies] come against me in their various forms.
Give thou me not over to the Slaughterer in this executionchamber,
who killeth the members, and maketh them rot, being [himself]
invisible, and who destroyeth the bodies of the dead, and liveth by
carnage. Let me live, and perform his order; I will do what is
commanded by him. Give me not over to his fingers, let him not
overcome me, for I am under thy command, O Lord of the Gods.
Homage to thee, O my divine father Osiris, thou livest with thy
members. Thou didst not decay, thou didst not become worms, thou didst
not wither, thou didst not rot, thou didst not putrefy, thou didst not
turn into worms. I am the god Khepera, and my members shall have being
everlastingly. I shall not decay, I shall not rot, I shall not
putrefy, I shall not turn into worms, and I shall not see corruption
before the eye of the god Shu. I shall have my being, I shall have
by being; I shall live, I shall live; I shall flourish, I shall
flourish, I shall flourish, I shall wake up in peace, I shall not
putrefy, my intestines shall not perish, I shall not suffer injury. My
eye shall not decay. The form of my face shall not disappear. My ear
shall not become deaf. My head shall not be separated from my neck. My
tongue shall not be removed. My hair shall not be cut off. My eyebrows
shall not be shaved away, and no evil defect shall assail me. My
body shall be stablished. It shall neither become a ruin, nor be
destroyed on this earth.
THE CHAPTER OF NOT PERISHING AND OF BEING ALIVE IN KHERTNETER.
The Osiris Ani saith: Hail ye children of the god Shu. The Tuat
hath gained the mastery over his diadem. Among the Hamemet Spirits may
I arise, even as did arise Osiris.
THE CHAPTER OF NOT GOING IN TO THE BLOCK OF THE GOD.
The Osiris Ani saith: My head was fastened on my body in heaven, O Guardian of
the Earth, by Ra. [This] was granted [to me] on the day of my being
stablished, when I rose up out of a state of weakness upon [my] two
feet. On the day of cutting off the hair Set and the Company of the
Gods fastened my head to my neck, and it became as firm as it was
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 34
Page No 37
originally. Let nothing happen to shake it off again! Make ye me
safe from the murderer of my father. I have tied together the Two
Earths. Nut hath fastened together the vertebrae of my neck, and [I]
behold them as they were originally, and they are seen in the order
wherein they were when as yet Maat was not seen, and when the gods
were not born in visible forms. I am Penti. I am the heir of the great
gods, I the Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth.
THE CHAPTER OF NOT BEING TRANSPORTED TO THE EAST IN KHERTNETER.
The Osiris Ani saith: Hail, Phallus of Ra, which advanceth and beateth
down opposition. Things which have been without motion for millions of
years have come into life through Baba. I am stronger thereby than the
strong, and I have more power thereby than the mighty. Now, let me not
be carried away in a boat, or be seized violently and taken to the
East, to have the festivals of Sebau Devils celebrated on me. Let
not deadly wounds be inflicted upon me, and let me not be gored by
horns. Thou shalt neither fall [nor] eat fish made by Tebun.
Now, no evil thing of any kind whatsoever shall be done unto me by
the Sebau Devils. [I shall not be gored by] horns. Therefore the
Phallus of Ra, [which is] the head of Osiris, shall not be swallowed
up. Behold, I shall come into me fields and I shall cut the grain. The
gods shall provide me with food. Thou shalt not then be gored,
RaKhepera. There shall not be then pus in the Eye of Tem, and it
shall not be destroyed. Violence shall not be done unto me, and I
shall not be carried away in [my] boat to the East to have the
festivals of the Sebau Devils celebrated on me in evil fashion.
Cruel gashes with knives shall not be inflicted upon me, and I shall
not be carried away in [my] boat to the East. I the Osiris, the
assessor of the holy offerings of all the gods, Ani, whose word is
truth, happily, the lord of fealty [to Osiris].
THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE HEAD OF A MAN BE CUT OFF FROM HIS BODY IN
KHERTNETER.
The Osiris Ani saith: I am a Great One, the
son of a Great One. [I am] Fire, the son of Fire, to whom was given
his head after it had been cut off. The head of Osiris was not removed
from his body, and the head of Osiris Ani shall not be removed from
his body. I have knitted myself together, I have made myself whole and
complete. I shall renew my youth. I am Osiris Himself, the Lord of
Eternity.
THE CHAPTER OF MAKING THE SOUL TO BE JOINED TO ITS BODY IN KHERTNETER.
The Osiris Ani saith: Hail, thou god Aniu! Hail, thou
god Pehreri, who dwellest in thy hall, the Great God. Grant thou
that my soul may come to me from any place wherein it may be. Even
if it would tarry, let my soul be brought unto me from any place
wherein it may be. Thou findest the Eye of Horus standing by thee like
unto those beings who resemble Osiris, who never lie down in death.
Let not the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, lie down dead among those
who lie in Anu, the land wherein [souls] are joined to their bodies in
thousands. Let me have possession of my Basoul and of my Spiritsoul,
and let my word be truth with it (the Basoul) in every place
wherein it may be. Observe then, O ye guardians of Heaven, my soul
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 35
Page No 38
[wherever it may be]. Even if it would tarry, cause thou my Basoul to
see my body. Thou shalt find the Eye of Horus standing by thee like
[the Watchers].
Hail, ye gods who tow along the boat of the Lord of Millions of
Years, who bring it over the sky of the Tuat, who make it to journey
over Nent, who make Basouls to enter into their Spiritbodies,
whose hands hold the steering poles and guide it straight, who grasp
tightly your paddles, destroy ye the Enemy; thus shall the Boat
rejoice, and the Great God shall travel on his way in peace. Moreover,
grant ye that the Basoul of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth
before the gods, may come forth with your navel cords in the eastern
part of the sky, and that it may follow Ra to the place where he was
yesterday, and may set in peace, in peace in Amentet. May it gaze upon
its earthly body, may it take up its abode and its Spiritbody, may it
neither perish nor be destroyed for ever and for ever.
RUBRIC: These words shall be said over a model of the Basoul made
of gold, and inlaid with precious stones, which shall be placed on the
breast of the Osiris.
THE CHAPTER OF NOT LETTING THE SOUL OF A MAN BE HELD CAPTIVE IN KHERTNETER.
The Osiris Ani saith: Hail, thou who art exalted!
Hail, thou who art adored! Hail, Mighty One of Souls, thou divine Soul
who inspirest great dread, who dost set the fear of thyself in the
gods, who are enthroned upon thy mighty seat. Make thou a path for the
Spiritsoul and the Basoul of the Osiris Ani. I am equipped with
[words of power]. I am a Spiritsoul equipped with [words of power]. I
have made my way to the place where are Ra and Hathor.
RUBRIC: If this Chapter be known by the deceased he shall be able to
transform himself into a Spiritsoul who shall be equipped with [his
soul and his shadow] in KhertNeter, and he shall not be shut up
inside any door in Amentet, when he is coming forth upon the Earth, or
when he is going back into [KhertNeter.]
THE CHAPTER OF OPENING THE TOMB TO THE BASOUL AND THE SHADOW, AND OF
COMING FORTH BY DAY, AND OF HAVING MASTERY OVER THE TWO LEGS.
The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, saith: The place which is
closed is opened, the place which is shut (or sealed) is sealed.
That which lieth down in the closed place is opened by the Basoul
which is in it. By the Eye of Horus I am delivered. Ornaments are
stablished on the brow of Ra. My stride is made long. I lift up my two
thighs [in walking]. I have journeyed over a long road. My limbs are
in a flourishing condition. I am Horus, the Avenger of his Father, and
I bring the Urrt Crown [and set it on] its standard. The road of souls
is opened. My twin soul seeth the Great God in the Boat of Ra, on
the day of souls. My soul is in the front thereof with the counter
of the years. Come, the Eye of Horus hath delivered for me my soul, my
ornaments are stablished on the brow of Ra. Light is on the faces of
those who are in the members of Osiris. Ye shall not hold captive my
soul. Ye shall not keep in durance my shadow. The way is open to my
soul and to my shadow. It seeth the Great God in the shrine on the day
of counting souls. It repeateth the words of Osiris. Those whose seats
are invisible, who fetter the members of Osiris, who fetter
Heartsouls and Spiritsouls, who set a seal upon the dead, and who
would do evil to me, shall do no evil to me. Haste on the way to me.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 36
Page No 39
Thy heart is with thee. My Heartsoul and my Spiritsoul are equipped;
they guide thee. I sit down at the head of the great ones who are
chiefs of their abodes. The wardens of the members of Osiris shall not
hold thee captive, though they keep ward over souls, and set a seal on
the shadow which is dead. Heaven shall not shut thee in.
RUBRIC: If this Chapter be known by the deceased he shall come forth
by day, and his soul shall not be kept captive.
APPENDIX
(From the Papryus of Nebseni, Sheet 6)
That which was shut hath been opened [that is] the dead. That
which was shut fast hath been opened by the command of the Eye of
Horus, which hath delivered me. Established are the beauties on the
forehead of Ra. My steps are long. My legs are lifted up. I have
performed the journey, my members are mighty and are sound. I am
Horus, the Avenger of his Father. I am he who bringeth along his
father, and his mother, by means of his staff. The way shall be opened
to him that hath power over his feet, and he shall see the Great God
in the Boat of Ra, when souls are counted therein at the bows, and
when the years also are counted up. Grant that the Eye of Horus, which
maketh the adornments of splendour to be firm on the forehead of Ra,
may deliver my soul for me, and let darkness cover your faces, O ye
who would imprison Osiris. O keep not captive my soul. O keep not ward
over my shadow, but let a way be opened for my soul and my shadow, and
let them see the Great God in the shrine on the day of the counting of
souls, and let them hold converse with Osiris, whose habitations are
hidden, and those who guard the members of Osiris, and who keep ward
over the Spiritsouls, and who hold captive the shadows of the dead,
and who would work evil against me, so that they shall [not] work evil
against me. A way shall be for KA with thee, and thy soul shall be
prepared by those who keep ward over the members of Osiris, and who
hold captive the shadows of the dead. Heaven shall not keep thee fast,
the earth shall not hold thee captive. Thou shalt not live with the
beings who slay, but thou shalt be master of thy legs, and thou
shalt advance to thy body straightway in the earth, [and to] those who
belong to the shrine of Osiris and guard his members.
THE CHAPTER OF LIFTING UP THE FEET, AND OF COMING FORTH ON THE EARTH.
The Osiris Ani saith: Perform thy work, O Seker, perform thy
work, O Seker, O thou who dwellest in thy circle, and who dwellest
in my feet in KhertNeter. I am he who sendeth forth light over the
Thigh of heaven. I come forth in heaven. I sit down by the Lightgod
(Khu). O I am helpless. O I am helpless. I would walk. I am
helpless. I am helpless in the regions of those who plunder in
KhertNeter, I the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, in peace.
THE CHAPTER OF FORCING A WAY INTO AMENTET [AND OF COMING FORTH] BY DAY.
The Osiris Ani saith: The town of Unu is opened. My head is
sealed up, Thoth. Perfect is the Eye of Horus. I have delivered the
Eye of Horus which shineth with splendours on the brow of Ra, the
Father of the gods, [I am] that selfsame Osiris, [the dweller in]
Amentet. Osiris knoweth his day, and he knoweth that he shall live
through his period of life; I shall have by being with him. I am the
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 37
Page No 40
Moongod Aah, the dweller among the gods. I shall not come to an
end. Stand up therefore, O Horus, for thou art counted among the gods.
APPENDIX
(Naville, op. cit., I, Bl. X)
THE CHAPTER OF FORCING A WAY INTO THE TUAT.
The Am Khent priest Neferubenf, whose word is truth, saith: Hail, Soul, thou mighty one
of terror. Behold, I have come unto thee. I see thee. I have forced
a way through the Tuat. I see my father Osiris. I drive away the
darkness. I love him. I have come. I see my father Osiris. He hath
counted the heart of Set. I have made offerings for my father
Osiris. I have opened all the ways in heaven and on earth. I love him.
I have come. I have become a Spiritbody and a Spiritsoul, who is
equipped. Hail, every god and every Spiritsoul, I have made the ways.
I am Thoth....
ANOTHER CHAPTER OF THE TUAT AND OF COMING FORTH BY DAY.
Open is the land of Unu. Shut is the head of Thoth. Perfect is the
Eye of Horus. I have delivered the Eye of Horus, the shining one,
the ornament of the Eye of Ra, the Father of the Gods. I am that
same Osiris who dwelleth in Amentet. Osiris knoweth his day, which
cometh to an end. I am Set, the Father of the Gods. I shall never come
to an end.
THE CHAPTER OF COMING FORTH BY DAY AND OF LIVING AFTER DEATH.
The Osiris Ani saith: Hail, thou One, who shinest from the moon. Hail,
thou One, who shinest from the moon. Grant that this Osiris Ani may
come forth among thy multitudes who are at the portal. Let him be with
the LightGod. Let the Tuat be opened to him. Behold, the Osiris Ani
shall come forth by day to perform everything which he wisheth upon
the earth among those who are living [thereon].
APPENDIX (From the Papyrus of Nu, Sheet 13)
Hail, thou god Tem, who comest forth from the Great Deep, who
shinest gloriously under the form of the twin Liongods, send forth
with might thy words unto those who are in thy presence, and let the
Osiris Nu enter into their assembly. He hath performed the decree
which hath been spoken to the mariners at eventide, and the Osiris Nu,
whose word is truth, shall live after his death, even as doth Ra every
day. Behold, most certainly Ra was born yesterday, and the Osiris Nu
was born yesterday. And every god shall rejoice in the life of the
Osiris Nu, even as they rejoice in the life of Ptah, when he appeareth
from the Great House of the Aged One which is in Anu.
THE CHAPTER OF COMING FORTH BY DAY AFTER FORCING AN ENTRANCE THROUGH THE
AAMHET.
The Osiris Ani saith: Hail, Soul, thou mighty one of
terror! Verily, I am here. I have come. I behold thee. I have passed
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 38
Page No 41
through the Tuat. I have seen Father Osiris. I have scattered the
gloom of night. I am his beloved one. I have come, I have seen my
Father Osiris. I have stabbed the heart of Suti. I have made offerings
to my Father Osiris. I have opened every way in heaven and on the
earth. I am the son who loveth his Fathers (sic) Osiris. I am a
Spiritbody. I am a Spiritsoul. I am equipped. Hail, every god and
every Spiritsoul. I have made the way [to Osiris]. I the Osiris the
scribe Ani, whose word is truth.
THE CHAPTER OF MAKING A MAN TO RETURN TO LOOK UPON HIS HOUSE ON EARTH.
The Osiris Ani saith: I am the Liongod who cometh forth
with long strides. I have shot arrows, and I have wounded my prey. I
have shot arrows, and I have wounded my prey. I am the Eye of Horus, I
traverse the Eye of Horus at this season. I have arrived at the
domains. Grant that the Osiris Ani may come in peace.
ANOTHER CHAPTER OF THE COMING FORTH OF A MAN BY DAY AGAINST HIS ENEMIES IN
KHERTNETER.
[The Osiris Ani saith:] I have divided the
heavens. I have cleft the horizon. I have traversed the earth
[following in] his footsteps. I have conquered the mighty Spiritsouls
because I am equipped for millions of years with words of power. I eat
with my mouth. I evacuate with my body. Behold, I am the God of the
Tuat! Let these things be given unto me, the Osiris Ani, in perpetuity
withou fail or diminution.
(From the Papyrus of Nu, Sheet 21)
THE CHAPTER OF COMING FORTH AGAINST ENEMIES IN KHERTNETER.
The
Osiris Nu saith: Hail, Amaf (Eater of his arm), I have passed
over the road. I am Ra. I have come forth from the horizon against
my enemies. I have not permitted him to escape from me. I have
stretched out my hand like that of the Lord of the Urrt Crown. I
have lifted up my feet even as the Uraeigoddesses lift themselves up.
I have not permitted the enemy [to be saved] from me. As for mine
enemy, he hath been given to me, and he shall not be delivered from
me. I stand up like Horus. I sit down like Ptah. I am strong like
Thoth. I am mighty like Tem. I walk with my legs. I speak with my
mouth. I chase my enemy. He hath been given unto me, and he shall
not be delivered from me.
A HYMN OF PRAISE TO RA WHEN HE RISETH UPON THE HORIZON, AND WHEN HE SETTETH
IN THE LAND OF LIFE.
Osiris the scribe Ani saith: Homage
to thee, O Ra, when thou risest as TemHeruKhuti. Thou art to be
adored. Thy beauties are before mine eyes, [thy] radiance is upon my
body. Thou goest forth to thy setting in the Sektet Boat with [fair]
winds, and thy heart is glad; the heart of the Matet Boat rejoiceth.
Thou stridest over the heavens in peace, and all thy foes are cast
down; the stars which never rest sing hymns of praise unto thee, and
the stars which are imperishable glorify thee as thou sinkest to
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 39
Page No 42
rest in the horizon of Manu, O thou who art beautiful at morn and at
eve, O thou lord who livest, and art established, O my Lord!
Homage to thee, O thou who art Ra when thou risest, and who art
Tem when thou settest in beauty. Thou risest and thou shinest on the
back of thy mother [Nut], O thou who art crowned the king of the gods!
Nut welcometh thee, and payeth homage unto thee, and Maat, the
everlasting and neverchanging goddess, embraceth thee at noon and
at eve. Thou stridest over the heavens, being glad at heart, and the
Lake of Testes is content. The Sebaufiend hath fallen to the
ground, his forelegs and his hindlegs have been hacked off him,
and the knife hath severed the joints of his back. Ra hath a fair
wind, and the Sektet Boat setteth out on its journey, and saileth on
until it cometh into port. The gods of the South, the gods of the
North, the gods of the West, and the gods of the East praise thee, O
thou Divine Substance, from whom all living things came into being.
Thou didst send forth the word when the earth was submerged with
silence, O thou Only One, who didst dwell in heaven before ever the
earth and the mountains came into being. Hail, thou Runner, Lord, Only
One, thou maker of the things that are, thou hast fashioned the tongue
of the Company of the Gods, thou hast produced whatsoever cometh forth
from the waters, thou springest up out of them above the submerged
land of the Lake of Horus. Let me breathe the air which cometh forth
from thy nostrils, and the north wind which cometh forth from thy
mother Nut. Make thou my Spiritsoul to be glorious, O Osiris, make
thou my Heartsoul to be divine. Thou art worshipped as thou
settest, O Lord of the gods, thou art exalted by reason of thy
wondrous works. Shine thou with the rays of light upon my body day
by day, upon me, Osiris the scribe, the assessor of the divine
offerings of all the gods, the overseer of the granary of the Lords of
Abydos, the real royal scribe who loveth thee, Ani, whose word is
truth, in peace.
Praise be unto thee, O Osiris, the Lord of Eternity, UnNefer,
HeruKhuti (Harmakhis), whose forms are manifold, whose attributes are
majestic [Praise be unto thee], O thou who art PtahSekerTem in
Anu, thou Lord of the hidden shrine, thou Creator of the House of
the KA of Ptah (HetkaPtah) and of the gods [therein], thou Guide
of the Tuat, who art glorified when thou settest in Nu (the Sky). Isis
embraceth thee in peace, and she driveth away the fiends from the
entrances of thy paths. Thou turnest thy face towards Amentet, and
thou makest the earth to shine as with refined copper. Those who
have lain down in death rise up to see thee, they breathe the air, and
they look upon thy face when the disk riseth on the horizon. Their
hearts are at peace since they behold thee, o thou who art Eternity
and Everlastingness.
THE SOLAR LITANY
Homage to you, O ye gods of the Dekans in Anu, and to you, O ye
Hememetspirits in Kher Aha, and to thee, O Unti, who art the most
glorious of all the gods who are hidden in Anu,
O grant thou unto me a path whereover I may pass in peace, for I
am just and true; I have not spoken falsehood wittingly, nor have I
done aught with deceit.
Homage to thee, O An in Antes, Herukhuti, who dost with long
strides march across the heavens,
O grant thou unto me a path whereover I may pass in peace, for I
am just and true; I have not spoken falsehood wittingly, nor have I
done aught with deceit.
Homage to thee, O Everlasting Soul, thou Soul who dwellest in
Tetu, UnNefer, the son of Nut, who art the Lord of Akert,
O grant thou unto me a path whereover I may pass in peace, for I
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 40
Page No 43
am just and true; I have not spoken falsehood wittingly, nor have done
aught with deceit.
Homage to thee in thy dominion over Tetu, upon whose brow the Urrt
Crown is established, thou One who createst the strength to protect
thyself, and who dwellest in peace,
O grant thou unto me a path whereover I may pass in peace, for I
am just and true; I have not spoken falsehood wittingly, nor have I
done aught with deceit.
Homage to thee, O Lord of the Acacia Tree, whose Seker Boat is set
upon its sledge, who turnest back the Fiend, the Evildoer, and dost
cause the Eye of Ra (utchat) to rest upon its seat,
O grant thou unto me a path whereover I may pass in peace, for I
am just and true; I have not spoken falsehood wittingly, nor have I
done aught with deceit.
Homage to thee, O thou who art mighty in thine hour, thou great
and mighty Prince who dost dwell in Anrutef, thou Lord of Eternity and
Creator of the Everlastingness, thou Lord of Hensu,
O grant thou unto me a path whereover I may pass in peace, for I
am just and true; I have not spoken falsehood wittingly, nor have I
done aught with deceit.
Homage to thee, O thou who restest upon Truth, thou Lord of Abtu,
whose limbs form the substance of Tatchesert, unto whom fraud and
deceit are abominations,
O grant thou unto me a path whereover I may pass in peace, for I
am just and true; I have not spoken falsehood wittingly, nor have I
done aught with deceit.
Homage to thee, O thou who dwellest in thy boat, who dost bring Hapi
(the Nile) forth from his cavern, whose body is the light, and who
dwellest in Nekhen,
O grant thou unto me a path whereover I may pass in peace, for I
am just and true; I have not spoken falsehood wittingly, nor have I
done aught with deceit.
Homage to thee, O thou Creator of the gods, thou King of the South
and North, Osiris, whose word is truth, who rulest the world by thy
gracious goodness, thou Lord of the Atebui,
O grant thou unto me a path whereover I may pass in peace, for I
am just and true; I have not spoken falsehood wittingly, nor have I
done aught with deceit.
APPENDIX
(From the Saite Recension, ed. Lepsius, Bl. V)
Homage to thee, O thou who comest as Tem, who didst come into
being to create the Company of the Gods.
Homage to thee, O thou who comest as the Soul of Souls, the Holy One
in Amentet.
Homage to thee, O President of the Gods, who illuminest the Tuat
with thy beauties.
Homage to thee, O thou who comest as the Lightgod, who travellest
in thy Disk.
Homage to thee, O thou greatest of all gods, who are crowned King in
heaven, Governor in the Tuat.
Homage to thee, O thou who makest a way through the Tuat, who dost
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 41
Page No 44
lead the way through all doors.
Homage to thee, O thou who art among the gods, who dost weigh
words in KhertNeter.
Homage to thee, O thou who dwellest in thy secret places, who dost
fashion the Tuat with thy might.
Homage to thee, O great one, O mighty one, thine enemies have fallen
in places where they were smitten.
Homage to thee, O thou who hast hacked the Sebaufiends in pieces,
and hast annihilated Aapep.
Grant thou the sweet breeze of the north wind to the Osiris
Aufankh, whose word is truth.
A HYMN OF PRAISE TO RA WHEN HE RISETH IN THE EASTERN PART OF HEAVEN.
Those who are in his following rejoice, and the Osiris, the scribe
Ani, whose word is truth, saith: Hail, thou Disk, thou lord of
rays, who risest on the horizon day by day. Shine thou with thy
beams of light upon the face of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth,
for he singeth hymns of praise to thee at dawn, and he maketh thee
to sit at eventide [with words of adoration]. May the soul of the
Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, come forth with thee into heaven! May
he set out with thee in the Matet Boat [in the morning], may he come
into port in the Sektet Boat [in the evening], and may he cleave his
path among the stars of heaven which never rest.
The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, being at peace [with his
god], maketh adoration to his Lord, the Lord of Eternity, and
saith: Homage to thee, O Herukhuti, who art the god Khepera, the
selfcreated. When thou risest on the horizon and sheddest thy beams
of light upon the Lands of the South and of the North, thou art
beautiful, yea beautiful, and all the gods rejoice when they behold
thee, the king of heaven. The goddess, the Lady of the Hour, is
stablished upon thy head, her Uraei of the South and of the North
are upon thy brow, and she taketh up her place before thee. The god
Thoth is stablished in the bows of thy boat to destroy utterly all thy
foes. Those who dwell in the Tuat come forth to meet thee, and they
bow to the earth in homage as they come towards thee, to look upon thy
beautiful Form. And I, Ani, have come into thy presence, so that I may
be with thee, and may behold thy Disk every day. Let me not be kept
captive [by the tomb], and let me not be turned back [on my way].
Let the members of my body be made new again when I contemplate thy
beauties, even as are the members of all thy favoured ones, because
I am one of those who worshipped thee upon earth. Let me arrive in the
Land of Eternity, let me enter into the Land of Everlastingness. This,
O my Lord, behold thou shalt ordain for me.
AND MOREOVER, THE OSIRIS ANI, WHOSE WORD IS TRUTH, IN PEACE, THE
TRUTHSPEAKER, SAITH: Homage to thee, O thou who risest on thy
horizon in the form of Ra, who restest upon Law, [which can neither be
changed nor altered]. Thou passest over the sky, and every face,
watcheth thee and thy course, for thou thyself art hidden from their
gaze. Thou dost show thyself [to them] at dawn and at eventide each
day. The Sektet Boat, wherein Thy Majesty dwelleth, setteth forth on
its journey with vigour. Thy beams [fall] upon all faces, thy light
with its manifold colours is incomprehensible [to man], and thy
brilliant rays cannot be reported. The Lands of the Gods see thee,
they could write [concerning thee]; the Deserts of Punt could count
thee. Thy creation is hidden. It is one by the opening of thy mouth.
Thy form is the head of Nu. May he (Ani) advance, even as thou dost
advance, without cessation, even as Thy Majesty [ceaseth not to
advance] even for a moment. With great strides thou dost in one little
moment pass over limitless distances which would need millions and
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 42
Page No 45
hundreds of thousands of years [for a man to pass over; this] thou
doest, and then thou sinkest to rest. Thou bringest to an end the
hours of the night, even as thou stridest over them. Thou bringest
them to an end by thine own ordinance, and dawn cometh on the earth.
Thou settest thyself before thy handiwork in the form of Ra, and
thou rollest up on the horizon....... Thou sendest forth light when
thy form raiseth itself up, thou ordainest the increase of thy
splendours. Thou mouldest thy limbs as thou advancest, thou bringest
them forth, thou who wast never brought forth, in the form of Ra,
who rolleth up into the height of heaven. Grant thou that I may
reach the heaven of eternity, and the region where thy favoured ones
dwell. May I unite with those holy and perfect Spiritsouls of
KhertNeter. May I come forth with them to behold thy beauties as thou
rollest on at eventide, as thou journeyest to thy mother Nut (the
Nightsky), and dost place thyself at the right hand (in the West). My
two hands are raised to thee in praise and thanksgiving when thou
settest in life. Behold, thou art the Creator of Eternity, who art
adored when thou settest in Nu. I have set thee in my heart, without
wavering, O thou who art more divine than the gods.
The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, saith: Praise and thanksgiving
be unto thee, O thou who rollest on like unto gold, thou Illuminer
of the Two Lands on the day of thy birth. Thy mother brought thee
forth on her hand, and thou didst light up with splendour the circle
which is travelled over by the Disk. O Great Light who rollest
across Nu, thou dost raise up the generations of men from the deep
source of thy waters, and dost make to keep festivals all districts
and cities, and all habitations. Thou protectest [them] with thy
beauties. Thy KA riseth up with the celestial food hu and tchefau. O
thou mightily victorious one, thou Power of Powers, who makest
strong thy throne against the sinful ones, whose risings on thy throne
in the Sektet Boat are mighty, whose strength is widespread in the
Atett Boat, make thou the Osiris Ani to be glorious by virtue of his
word, which is truth, in KhertNeter. Grant thou that he may be in
Amentet free from evil, and let [his] offences be [set] behind thee.
Grant thou that he may [live there] a devoted slave of the
Spiritsouls. Let him mingle among the Heartsouls who live in
Tatchesert (the Holy Land). Let him travel about in the SekhetAaru
(the Elysian Fields), conformably to [thy] decree with joy of heart
him the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth.
[And the god maketh answer]:Thou shalt come forth into heaven,
thou shalt sail over the sky, and thou shalt hold loving intercourse
with the Stargods. Praises shall be made to thee in the Boat. Thy
name shall be proclaimed in the Atett Boat. Thou shalt look upon Ra
within his shrine. Thou shalt make the Disk to set [with prayer] every
day. Thou shalt see the Ant Fish in his transformations in the
depths of the waters of turquoise. Thou shalt see the Abtu Fish in his
time. It shall be that the Evil One shall fall when he deviseth a plan
to destroy thee, and the joints of his neck and back shall be hacked
asunder. Ra saileth with a fair wind, and the Sektet Boat
progresseth and cometh into port. The mariners of Ra rejoice, and
the heart of the Lady of the Hour is glad, for the enemy of her Lord
hath been cast to the ground. Thou shalt behold Horus standing on
the pilot's place in the Boat, and Thoth and Maat shall stand one on
each side of him. All the gods shall rejoice when they behold Ra
coming in peace to make the hearts of the Spiritsouls to live, and
the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, the assessor of the holy
offerings of the Lords of Thebes, shall be with them!
THE CHAPTER OF THE NEW MOON
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 43
Page No 46
THE FOLLOWING IS TO BE RECITED ON THE DAY OF THE MONTH (NEW MOON
DAY). The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, in peace,
whose word is truth, saith: Ra ascendeth his throne on his horizon,
and the Company of his Gods follow in his train. The God cometh
forth from his hidden place, [and] tchefau food falleth from the
eastern horizon of heaven at the word of Nut. They (the gods)
rejoice over the paths of Ra, the Great Ancestor [as] he journeyeth
round about. Therefore art thou exalted, O Ra, the dweller in thy
Shrine. Thou swallowest the winds, thou drawest into thyself the north
wind, thou eatest up the flesh of thy seat on the day when thou
breathest truth. Thou dividest [it among] the gods who are [thy]
followers. [Thy] Boat saileth on travelling among the Great Gods at
thy word. Thou countest thy bones, thou gatherest together thy
members, thou settest thy face towards Beautiful Amentet, and thou
comest there, being made new every day. Behold, thou art that Image of
Gold, thou hast the unitings of the disks of the sky, thou hast
quakings, thou goest round about, and art made new each day. Hail!
There is rejoicing in the horizon! The gods who dwell in the sky
descend the ropes [of thy Boat] when they see the Osiris Ani, whose
word is truth, they ascribe praise unto him as unto Ra. The Osiris Ani
is a Great Chief. [He] seeketh the Urrt Crown. His provisions are
apportioned to him the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth. [His] fate is
strong from the exalted body of the Aamu gods, who are in the presence
of Ra. The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, is strong on the earth and
in KhertNeter. O Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, wake up, and be
strong like unto Ra every day. The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth,
shall not tarry, he shall not remain motionless in this land for ever.
Right well shall he see with his two eyes, right well shall he hear
with his two ears, the things which are true, the things which are
true. The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, is in Anu, the Osiris
Ani, whose word is truth, is as Ra, and he is exalted by reason of
[his] oars among the Followers of Nu. The Osiris Ani, whose word is
truth, cannot tell what he hath seen [or] narrate [what he hath heard]
in the House of the God of Mysteries. Hail! Let there be shouts of
acclamation of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, the divine body of
Ra in the Boat of Nu, who beareth propitiatory offerings for the KA of
the god of that which he loveth. The Osiris Ani, whose word is
truth, in peace, whose word is truth, is like Horus, the mighty one of
transformations.
RUBRIC: This Chapter is to be recited over a boat seven cubits long,
made of green stone of the Tchatchau. Make a heaven of stars, and
purify it and cleanse it with natron and incense. Make then a figure
of Ra upon a tablet of new stone in paint, and set it in the bows of
the boat. Then make a figure of the deceased whom thou wilt make
perfect, [and place it] in the boat. Make it to sail in the Boat of
Ra, and Ra himself shall look upon it. Do not these things in the
presence of any one except thyself, or thy father, or thy son. Then
let them keep guard over their faces, and they shall see the
deceased in KhertNeter in the form of a messenger of Ra.
A HYMN TO RA [WHICH IS TO BE SUNG] ON THE DAY OF THE MONTH (THE DAY OF THE
NEW MOON) [WHEN] THE BOAT OF RA SAILETH.
[The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, saith:] Homage to thee, O thou who
dwellest in thy Boat. Thou rollest on, thou rollest on, thou sendest
forth light, thou sendest forth light. Thou decreest rejoicing for
[every] man for millions of years unto those who love him. Thou givest
[thy] face to the Hememet spirits, thou god Khepera who dwellest in
thy Boat. Thou hast overthrown the Fiend Aapep. O ye Sons of Keb,
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 44
Page No 47
overthrow ye the enemies of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, and
the fiends of destruction who would destroy the Boat of Ra. Horus hath
cut off your heads in heaven. Ye who were in the forms of geese,
your navel strings are on the earth. The animals are set upon the
earth..... in the form of fish. Every male fiend and every female
fiend shall be destroyed by the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth.
Whether the fiends descend from out of heaven, or whether they come
forth from the earth, or whether they advance on the waters, or
whether they come from among the Stargods, Thoth, [the son of
Aner], coming forth from Anerti shall hack them to pieces. And the
Osiris Ani shall make them silent and dumb. And behold ye, this god,
the mighty one of slaughters, the terror of whom is most great,
shall wash himself clean in your blood, and he shall bathe in your
gore, and ye shall be destroyed by the Osiris Ani in the Boat of his
Lord RaHorus. The heart of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, shall
live. His mother Isis giveth birth to him, and Nephthys nurseth him,
just as Isis gave birth to Horus, and Nephthys nursed him. [He]
shall repulse the Smait fiends of Suti. They shall see the Urrt
Crown stablished upon his head, and they shall fall down upon their
faces [and worship him]. Behold, O ye Spiritsouls, and men, and gods,
and ye dead, when ye see the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, in the
form of Horus, and the favoured one of the Urrt Crown, fall ye down
upon your faces. The word of the Osiris Ani is truth before his
enemies in heaven above, and on earth beneath, and before the
Tchatchau Chiefs of every god and of every goddess.
RUBRIC: This Chapter shall be recited over a large hawk standing
upright with the White Crown upon his head, [and over figures of] Tem,
Shu, Tefnut, Keb, Nut, Osiris, Isis, [Suti] and Nephthys. And they
shall be painted in colour upon a new tablet, which shall be placed in
a boat, together with a figure of the deceased. Anoint them with heken
oil, and offer unto them burning incense, and geese, and joints of
meat roasted. It is an act of praise to Ra as he journeyeth in his
boat, and it will make a man to have his being with Ra, and to
travel with him wheresoever he goeth, and it will most certainly cause
the enemies of Ra to be slain. And the Chapter of travelling shall
be recited on the sixth day of the festival.
(From the Turin Papyrus)
ANOTHER CHAPTER WHICH IS TO BE RECITED WHEN THE MOON RENEWETH ITSELF ON
THE DAY OF THE MONTH [WHEREON IT DOETH THIS].
Osiris unfettereth the stormcloud in the body of heaven, and is unfettered himself;
Horus is made strong happily each day. He whose transformations are
many hath had offerings made unto him at the moment, and he hath
made an end of the storm which is in the face of the Osiris, Aufankh,
whose word is truth. Verily, he cometh, and he is Ra in journeying,
and he is the four celestial gods in the heavens above. The Osiris
Aufankh, whose word is truth, cometh forth in his day, and he
embarketh among the tackle of the boat.
RUBRIC: If this Chapter be known by the deceased he shall become a
perfect Spiritsoul in KhertNeter, and he shall not die a second
time, and he shall eat his food side by side with Osiris. If this
Chapter be known by the deceased upon earth, he shall become like unto
Thoth, and he shall be adored by those who live. He shall not fall
headlong at the moment of the intensity of the royal flame of the
goddess Bast, and the Great Prince shall make him to advance happily.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 45
Page No 48
THE CHAPTER OF ADVANCING TO THE TCHATCHAU CHIEFS OF OSIRIS.
The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, saith: I have built a house for my
Basoul in the sanctuary in Tetu. I sow seed in the town of Pe (Buto).
I have ploughed the fields with my labourers. My palm tree [standeth
upright and is] like Menu upon it. I abominate abominable things. I
will not eat the things which are abominations unto me. What I
abominate is filth: I will not eat it. I shall not be destroyed by the
offerings of propitiation and the sepulchral meals. I will not
approach filth [to touch it] with my hands, I will not tread upon it
with my sandals. For my bread shall be made of the white barley, and
my ale shall be made from the red grain of the god Hapi (the
Nilegod), which the Sektet Boat and the Atett Boat shall bring
[unto me], and I will eat my food under the leaves of the trees
whose beautiful arms I myself do know. O what splendour shall the
White Crown make for me which shall be lifted up on me by the
Uraeigoddesses! O Doorkeeper of Seheteptaui, bring thou to me that
wherewith the cakes of propitiation are made. Grant thou to me that
I may lift up the earth. May the Spiritsouls open to me [their] arms,
and let the Company of the Gods hold their peace whilst the Hememet
spirits hold converse with the Osiris Ani. May the hearts of the
gods lead him in his exalted state into heaven among the gods who
appear in visible forms. If any god, or any goddess, attack the Osiris
Ani, whose word is truth, when he setteth out, the Ancestor of the
year who liveth upon hearts [Osiris] shall eat him when he cometh
forth from Abydos, and the Ancestors of Ra shall reckon with him,
and the Ancestors of Light shall reckon with him. [He is] a god of
splendour [arrayed in] the apparel of heaven, and he is among the
Great Gods. Now the subsistence of the Osiris Ani, whose word is
truth, is among the cakes and the ale which are made for your
mouths. I enter in by the Disk, I come forth by the god Ahui. I
shall hold converse with the Followers of the Gods. I shall hold
converse with the Disk. I shall hold converse with the
Hememetspirits. He shall set the terror of me in the thick
darkness, in the inside of the goddess Mehurt, by the side of his
forehead. Behold, I shall be with Osiris, and my perfection shall be
his perfection among the Great Gods. I shall speak unto him with the
words of men, I shall listen, and he shall repeat to me the words of
the gods. I, the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, in peace, have
come equipped. Thou makest to approach [thee] those who love thee. I
am a Spiritsoul who is better equipped than any [other] Spiritsoul.
THE CHAPTER OF MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO A SWALLOW.
The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, saith: I am a swallow, [I am] a
swallow. [I am] that Scorpion, the daughter of Ra. Hail, O ye gods
whose odour is sweet. Hail, O ye gods whose odour is sweet. Hail,
Flame, who comest forth from the horizon. Hail, thou who art in the
city. I have brought the Warder of his corner there. Give me thy two
hands, and let me pass my time in the Island of Flame. I have advanced
with a message, I have come having the report thereof [to make].
Open to me. How shall I tell that which I have seen there? I am like
Horus, the governor of the Boat, when the throne of his father was
given unto him, and when Set, that son of Nut, was [lying] under the
fetters which he had made for Osiris. He who is in Sekhem hath
inspected me. I stretch out my arms over Osiris. I have advanced for
the examination, I have come to speak there. Let me pass on and
deliver my message. I am he who goeth in, [I am] judged, [I] come
forth magnified at the Gate of Nebertcher. I am purified at the
Great Uart. I have done away my wickednesses. I have put away
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 46
Page No 49
utterly my offences. I have put away utterly all the taints of evil
which appertained to me [upon the earth]. I have purified myself, I
have made myself to be like a god. Hail, O ye Doorkeepers, I have
completed my journey. I am like unto you. I have come forth by day.
I have advanced on my legs. I have gained the master over [my]
footsteps. [Hail, ye] Spiritsouls! I, even I, do know the hidden
roads and the Gates of Sekhet Aaru. I live there. Verily, I, even I,
have come, I have overthrown my enemies upon the earth, although my
body lieth a mummy in the tomb.
APPENDIX
RUBRIC: (Naville, op. cit., II, Bl. 202)
If this Chapter be known by the deceased, he shall enter in after he
hath come forth by day.
RUBRIC: (Saite Recension)
If this Chapter be known by the deceased, he shall come forth by day
from KhertNeter, and he shall go [again] after he hath come forth. If
this Chapter be not known [by the deceased], he shall not go in
again after he hath come forth [and he] shall not know [how] to come
forth by day.
[THE CHAPTER] OF MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO A HAWK OF GOLD.
The Osiris Ani saith: I have risen up out of the seshett chamber,
like the golden hawk which cometh forth from his egg. I fly, I
alight like a hawk with a back of seven cubits, and the wings of which
are like unto the motherofemerald of the South. I have come forth
from the Sektet Boat, and my heart hath been brought unto me from
the mountain of the East. I have alighted on the Atet Boat, and
there have been brought unto me those who dwelt in their substance,
and they bowed in homage before me. I have risen, I have gathered
myself together like a beautiful golden hawk, with the head of the
Benu, and Ra hath entered in [to hear my speech]. I have taken my seat
among the great gods, [the children of] Nut. I have settled myself,
the Sekhethetepet (the Field of Offerings) is before me. I eat
therein, I become a Spiritsoul therein, I am supplied with food in
abundance therein, as much as I desire. The Graingod (Nepra) hath
given unto me food for my throat, and I am master over myself and over
the attributes of my head.
[THE CHAPTER OF] MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO A DIVINE HAWK.
The Osiris Ani saith: Hail, thou Great God, come thou to Tetu. Make
thou ready for me the ways, and let me go round [to visit] my thrones.
I have laboured. I have made myself perfect. O grant thou that I may
be held in fear. Create thou awe of me. Let the gods of the Tuat be
afraid of me, and let them fight for me in their halls. Permit not
thou to come nigh unto me him that would attack me, or would injure me
in the House of Darkness. Cover over the helpless one, hide him. Let
do likewise the gods who hearken unto the word [of truth], the Khepriu
gods who are in the following of Osiris. Hold ye your peace then, O ye
gods, whilst the God holdeth speech with me, he who listeneth to the
truth. I speak unto him my words. Osiris, grant thou that that which
cometh forth from thy mouth may circulate to me. Let me see thine
own Form. Let thy Souls envelop me. Grant thou that I may come
forth, and that I may be master of my legs, and let me live there like
Nebertcher upon his throne. Let the gods of the Tuat hold me in
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 47
Page No 50
fear, and let them fight for me in their halls. Grant thou that I
may move forward with him and with the Ariu gods, and let me be firmly
stablished on my pedestal like the Lord of Life. Let me be in the
company of Isis, the goddess, and let [the gods] keep me safe from him
that would do an injury unto me. Let none come to see the helpless
one. May I advance, and may I come to the Henti boundaries of the sky.
Let me address words to Keb, and let me make supplicaion to the god Hu
with Nebertcher. Let the gods of the Tuat be afraid of me, and let
them fight for me in their halls. Let them see that thou hast provided
me with food for the festival. I am one of those Spiritsouls who
dwell in the Lightgod. I have made my form in his Form, when he
cometh to Tetu. I am a Spiritbody among his Spiritbodies; he shall
speak unto thee the things [which concern] me. Would that he would
cause me to be held in fear! Would that he would create [in them]
awe of me! Let the gods of the Tuat be afraid of me, and let them
fight for me [in their halls]. I, even I, am a Spiritsoul, a
dweller in the Lightgod, whose form hath been created in divine
flesh. I am one of those Spiritsouls who dwell in the Lightgod,
who were created by Tem himself, and who exist in the blossoms of
his Eye. He hath made to exist, he hath made glorious, and he hath
magnified their faces during their existence with him. Behold, he is
Alone in Nu. They acclaim him when he cometh forth from the horizon,
and the gods and the Spiritsouls who have come into being with him
ascribe fear unto him.
I am one of the worms which have been created by the Eye of the Lord
One. And behold, when as yet Isis had not given birth to Horus, I
was flourishing, and I had waxed old, and had become preeminent among
the Spiritsouls who had come into being with him. I rose up like a
divine hawk, and Horus endowed me with a Spiritbody with his soul, so
that [I] might take possession of the property of Osiris in the
Tuat. He shall say to the twin Liongods for me, the Chief of the
House of the Nemes Crown, the Dweller in his cavern: Get thee back
to the heights of heaven, for behold, inasmuch as thou art a
Spiritbody with the creations of Horus, the Nemes Crown shall not
be to thee: [but] thou shalt have speech even to the uttermost
limits of the heavens. I, the warder, took possession of the
property of Horus [which belonged] to Osiris in the Tuat, and Horus
repeated to me what his father Osiris had said unto him in the years
[past], on the days of his burial. Give thou to me the Nemes Crown,
say the twin Liongods for me. Advance thou, come along the road of
heaven, and look upon those who dwell in the uttermost limits of the
horizon. The gods of the Tuat shall hold thee in fear, and they
shall fight for thee in their halls. The god Auhet belongeth to
them. All the gods who guard the shrine of the Lord One are smitten
with terror at [my] words.
Hail, saith the god who is exalted upon his coffer to me! He hath
bound on the Nemes Crown, [by] the decree of the twin Liongods. The
god Aahet hath made a way for me. I am exalted [on the coffer], the
twin Liongods have bound the Nemes Crown on me and my two locks of
hair are given unto me. He hath stablished for me my heart by his
own flesh, and by his great, twofold strength, and I shall not fall
headlong before Shu. I am Hetep, the Lord of the two Uraeigoddesses
who are to be adored. I know the Lightgod, his winds are in my
body. The Bull which striketh terror [into souls] shall not repulse
me. I come daily into the House of the twin Liongods. I come forth
therefrom into the House of Isis. I look upon the holy things which
are hidden. I see the being who is therein. I speak to the great
ones of Shu, they repulse him that is wrathful in his hour. I am Horus
who dwelleth in his divine Light. I am master of his crown. I am
master of his radiance. I advance towards the Henti boundaries of
heaven. Horus is upon his seat. Horus is upon his thrones. My face
is like that of a divine hawk. I am one who is equipped [like] his
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 48
Page No 51
lord. I shall come forth to Tetu. I shall see Osiris. I shall live
in his actual presence.... Nut. They shall see me. I shall see the
gods [and] the Eye of Horus burning with fire before my eyes. They
shall reach out their hands to me. I shall stand up. I shall be master
of him that would subject me to restraint. They shall open the holy
paths to me, they shall see my form, they shall listen to my words.
[Homage] to you, O ye gods of the Tuat, whose faces are turned back,
whose powers advance, conduct ye me to the Stargods which never rest.
Prepare ye for me the holy ways to the Hemat house, and to your god,
the Soul, who is the mighty one of terror. Horus hath commanded me
to lift up your faces; do ye look upon me. I have risen up like a
divine hawk. Horus hath made me to be a Spiritbody by means of his
Soul, and to take possession of the things of Osiris in the Tuat. Make
ye for me a path. I have travelled and I have arrived at those who are
chiefs of their caverns, and who are guardians of the House of Osiris.
I speak unto them his mighty deeds. I made them to know concerning his
victories. He is ready [to butt with his] two horns at Set. They
know him who hath taken possession of the god Hu, and who hath taken
possession of the Powers of Tem.
Travel thou on thy way safely, cry out the gods of the Tuat to me. O
ye who make your names preeminent, who are chiefs in your shrines,
and who are guardians of the House of Osiris, grant, I pray you,
that I may come to you. I have bound up and I have gathered together
your Powers. I have directed the Powers of the ways, the wardens of
the horizon, and of the Hemat House of heaven. I have stablished their
fortresses for Osiris. I have prepared the ways for him. I have
performed the things which [he] hath commanded. I come forth to
Tetu. I see Osiris. I speak to him concerning the matter of his
Great Son, whom he loveth, and concerning [the smiting of] the heart
of Set. I look upon the lord who was helpless. How shall I make them
to know the plans of the gods, and that which Horus did without the
knowledge of his father Osiris?
Hail, Lord, thou Soul, most awful and terrible, behold me. I have
come, I make thee to be exalted! I have forced a way though the
Tuat. I have opened the roads which appertain to heaven, and those
which appertain to the earth, and no one hath opposed me therein. I
have exalted thy face, O Lord of Eternity.
APPENDIX
(In the Papyrus of Nu, Sheet 14, the Chapter ends with the
following.)
Exalted art thou on thy throne, O Osiris! Thou hast heard fair
things, O Osiris! Thy strength is vigorous, O Osiris! Thy head is
fastened on thy body, O Osiris! Thy neck is made firm, O Osiris! Thy
heart is glad, [O Osiris!]. Thy speech is made effective, O Osiris!
Thy princes rejoice Thou art established the Bull in Amentet. Thy
son Horus hath ascended thy trrone, and all life is with him. Millions
of years minister unto him, and millions of years hold him in fear.
The Company of the Gods are his servants, and they fold him in fear.
The god Tem, the Governor, the only One among the gods, hath spoken,
and his word passeth not away. Horus is both the divine food and the
sacrifice. He made haste to gather together [the members of] of his
father. Horus is his deliverer. Horus is his deliverer. Horus hath
sprung from the essence of his divine father and from his decay. He
hath become the Governor of Egypt. The gods shall work for him, and
they shall toil for him for million of years. He shall make millions
of years to live through his Eye, the only one of its lord,
Nebertcher.]
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 49
Page No 52
(From the Turin Papyrus, Bl. XXX)
Exalted is thy throne, O Osiris. Thou hearest well, O Osiris. Thy
strength flourisheth, O Osiris. I have fastened thy head [on thy] body
for thee. I have stablished thy throat, the throne of the joy of thy
heart. Thy words are stable. Thy shenit princes are glad. Thou art
stablished as the Bull of Amentet. Thy son Horus hath ascended thy
throne. All life is with him. Millions of years work for him. The
Company of the Gods fear him. Tem, the One Power of the Gods, hath
spoken, and what he hath said is not changed, Hetu Aabi. Horus hath
stood up. I have gone about collecting his father. Horus hath
delivered his father. Horus hath delivered [his mother]. My mother
is Horus. My brother is Horus. My uncle is Horus. I have come. Horus
followeth his father.... there the dirt of his head. The gods shall
serve him. Millions of years...... in his Eye, the Only One of its
Lord, Nebertcher.
THE CHAPTER OF BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE PRINCE OF THE TCHATCHAU CHIEFS.
The Osiris Nu, whose word is truth, saith: I am the god
Tem, the maker of the sky, the creator of the things which are, who
cometh forth from the earth, who made the seed of man to come into
being, the Lord of things, who fashioned the gods, the Great God,
who created himself, the Lord of Life, who made to flourish the Two
Companies of the Gods. Homage to you, O ye divine Lords of things,
ye holy beings, whose seats are veiled! Homage to you, O ye Lords of
Eternity, whose forms are concealed, whose sanctuaries are
mysteries, whose places of abode are not known! Homage to you, O ye
gods, who dwell in the Tenait (Circle of Light)! Homage to you, O ye
gods of the Circle of the country of the Cataracts! Homage to you, O
ye gods who dwell in Amentet! Homage to you, O ye gods who dwell
within Nut! Grant ye to me that I may come before you, I am pure, I am
like a god. I am endowed with a Spiritsoul. I am strong. I am endowed
with a Heartsoul. I bring unto you incense, and spice, and natron.
I have done away with the chidings of your mouths. I have come, I have
done away the evil which was in your hearts, and I have removed the
offences which appertained to you [against me]. I bring to you deeds
of welldoing, and I present before you truth. I know you. I know your
names. I know your forms which are not known. I come into being
among you. My coming is like unto that god who eateth men, and who
feedeth upon the gods. I am strong before you even like that god who
is exalted upon his pedestal, unto whom the gods come with
rejoicing, and the goddesses make supplication when they see me. I
have come unto you. I have ascended my throne like your Two Daughters.
I have taken my seat in the horizon. I receive my offerings of
propitiation upon my altars. I drink my fill of seth wine every
evening. I come to those who are making rejoicings, and the gods who
live in the horizon ascribe unto me praises, as the divine
Spiritbody, the Lord of mortals. I am exalted like that holy god
who dwelleth in the Great House. The gods rejoice greatly when they
see my beautiful appearances from the body of the goddess Nut, and
when the goddess Nut bringeth me forth.
[THE CHAPTER OF] MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO THE SERPENT SATA.
The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, saith: I am the serpent Sata
whose years are infinite. I lie down dead. I am born daily. I am the
serpent Saenta, the dweller in the uttermost parts of the earth. I
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 50
Page No 53
lie down in death. I am born, I become new, I renew my youth every
day.
[THE CHAPTER OF] MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO THE CROCODILEGOD.
The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, saith: I am the Crocodilegod
(Sebak) who dwelleth amid his terrors. I am the Crocodilegod and I
seize [my prey] like a ravening beast. I am the great Fish which is in
Kamui. I am the Lord to whom bowings and prostrations are made in
Sekhem. And the Osiris Ani is the lord to whom bowings and
prostrations are made in Sekhem.
(From the Papyrus of Nebseni)
Behold, I am the dweller in his terrors, I am the crocodile, his
firstborn. I bring (prey) from a distance. I am the Fish of Horus, the
Great One in Kamui. I am the lord of bowings in Sekhem.
THE CHAPTER OF MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO PTAH.
The Osiris Ani [whose word is truth, saith]: I eat bread. I drink ale. I gird up
my garments. I fly like a hawk. I cackle like the Smen goose. I alight
upon that place hard by the Sepulchre on the festival of the Great
God. That which is abominable, that which is abominable I will not
eat. [An abominable thing] is filth, I will not eat thereof. That
which is an abomination unto my KA shall not enter my body. I will
live upon that whereon live the gods and the Spiritsouls. I shall
live, and I shall be master of their cakes. I am master of them, and I
shall eat them under the trees of the dweller in the House of
Hathor, my Lady. I will make an offering. My cakes are in Tetu, my
offerings are in Anu. I gird about myself the robe which is woven
for me by the goddess Tait. I shall stand up and sit down in
whatsoever place it pleaseth me to do so. My head is like unto that of
Ra. I am gathered together like Tem.
Here offer the four cakes of Ra, and the offerings of the earth.
I shall come forth. My tongue is like that of Ptah, and my throat is
like unto that of Hathor, and I remember the words of Tem, of my
father, with my mouth. He forced the woman, the wife of Keb,
breaking the heads near him; therefore was the fear of him there.
[His] praises are repeated with vigour. I am decreed to be the Heir,
the lord of the earth of Keb. I have union with women. Keb hath
refreshed me, and he hath caused me to ascend his throne. Those who
dwell in Anu bow their heads to me. I am [their] Bull, I am stronger
than [the Lord] of the hour. I unite with women. I am master for
millions of years.
[THE CHAPTER OF] MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO THE SOUL OF TEM.
The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, saith: I shall not enter into the
place of destruction, I shall not perish, I shall not know [decay].
I am Ra, who came forth from Nu, the Soul of the God who created his
own members. What I abominate is sin; I will not look thereon. I cry
not out against truth, nay, I live therein. I am the god Hu, the
imperishable god, in my name of "Soul." I have created myself with Nu,
in the name of "Khepera." I exist in them like Ra. I am the Lord of
Light.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 51
Page No 54
APPENDIX
(From the Papyrus of Nu)
That which is an abomination unto me is death; let me not go into
the chamber of torture which is in the Tuat. I am the delight of the
Khu of Osiris. I make to be content the heart[s] of those who dwell
among the divine things which are beloved [by me]. They cause the fear
of me [to abound], they create the awe of me to be in those divine
beings who dwell in their own circles. Behold, I am exalted on my
own standard, and upon my throne, and upon my seat which is assigned
[to me]. I am the god Nu, and those who commit sin shall not destroy
me. I am the firstborn of the primeval god, and my soul is the Souls
of the Eternal Gods, and my body is Everlastingness. My created form
is [that of] the god Eternity, the Lord of Years, and the Prince of
Everlastingness. I am the Creator of the Darkness, who maketh his seat
in the uttermost limits of the heavens, [which] I love. I arrive at
their boundaries. I advance upon my two legs. I direct my resting
place. I sail over the sky. I fetter and destroy the hidden serpents
which are about my footsteps [in going to] the Lord of the Two Arms.
My soul is the Souls of the Eternal Gods, and my body is
Everlastingness. I am the exalted one, the Lord of the Land of Tebu. I
am the Child in the city: "Young man in the country" is my name.
"Imperishable one" is my name. I am the Soul Creator of Nu. I make
my habitation in KhertNeter. My nest is invisible, my egg is not
broken. I have done away the evil which is in me. I shall see my
Father, the Lord of the Evening. His body dwelleth in Anu. I am made
to be the Lightgod, a dweller in the Lightgod, over the Western
Domain of the Hebt bird.
[THE CHAPTER OF] MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO THE BENU BIRD.
The Osiris, the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, saith: I flew up out
of primeval matter. I came into being like the god Khepera. I
germinated like the plants. I am concealed like the tortoise [in his
shell]. I am the seed of every god. I am Yesterday of the Four
[Quarters of the Earth, and] the Seven Uraei, who came into being in
the Eastern land. [I am] the Great One (Horus) who illumineth the
Hememet spirits with the light of his body. [I am] that god in respect
of Set. [I am] Thoth who [stood] between them (Horus and Set) as the
judge on behalf of the Governor of Sekhem and the Souls of Anu. [He
was like] a stream between them. I have come. I rise up on my
throne. I am endowed with Khu. I am mighty. I am endowed with
godhood among the gods. I am Khensu, [the lord] of every kind of
strength.
RUBRIC: [If] this Chapter [be known by the deceased], he shall
come forth pure by day after his death, and he shall perform every
transformation which hs soul desireth to make. He shall be among the
Followers of UnNefer, and he shall satisfy himself with the food of
Osiris, and with sepulchral meals. He shall see the Disk [of the Sun],
he shall be in good case upon earth before Ra, and his word shall be
truth in the sight of Osiris, and no evil thing whatsoever shall
have dominion over him for ever and ever.
[THE CHAPTER OF] MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO A HERON.
The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, saith: I am the master of
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 52
Page No 55
beasts brought for sacrifice, [and] of the knives which are [held]
at their heads [and] their beards; those who dwell in their emerald
[fields], the Aged Gods, and the Spiritsouls, are ready at the moment
for the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, in peace. He maketh slaughter
on the earth, and I make slaughter on the earth. I am strong. I follow
the heights unto heaven. I have made myself pure. I walk with long
strides to my city. I have become an owner of land there. I advance to
Sepu...... is given to me in Unu. I have set the gods upon their
roads. I have made splendid the houses and towns of those who are in
their shrines. I know the stream of Nut. I know Tatun. I know Teshert.
I have brought along their horns. I know Heka. I have hearkened to
this words. I am the Red Bullcalf which is marked with markings.
The gods shall say when they hear [of me]: Uncover your faces. His
coming is to me. There is light which ye know not. Times and seasons
are in my body. I do not speak [lies] in the place of truth, daily.
The truth is hidden on the eyebrows. [By] night [I] sail up the
river to keep the feast of him that is dead, to embrace the Aged
God, and to guard the earth, I the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth.
APPENDIX
(From the Saite Recension)
RUBRIC: If this Chapter be known [by the deceased], he will live
like a perfect Spiritsoul in KhertNeter; no evil thing whatsoever
shall overthrow him.
[THE CHAPTER OF] MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO THE LOTUS.
The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, saith: I am the holy lotus that
cometh forth from the light which belongeth to the nostrils of Ra, and
which belongeth to the head of Hathor. I have made my way, and I
seek after him, that is to say, Horus. I am the pure lotus that cometh
forth from the field [of Ra].
APPENDIX
(Naville, op. cit., I, Bl. XCIII)
Chapter of making the transformation into a lotus. The Osiris, the
lady of of the house, Aui, whose word is truth, in peace, saith:
Hail, thou Lotus, thou type of the god NeferTemu! I am the man who
knoweth your names. I know your names among the gods, the lords of
KhertNeter. I am one among you. Grant ye that I may see the gods
who are the Guides of the Tuat. Grant ye to me a seat in
KhertNeter, near the Lords of Amentet. Assign to me a habitation in
the land of Tchesert. Receive ye me in the presence of the Lords of
Eternity. Let my soul come forth in whatsoever place it pleaseth.
Let it not be rejected in the presence of the Great Company of the
Gods.
[THE CHAPTER OF] MAKING THE TRANSFORMATION INTO THE GOD WHO LIGHTENETH
THE DARKNESS.
The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is
truth, saith: I am the girdle of the garment of the god Nu, which
giveth light, and shineth, and belongeth to his breast, the
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 53
Page No 56
illuminer of the darkness, the uniter of the two Rehti deities, the
dweller in my body, through the great spell of the words of my
mouth. I rise up, but he who was coming after me hath fallen. He who
was with him in the Valley of Abtu hath fallen. I rest. I remember
him. The god Hu hath taken possession of me in my town. I found him
there. I have carried away the darkness by my strength, I have
filled the Eye [of Ra] when it was helpless, and when it came not on
the festival of the fifteenth day. I have weighed Sut in the celestial
houses against the Aged One who was with him. I have equipped Thoth in
the House of the Moongod, when the fifteenth day of the festival come
not. I have taken possession of the Urrt Crown. Truth is in my body;
turquoise and crystal are its months. My homestead is there among
the lapislazuli, among the furrows thereof. I am HemNu, the
lightener of the darkness. I have come to lighten the darkness; it
is light. I have lightened the darkness. I have overthrown the
ashmiufiends. I have sung hymns to those who dwell in the darkness. I
have made to stand up the weeping ones, whose faces were covered over;
they were in a helpless state of misery. Look ye then upon me. I am
HemNu. I will not let you hear concerning it. [I have fought. I am
HemNu. I have lightened the darkness. I have come. I have made an end
to the darkness which hath become light indeed.]
THE CHAPTER OF NOT DYING A SECOND TIME.
The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, saith: Hail, Thoth! What is it
that hath happened to the children of Nut? They have waged war, they
have upheld strife, they have done evil, they have created the fiends,
they have made slaughter, they have caused trouble; in truth, in all their
doings the strong have worked against the weak. Grant, O might of Thoth,
that that which the god Tem hath decreed [may be done!] And thou
regardest not evil, nor art thou provoked to anger when they bring
their years to confusion, and throng in and push in to disturb their
months. For in all that they have done unto thee they have worked
iniquity in secret. I am they writingpalette, O Thoth, and I have
brought unto thee thine inkjar. I am not of those who work iniquity
in their secret places; let not evil happen unto me.
The Osiris, the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, saith: Hail, Temu!
What manner of land is this unto which I have come? It hath not water,
it hath not air; it is depth unfathomable, it is black as the blackest
night, and men wander helplessly therein. In it a man cannot live in
quietness of heart; nor may the longings of love be satisfied therein.
But let the state of the Spiritsouls be given unto me instead of
water and air, and the satisfying of the longings of love, and let
quietness of heart be given unto me instead of cakes and ale. The
god Tem hath decreed that I shall see thy face, and that I shall not
suffer from the things which pain thee. May every god transmit unto
thee his throne for millions of years. Thy throne hath descended
unto thy son Horus, and the god Tem hath decreed that thy course shall
be among the holy princes. In truth he shall rule from thy throne, and
he shall be heir to the throne of the Dweller in the fiery Lake
[Neserser]. In truth it hath been decreed that in me he shall see
his likeness, and that my face shall look upon the face of the Lord
Tem. How long then have I to live? It is decreed that thou shalt
live for millions of years, a life of millions of years. Let it be
granted to me to pass on to the holy princes, for indeed, I have
done away all the evil which I committed, from the time when this
earth came into being from Nu, when it sprang from the watery abyss
even as it was in the days of old. I am Fate and Osiris, I have made
my transformations into the likeness of divers serpents. Man knoweth
not, and the gods cannot behold the twofold beauty which I have
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 54
Page No 57
made for Osiris, the greatest of the gods. I have given unto him the
region of the dead. And, verily, his son Horus is seated upon the
throne of the Dweller in the fiery Lake [of Neserser], as his heir.
I have made him to have his throne in the Boat of Millions of Years.
Horus is stablished upon his throne [among his] kinsmen, and he hath
all that is with him. Verily, the Soul of Set, which is greater than
all the gods, hath departed. Let it be granted to me to bind his
soul in fetter in the Boat of the God, when I please, and let him hold
the Body of the God in fear. O my father Osiris, thou hast done for me
that which thy father Ra did for thee. Let me abide upon the earth
permanently. Let me keep possession of my throne. Let my heir be
strong. Let my tomb, and my friends who are upon the earth,
flourish. Let my enemies be given over to destruction, and to the
shackles of the goddess Serq. I am thy son. Ra is my father. On me
likewise thou hast conferred life, strength, and health. Horus is
established upon his tomb. Grant thou that the days of my life may
come unto worship and honour.
APPENDIX
(From the Leyden Papyrus of Ra)
RUBRIC: This Chapter shall be recited over a figure of Horus, made
of lapislazuli, which shall be placed on the neck of the deceased. It
is a protection upon earth, and it will secure for the deceased the
affection of men, gods, and the Spiritsouls which are perfect.
Moreover it acteth as a spell in KhertNeter, but it must be recited
by thee on behalf of the Osiris Ra, regularly and continually millions
of times.
[THE CHAPTER OF] ENTERING INTO THE HALL OF MAATI TO PRAISE OSIRIS
KHENTIAMENTI.
The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, saith:
I have come unto thee. I have drawn nigh to behold thy beauties (thy
beneficient goodness). My hands are [extended] in adoration of thy
name of "Maat." I have come. I have drawn nigh unto [the place
where] the cedartree existeth not, where the acacia tree doth not put
forth shoots, and where the ground produceth neither grass nor
herbs. Now I have entered into the habitation which is hidden, and I
hold converse with Set. My protector advanced to me, covered was his
face.... on the hidden things. He entered into the house of Osiris, he
saw the hidden things which were therein. The Tchatchau Chiefs of
the Pylons were in the form of Spirits. The god Anpu spake unto
those about him with the words of a man who cometh from Tamera,
saying, "He knoweth our roads and our towns. I am reconciled unto him.
When I smell his odour it is even as the odour of one of you." And I
say unto him: I the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, in peace, whose
word is truth, have come. I have drawn nigh to behold the Great
Gods. I would live upon the propitiatory offerings [made] to their
Doubles. I would live on the borders [of the territory of] the Soul,
the Lord of Tetu. He shall make me to come forth in the form of a Benu
bird, and to hold converse [with him.] I have been in the stream [to
purify myself]. I have made offerings of incense. I betook myself to
the Acacia Tree of the [divine] Children. I lived in Abu in the
House of the goddess Satet. I made to sink in the water the boat of
the enemies. I sailed over the lake [in the temple] in the Neshmet
Boat. I have looked upon the Sahu of Kamur. I have been in Tetu. I
have held my peace. I have made the god to be master of his legs. I
have been in the House of Teptuf. I have seen him, that is the
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 55
Page No 58
Governor of the Hall of the God. I have entered into the House of
Osiris and I have removed the headcoverings of him that is therein. I
have entered into Rasta, and I have seen the Hidden One who is
therein. I was hidden, but I found the boundary. I journeyed to
Nerutef, and he who was therein covered me with a garment. I have
myrrh of women, together with the shenu powder of living folk.
Verily he (Osiris) told me the things which concerned himself. I said:
Let thy weighing of me be even as we desire.
And the Majesty of Anpu shall say unto me, "Knowest thou the name of
this door, and canst thou tell it?" And the Osiris the scribe Ani,
whose word is truth, in peace, whose word is truth, shall say,
"KhersekShu" is the name of this door. And the Majesty of the god
Anpu shall say unto me, "Knowest thou the name of the upper leaf,
and the name of the lower leaf?" [And the Osiris the scribe Ani] shall
say: "NebMaatheriretiuf" is the name of the upper leaf and
"Nebpehtithesumenment" [is the name of the lower leaf. And the
Majesty of the god Anpu shall say], "Pass on, for thou hast knowledge,
O Osiris the scribe, the assessor of the holy offerings of all the
gods of Thebes Ani, whose word is truth, the lord of loyal service [to
Osiris]."
APPENDIX
(From the Papyrus of Nu, Brit. Mus. No. 10477, Sheet 22)
[THE FOLLOWING] WORDS SHALL BE SAID BY THE STEWARD OF THE KEEPER
OF THE SEAL, NU, WHOSE WORD IS TRUTH, WHEN HE COMETH FORTH TO THE HALL
OF MAATI, SO THAT HE MAY BE SEPARATED FROM EVERY SIN WHICH HE HATH
COMMITTED, AND MAY BEHOLD THE FACES OF THE GODS. The Osiris Nu,
whose word is truth, saith: Homage to thee, O great God, Lord of
Maati! I have come unto thee, O my Lord, and I have brought myself
hither that I may behold thy beauties. I know thee, I know thy name, I
know the names of the Fortytwo Gods who live with thee in this Hall
of Maati, who live by keeping ward over sinners, and who feed upon
their blood on the day when the consciences of men are reckoned up
in the presence of the god UnNefer. In truth thy name is
"RehtiMertiNebtiMaati." In truth I have come unto thee, I have
brought Maati (Truth) to thee. I have done away sin for thee. I have
not committed sins against men. I have not opposed my family and
kinsfolk. I have not acted fraudulently in the Seat of Truth. I have
not known men who were of no account. I have not wrought evil. I
have not made it to be the first [consideration daily that
unnecessary] work should be done for me. I have not brought forward my
name for dignities. I have not [attempted] to direct servants [I
have not belittled God]. I have not defrauded the humble man of his
property. I have not done what the gods abominate. I have not vilified
a slave to his master. I have not inflicted pain. I have not caused
anyone to go hungry. I have not made any man to weep. I have not
committed murder. I have not given the order for murder to be
committed. I have not caused calamities to befall men and women. I
have not plundered the offerings in the temples. I have not
defrauded the gods of their cakeofferings. I have not carried off the
fenkhu cakes [offered to] the Spirits. I have not committed
fornication. I have not masturbated [in the sanctuaries of the god
of my city]. I have not diminished from the bushel. I have not filched
[land from my neighbour's estate and] added it to my own acre. I
have not encroached upon the fields [of others]. I have not added to
the weights of the scales. I have not depressed the pointer of the
balance. I have not carried away the milk from the mouths of children.
I have not driven the cattle away from their pastures. I have not
snared the geese in the goosepens of the gods. I have not caught fish
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 56
Page No 59
with bait made of the bodies of the same kind of fish. I have not
stopped water when it should flow. I have not made a cutting in a
canal of running water. I have not extinguished a fire when it
should burn. I have not violated the times [of offering] the chosen
meat offerings. I have not driven away the cattle on the estates of
the gods. I have not turned back the god at his appearances. I am
pure. I am pure. I am pure. My pure offerings are the pure offerings
of that great Benu which dwelleth in Hensu. For behold, I am the
nose of Nebnefu (the lord of the air), who giveth sustenance unto all
mankind, on the day of the filling of the Utchat in Anu, in the second
month of the season Pert, on the last of the month, [in the presence
of the Lord of this earth]. I have seen the filling of the Utchat in
Anu, therefore let not calamity befall me in this land, or in this
Hall of Maati, because I know the names of the gods who are therein,
[and who are the followers of the Great God].
THE NEGATIVE CONFESSION
Hail, Usekhnemmt, who comest forth from Anu, I have not committed
sin.
Hail, Heptkhet, who comest forth from Kheraha, I have not
committed robbery with violence.
Hail, Fenti, who comest forth from Khemenu, I have not stolen.
Hail, Amkhaibit, who comest forth from Qernet, I have not slain men
and women.
Hail, Nehaher, who comest forth from Rasta, I have not stolen
grain.
Hail, Ruruti, who comest forth from heaven, I have not purloined
offerings.
Hail, Arfiemkhet, who comest forth from Suat, I have not stolen
the property of God.
Hail, Neba, who comest and goest, I have not uttered lies.
Hail, Setqesu, who comest forth from Hensu, I have not carried away
food.
Hail, Utunesert, who comest forth from HetkaPtah, I have not
uttered curses.
Hail, Qerrti, who comest forth from Amentet, I have not committed
adultery, I have not lain with men.
Hail, Herfhaf, who comest forth from thy cavern, I have made none
to weep.
Hail, Basti, who comest forth from Bast, I have not eaten the heart.
Hail, Taretiu, who comest forth from the night, I have not attacked
any man.
Hail, Unemsnef, who comest forth from the execution chamber, I am
not a man of deceit.
Hail, Unembesek, who comest forth from Mabit, I have not stolen
cultivated land.
Hail, NebMaat, who comest forth from Maati, I have not been an
eavesdropper.
Hail, Tenemiu, who comest forth from Bast, I have not slandered
[no man].
Hail, Sertiu, who comest forth from Anu, I have not been angry
without just cause.
Hail, Tutu, who comest forth from Ati (the Busirite Nome), I have
not debauched the wife of any man.
Hail, Uamenti, who comest forth from the Khebt chamber, I have not
debauched the wife of [any] man.
Hail, Maaantuf, who comest forth from PerMenu, I have not polluted
myself.
Hail, Heruru, who comest forth from Nehatu, I have terrorized none.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 57
Page No 60
Hail, Khemiu, who comest forth from Kaui, I have not transgressed
[the law].
Hail, Shetkheru, who comest forth from Urit, I have not been wroth.
Hail, Nekhenu, who comest forth from Heqat, I have not shut my
ears to the words of truth.
Hail, Kenemti, who comest forth from Kenmet, I have not blasphemed.
Hail, Anhetepf, who comest forth from Sau, I am not a man of
violence.
Hail, Serakheru, who comest forth from Unaset, I have not been a
stirrer up of strife.
Hail, Nebheru, who comest forth from Netchfet, I have not acted
with undue haste.
Hail, Sekhriu, who comest forth from Uten, I have not pried into
matters.
Hail, Nebabui, who comest forth from Sauti, I have not multiplied
my words in speaking.
Hail, NeferTem, who comest forth from HetkaPtah, I have wronged
none, I have done no evil.
Hail, TemSepu, who comest forth from Tetu, I have not worked
witchcraft against the king.
Hail, Ariemabf, who comest forth from Tebu, I have never
stopped [the flow of] water.
Hail, Ahi, who comest forth from Nu, I have never raised my voice.
Hail, Uatchrekhit, who comest forth from Sau, I have not cursed
God.
Hail, Nehebka, who comest forth from thy cavern, I have not acted
with arrogance.
Hail, Nehebnefert, who comest forth from thy cavern, I have not
stolen the bread of the gods.
Hail, Tchesertep, who comest forth from the shrine, I have not
carried away the khenfu cakes from the Spirits of the dead.
Hail, Anaf, who comest forth from Maati, I have not snatched away
the bread of the child, nor treated with contempt the god of my city.
Hail, Hetchabhu, who comest forth from Tashe (the Fayyum), I
have not slain the cattle belonging to the god.
APPENDIX
(From the Papyrus of Nebseni)
Hail, Usekhnemmt, who comest forth from Anu, I have not committed
sin.
Hail, HeptShet, who comest forth from Kheraha, I have not robbed
with violence.
Hail, Fenti, who comest forth from Khemenu, I have done no violence.
Hail, Amkhaibitu, who comest forth from Qerrt, I have not stolen.
Hail, Nehahau, who comest forth from Rasta, I have not slain men.
Hail, Ruruti, who comest forth from heaven, I have not made light
the bushel.
Hail, Artifemtes, who comest forth from Sekhem, I have not
acted deceitfully.
Hail, Neba, who comest and goest, I have not stolen the property
of the god.
Hail, Setqesu, who comest forth from Hensu, I have not told lies.
Hail, Uatchnesert, who comest forth from HetkaPtah, I have not
carried away food.
Hail, Qerti, who comest forth from Amenti, I have not uttered evil
words.
Hail, Hetchabhu, who comest from Tashe, I have attacked no man.
Hail, Unemsnef, who comest forth from the execution chamber, I have
not salin a bull which was the property of the god.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 58
Page No 61
Hail, Unembesku, who comest [forth from the Mabet chamber], I
have not acted deceitfully.
Hail, Nebmaat, who comest forth from Maati, I have not pillaged the
lands which have been ploughed.
Hail, Thenemi, who comest forth from Bast, I have never pried into
matters [to make mischief].
Hail, Aati, who comest forth from Anu, I have not set my mouth in
motion.
Hail, Tutuf, who comest from from A, I have not been wroth except
with reason.
Hail, Uamemti, who comest forth from the execution chamber, I have
not debauched the wife of a man.
Hail, Maaanuf, who comest forth from PerMenu, I ahve not
polluted myself.
Hail, Heriuru, who comest forth from [Nehatu], I have terrorized no
man.
Hail, Khemi, who comest forth from Ahaui, I have not made attacks.
Hail, Shetkheru, who comest forth from Uri, I have not been a man
of anger.
Hail, Nekhem, who comest forth from Heqat, I have not turned a deaf
ear to the words of truth.
Hail, SerKheru, who comest forth from Unes, I have not stirred up
strife.
Hail, Basti, who comest forth from Shetait, I have made none to
weep.
Hail, Herfhaf, who comest forth from thy cavern, I have not
committed acts of sexual impurity, or lain with men.
Hail, Taret, who comest forth from Akhkhu, I have not eaten my
heart.
Hail, Kenmti, who comest forth from Kenmet, I have cursed no man.
Hail, Anhetepf, who comest forth from Sau, I have not acted in a
violent or oppressive manner.
Hail, Nebheru, who comest forth from Tchefet, I have not acted
[or judged] hastily.
Hail, Serekhi, who comest forth from Unth, I have not.... my hair, I
have not harmed the god.
Hail, Nebabui, who comest forth from Sauti, I have not multiplied
my speech overmuch.
Hail, NeferTem, who comest forth from HetkaPtah, I have not acted
with deciet, I have not worked wickedness.
Hail, TemSep, who comest forth from Tetu, I have not done things to
effect the cursing of [the king].
Hail, Ariemabf, who comest forth from Tebti, I have not stopped
the flow of water.
Hail, Ahimu, who comest forth from Nu, I have not raised my voice.
Hail, Uturekhit, who comest forth from thy house, I have not
curse God.
Hail, NehebNefert, who comest forth from the Lake of Nefer, I
have not acted with insufferable insolence.
Hail, Nehebkau, who comest forth from [thy] city, I have not sought
to make myself unduly distinguished.
Hail, Tchesertep, who comest forth from thy cavern, I have not
increased my wealth except through such things are [justly] my own
possessions.
Hail, Anaf, who comest forth from Auker, I have not scorned [or
treated with contempt] the god of my town.
ADDRESS TO THE GODS OF THE TUAT
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 59
Page No 62
(From the Papyrus of Nu, Brit. Mus. No. 10477, Sheet 24)
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE WORDS WHICH THE HEART OF TRUTH THAT IS SINLESS
SHALL SAY WHEN HE COMETH WITH THE WORD OF TRUTH INTO THE HALL OF
MAATI; THEY SHALL BE SAID WHEN HE COMETH TO THE GODS WHO DWELL IN
THE TUAT; AND THEY ARE THE WORDS WHICH ARE [TO BE SAID] AFTER [HE
COMETH FORTH FROM] THE HALL OF MAATI.
Nu, the steward of the keeper of the seal, whose word is truth,
saith: Homage to you, O ye gods who dwell in your Hall of Maati! I
know you, I know your names. Let me not fall under your knives of
slaughter, and bring ye not forward my wickedness to this god in whose
following ye are. Let not evil hap come upon me through you. Speak
ye the truth concerning me in the presence of Nebertcher, for I have
done what is right and just in TaMera. I have not cursed the god, and
my evil hap did not come upon him that was king in his day.
Homage to you, O ye who dwell in your Hall of Maati, who have
nothing false in your bodies, who live upon Truth, who feed yourselves
upon Truth in the presence of Horus who dwelleth in his Disk,
deliver ye me from Beba, who feedeth upon the livers of the great ones
on the day of the Great Judgment. Grant ye that I may come before you,
for I have not committed sin, I have done no act of deceit, I have
done no evil thing, and I have not borne [false] witness; therefore
let nothing [evil] be done to me. I have lived upon truth, I have
fed upon truth, I have performed the ordinances of men, and the things
which gratify the gods. I have propitiated the god by doing his
will, I have given bread to the hungry man, and water to him that
was athirst, and apparel to the naked man, and a ferryboat to him
that had no boat. I have made propitiatory offerings and given cakes
to the gods, and the "things which appear at the word" to the Spirits.
Deliver then ye me, protect then ye me, and make ye no report
against me in the presence [of the Great God]. I am pure in respect of
my mouth, and I am clean in respect of my hands, therefore let it be
said unto me by those who shall behold me: "Come in peace, Come in
peace." For I have heard that great word which the Sahu spake to the
CAT, in the House of Haptra. I have borne witness to Herfhaf,
and he hath given a decision [concerning me]. I have seen the things
over which the Persea tree which is in Rasta, spreadeth its
branches. I have made petitions to the gods, [and I] know the things
[which appertain to] their bodies. I have come, travelling a long
road, to bear righteous testimony, and to set the Balance upon its
supports within Aukert.
Hail, thou who art exalted high upon thy standard, thou Lord of
the Atef Crown, who dost make thy name to be "Lord of the Winds,"
deliver thou me from thy divine Envoys who punish and afflict
according to [thy] decrees, and who make calamities to arise, and
whose faces are without coverings, for I have done what is right and
true for the Lord of Truth. I am pure. My breast is purified by
libations, and my hinder parts are made clean with the things which
make clean, and my inner parts have been dipped in the Lake of
Truth. There is no single member of mine which lacketh truth. I have
washed myself clean in the Lake of the South. I have rested myself
in the City of the North, which is in Sekhet Sanhemu (the Field of the
Grasshoppers), where the mariners of Ra wash themselves clean at the
second hour of the night, and at the third hour of the day. The hearts
of the gods are gratified when they have passed over it, whether it be
by night or whether it be by day, and they say unto me, "Let thyself
advance." They say unto me, "Who art thou?" And they say unto me,
"What is thy name?" [And I reply], "Septkherinehaitammibeqf" is
my name. Then they say unto me, "Advance straightway on the city which
is to the North of the Olive Tree. What dost thou see there?" The
Leg and the Thigh. What dost thou say unto them? Let me see rejoicings
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 60
Page No 63
in these lands of the Fenkhu. What do they give unto thee? A flame
of fire and a sceptreamulet [made] of crystal. What dost thou do with
them? I bury them on the furrow of M'naat, as things for the night.
What dost thou find on the furrow of Maat? A sceptre of flint, the
name of which is "Giver of winds." What now didst thou do with the
flame of fire and the sceptreamulet [made] of crystal, after thou
didst bury them? I said a spell over them, and I dug them up. I
quenched the flame of fire and I broke the sceptreamulet, and I
made a lake of water. [Then shall the Two and forty gods say unto me]:
"Come now, pass in over the threshold of this door of the Hall of
Maati, for thou hast knowledge of us." "We will not allow thee to
enter in over us," say the bars of this door, "unless thou tellest
us our names." [And I reply], "Tekhbumaa" is your name. The right
lintel of this door saith: "I will not allow thee to pass over me
unless thou tellest me my name." [And I reply], "Henkuenfatmaat" is
thy name. The left lintel of this door saith: "I will not allow
thee to pass over me unless thou tellest me my name." [And I reply],
"Henkuenarp" is thy name. The ground of this door saith: "I will not
allow thee to pass over me unless thou tellest me my name." [And I
reply], "AuaenKeb" is thy name. And the bolt of this door saith:
"I will not open the door to thee unless thou tellest me my name."
[And I reply], "Saahenmutf" is thy name. The socket of the
fastening of this door saith: "I will not open unto thee unless thou
tellest my name." [And I reply], "The Living Eye of Sebek, the Lord of
Bakhau," is thy name. The Doorkeeper of this door saith: "I will not
open to thee, and I will not let thee enter by me unless thou
tellest my name." [And I reply], "Elbow of the god Shu who placeth
himself to protect Osiris" is thy name. The posts of this door say:
"We will not let thee pass in by us unless thou tellest our name."
[And I reply], "Children of the uraeigoddesses" is your name. The
Doorkeeper of this door saith: "I will not open to thee, and I will
not let thee enter in by me unless thou tellest my name. [And I
reply], "Ox of Keb" is thy name. [And they reply], "Thou knowest us,
pass in therefore by us." The ground of this Hall of Maati saith: "I
will not let thee tread upon me [unless thou tellest me my name],
for I am silent. I am holy because I know the names of two feet
wherewith thou wouldst walk upon me. Declare, then, them to me."
[And I reply], "BesuAhu" is the name of my right foot, and
"UnpetentHetHeru" is the name of my left foot. [The ground
replieth]: "Thou knowest us, enter in therefore over us." The
Doorkeeper of this Hall of Maati saith: "I will not announce thee
unless thou tellest my name." [And I reply], "Discerner of hearts,
searcher of bellies" is thy name. [The Doorkeeper saith]: "Thou
shalt be announced." [He saith]: "Who is the god who dwelleth in his
hour? Speak it" [And I reply], "Autaui." [He saith]: "Explain who
he is." [And I reply], "Autaui" is Thoth. "Come now," saith Thoth,
"for what purpose hast thou come?" [And I reply]: "I have come, and
have journeyed hither that my name may be announced [to the god]."
[Thoth saith]: "In what condition art thou?" [And I reply], "I, even
I, am purified from evil defects, and I am wholly free from the curses
of those who live in their days, and I am not one of their number."
[Thoth saith]: "Therefore shall [thy name] be announced to the god."
[Thoth saith]: "Tell me, who is he whose heaven is of fire, whose
walls are living serpents, and whose ground is a stream of water?
Who is he?" [And I reply], "He is Osiris." [Thoth saith]: "Advance
now, [thy name] shall be announced to him. Thy cakes shall come from
the Utchat (Eye of Horus or Ra), thy ale shall come from the Utchat,
and the offerings which shall appear to thee at the word upon earth
[shall proceed] from the Utchat." This is what Osiris hath decreed for
the steward of the overseer of the seal, Nu, whose word is truth.
RUBRIC: THE MAKING OF THE REPRESENTATION OF WHAT SHALL HAPPEN IN
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 61
Page No 64
THIS HALL OF MAATI. This Chapter shall be said by the deceased when he
is cleansed and purified, and is arrayed in linen apparel, and is shod
with sandals of white leather, and his eyes are painted with antimony,
and his body is anointed with unguent made of myrrh. And he shall
present as offerings oxen, and feathered fowl, and incense, and
cakes and ale, and garden herbs. And behold, thou shalt draw a
representation of this in colour upon a new tile moulded from earth
upon which neither a pig nor any other animal hath trodden. And if
this book be done [in writing, the deceased] shall flourish, and his
children shall flourish, and [his name] shall never fall into
oblivion, and he shall be as one who filleth the heart of the king and
of his princes. And bread, and cakes, and sweetmeats, and wine, and
pieces of flesh shall be given unto him [from among those which are]
upon the altar of the Great God. And he shall not be driven back
from any door in Amentet, and he shall be led along with the kings
of the South and the kings of the North, and he shall be among the
bodyguard of Osiris, continually and regularly for ever. [And he shall
come forth in every form he pleaseth as a living soul for ever, and
ever, and ever.]
THE CHAPTER OF THE DEIFICATION OF THE MEMBERS
The hair of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, is the hair of Nu.
The face of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, is the face of Ra.
The eyes of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, are the eyes of
Hathor.
The ears of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, are the ears of
Upuatu.
The lips of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, are the lips of
Anpu.
The teeth of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, are the teeth of
Serqet.
The cheeks of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, are the cheeks of
Isis.
The arms of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, are the arms of
BanebTetu.
The neck of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, is the neck of
Uatchit.
The throat of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, is the throat
of Mert.
The breast of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, is the breast
of the Lady of Sais.
The backbone of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, is the backbone
of Set.
The trunk of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, is the trunk of
the Lords of Kheraha.
The flesh of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, is the flesh of
Aashefit.
The belly of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, is the belly of
Sekhmet.
The buttocks of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, are the
buttocks of the Eye of Horus.
The phallus of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, is the phallus
of Osiris.
The thighs of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, are the thighs of
Nut.
The feet of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, are the feet of
Ptah.
The fingers of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, are the
fingers of Saah.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 62
Page No 65
The toes of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, are the toes of the
Living Uraei.
APPENDIX
(From the Pyramid of Pepi I, ll. 565ff.)
The head of this MeriRa is the head of Horus; he cometh forth
therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
The skull of this Pepi is the Dekan star of the god; he cometh forth
therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
The brow of this MeriRa is the brow of..... and Nu; he cometh forth
therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
The face of this Pepi is the face of Upuatu; he cometh forth
therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
The eyes of this MeriRa are the eyes of the Great Lady, the first
of the Souls of Anu; he cometh forth therefore and ascendeth into
heaven.
The nose of this Pepi is the nose of Thoth; he cometh forth
therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
The mouth of this MeriRa is the mouth of Khensur; he cometh
forth therefore, and ascendeth therefore, and ascendeth therefore into
heaven.
The tongue of this Pepi is the tongue of Maaa (Truth) in the Maat
Boat; he cometh forth therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
The teeth of this Pepi are the teeth of the Souls of [Anu]; he
cometh forth therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
The lips of this MeriRa are the lips of........; he cometh forth
therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
The chin of this Pepi is the chin of NestkhentSekhem (the throne
of the First Lady of Sekhem); he cometh forth therefore and
ascendeth into heaven.
The thes bone of this Pepi is the thes bone of the Bull Sma; he
cometh forth therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
The soulders of this Pepi are the shoulders of Set; he cometh
forth therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
[The...... of this Pepi].........; he cometh forth therefore and
ascendeth into heaven.
[The......of this Pepi] ........of Baabu; he cometh forth
therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
The breast of this MeriRa is the breast of Bast; he cometh forth
therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
The belly of this MeriRa is the belly of Nut; he cometh forth
therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
[The........of this Pepi] ........; he cometh forth therefore and
ascendeth into heaven.
[The........of this Pepi] .......of the two Companies of the gods;
he cometh forth therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
The two thighs of this Pepi are the two thighs of Heqet; he cometh
forth therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
The buttocks of this MeriRa are like the Semktet Boat and the
Mantchet Boat; he cometh forth therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
The phallus of this Pepi is the phallus of the Hep Bull; he cometh
forth therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
The legs of this MeriRa are the legs of Net (Neith) and Serqet;
he cometh forth therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
The knees of this MeriRa are the knees of the twin Souls who are at
the head of the SekhetTcher; he cometh forth therefore and
ascendeth into heaven.
The soles of this MeriRa are like the Maati Boat; he cometh forth
therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 63
Page No 66
The toes of this Pepi are the toes of the Souls of Anu; he cometh
forth therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
Now this Pepi is a god, the son of a god; he cometh forth
therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
This Pepi is the son of Ra, who loveth him; he cometh forth
therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
Ra hath sent forth MeriRa; he cometh forth therefore and
ascendeth into heaven.
Ra hath begotten [this] Pepi; he cometh forth therefore and
ascendeth into heaven.
Ra hath given birth to Pepi; he cometh forth therefore and ascendeth
into heaven.
This spell therefore is in the body of MeriRa; he cometh forth
therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
This MeriRa is the Power, the Great Power, among the Great
Council of Chiefs in Anu; he cometh forth therefore and ascendeth into
heaven.
He worketh the boat; Pepi cometh forth therefore and ascendeth
into heaven.
[Pepi is] Horus, the nursling, the child; MeriRa cometh forth
therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
Pepi hath not had union with Nut, she hath not given her hands to
him; he cometh forth therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
Keb hath not removed the obstacles in his path; he cometh forth
therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
No god hath smitten the steps of this MeriRa; he come forth
therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
[Though] Pepi is not censed is not mourned, hath not washed
himself in the vessel, hath not smelt the haunch, hath not carried the
meatoffering, hath not ploughed the earth, hath not dedicated an
offering, he cometh forth therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
Behold, it is not this Pepi who hath said these things to you, O
ye gods, it is Heka who hath said these things to you, O ye gods,
and this MeriRa is the support which is under Heka; he cometh forth
therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
Every god smiteth the feet of Pepi; he cometh forth therefore and
ascendeth into heaven.
He plougheth the earth, he dedicateth an offering, he bringeth the
vessel of [blood], he smelleth the haunch, and he bringeth the meat
offering; he cometh forth therefore and ascendeth into heaven.
Every god graspeth the hand of MeriRa in heaven,
He conducteth him to the House of Horus in the sky.
The word of his Double is truth before Keb.
THE CHAPTER OF REPULSING SLAUGHTER IN HENSU
(From the Papyrus of Nu, Sheet 6)
THE CHAPTER OF DRIVING BACK THE SLAUGHTERS WHICH ARE PERFORMED IN
HENSU. The Osiris Nu, whose word is truth, saith: O thou land of
the Sceptre! O thou White Crown of the divine form! O thou rest of the
ferryboat! I am the Child. (Repeat four times). Hail, Abuur! Thou
sayest daily: "The slaughterblock is made ready as thou knowest,
and thou hast come to destruction." I am Ra, who stablisheth those who
praise him. I am the Knot of the god in the Aser tree, the twice
beautiful one, who is more splendid today than yesterday. (Repeat
four times). I am Ra, who stablisheth those who praise him. I am the
Knot of the god within the Aser tree, and my appearance is the
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 64
Page No 67
appearance [of Ra] on this day.
My hair is the hair of Nu. My face is the face of the Disk. My
eyes are the eyes of Hathor. My ears are the ears of Upuat. My nose
is the nose of KhentiKhabas. My lips are the lips of Anpu. My teeth
are the teeth of Serqet. My cheeks are the cheeks of the goddess Isis.
My hands are the hands of BanebTet. My forearms are the forearms
of Neith, the Lady of Sais. My backbone is the backbone of Suti. My
phallus is the phallus of Beba. My reins are the reins of the Lords of
Kheraha. My chest is the chest of Aashefit. My belly and back are
the belly and back of Sekhmet. My buttocks are the buttocks of the Eye
of Horus. My hips and legs are the hips and legs of Nut. My feet are
the feet of Ptah. [My fingers] and my toes are the [fingers and]
toes of the Living gods. There is no member of my body which is not
the member of a god. Thoth protecteth my body altogether, and I am
Ra day by day. I shall not be dragged back by my arms, and none
shall lay violent hold upon my hands. And shall do me hurt neither
men, nor gods, nor the Spiritsouls, nor the dead, nor any man, nor
any patspirit, nor any rekhitspirit, nor any hememetspirit.
I am he who cometh forth advancing, whose name is unknown. I am
Yesterday. "Seer of Millions of Years" is my name. I pass along, I
pass along the paths of the divine celestial judges. I am the Lord
of Eternity: I decree and I judge like Khepera. I am the Lord of the
Urrt Crown. I am he who dwelleth in the Utchat and in the Egg, and
it is granted unto me to live therein. I am he who dwelleth in the
Utchat when it closeth, and I exist by the strength thereof. I come
forth and I shine; I enter in and I come to life. I am in the
Utchat, my seat is upon my throne, and I sit in the tent chamber
before it. I am Horus. [I] traverse millions of years. I have
decreed [the stablishing] of my throne, and I am the ruler thereof;
and in very truth my mouth keepeth an even balance both in speech
and in silence. In very truth my forms are inverted. I am UnNefer,
from one period even unto another, and what I have is within me. I
am the only One, who proceedeth from an only One, who goeth round
about in his course. I am he who dwelleth in the Utchat. No evil thing
of any shape or kind shall spring up against me, and no baleful
object, and no harmful thing, and no disastrous thing shall happen
unto me. I open the door in heaven. I rule my throne. I open the way
for the births which take place on this day. I am the child who
traverseth the road of Yesterday. I am Today for untold nations and
peoples. I am he who protecteth you for millions of years. Whether
ye be denizens of heaven, or of the earth, or of the South, or of
the North, or of the East, or of the West, the fear of me is in your
bodies. I am he whose being hath been wrought in his eye. I shall
not die again. My moment is in your bodies, but my forms are in my
place of habitation. I am "He who cannot be known." The Red Fiends
have their faces directed against me. I am the unveiled one. The
period when the heavens were created for me and were enlarged the
bounds of earth, and multiplied the progeny thereof, cannot be found
out. They shall fail and not be united again. By reason of the
speech which I address to you, my name setteth itself apart from all
things evil which are in the mouths of men. I am he who riseth and
shineth, a wall which cometh out of a wall, an only One who proceedeth
from an only One. There is never a day that passeth without the things
which appertain unto him being therein; passing, passing, passing,
passing. Verily I say unto thee, I am the Plant which cometh forth
from Nu, and my mother is Nut. Hail, my creator, I am he who hath no
power to walk, the Great Knot who dwelleth in Yesterday. The might
of my strength is within my hand, I am not known [by thee], but I am
he who knoweth thee. I cannot be held in the hand, but I am he who can
hold thee in his hand. Hail, O Egg! Hail, O Egg! I am Horus who liveth
for millions of years, whose flame shineth upon you, and bringeth your
hearts unto me. I am master of my throne. I advance at this season.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 65
Page No 68
I have opened a path. I have delivered myself from all evil things.
I am the golden dogheaded ape, three palms and two fingers [high],
which hath neither arms nor legs, and which dwelleth in HetkaPtah. I
go forth as goeth forth the dogheaded ape who dwelleth in
HetkaPtah.
RUBRIC: Behold the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, arrayed in
fine linen, and shod with sandals of white [leather], and anointed
with the very finest myrrh unguent. There are offered unto him a
fine bull, and incense, and ra geese, and flowers, and ale, and cakes,
and garden herbs. And behold, thou shalt draw a representation of a
table of offerings on a clean tile with pure colours, and thou shalt
bury it in a field whereon no swine hath trodden. And if a copy of
this book be written upon it, he shall rise [again], and his
children's children shall flourish and prosper, like unto Ra,
without cessation. He shall be in high favour with the king, and
with the shenit nobles of his court, and there shall be given unto him
cakes and cups of drink, and portions of flesh, upon the altartable
of the Great God. He shall not thrust aside at any door in Amentet; he
shall travel in the train of the Kings of the South and the Kings of
the North, and he shall abide with the followers of Osiris near
UnNefer, for ever, and for ever, and for ever.
Vignette
(From the Papyrus of Nu, Sheet 24)
The steward of the overseer of the seal, Nu, whose word is truth,
begotten of the steward of the overseer of the seal, Amenhetep, whose
word is truth, saith: Hail, ye Four Apes who sit in the bows of the
Boat of Ra, who convey truth to Nebertcher, who sit in judgment on the
oppressed man and on [his] oppressor, who make the gods to be
contented by means of the flame of your mouths, who offer holy
offerings to the gods, and sepulchral meals to the Spiritsouls, who
live upon truth, and who feed upon truth of heart, who are without
deceit and fraud, and to whom wickedness is an abomination, do ye away
with my evil deeds, and put ye away my sins [which deserved stripes
upon earth, and destroy ye every evil thing which appertaineth to me],
and let there be no obstacle whatsoever on my part towards you. O
grant ye that I may make my way through the Amehet, let me enter
into Rasta, let me pass through the hidden pylons of Ament. O grant
that there may be given unto me shens cakes, and ale, and persen
cakes, even as to the living Spiritsouls, and grant that I may
enter into and come forth from Rasta.
[The Four Apes make answer, saying]: Come thou, for we have done
away with thy wickedness, and we have put away thy sin, along with thy
sins upon earth which deserved stripes, and we have destroyed every
evil thing which appertained to thee upon earth. Enter, therefore,
unto Rasta, and pass through the hidden pylons of Amentet, and there
shall be given unto thee shens cakes, and ale, and persen cakes, and
thou shalt come forth and shalt enter in at thy desire, even as do
those who are favoured [of the God], and thou shalt be called [to
partake of offerings] each day in the horizon.
THE CHAPTER OF A TET OF GOLD.
The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth,
saith: Thou risest up for thyself, O Stillheart! Thou shinest for
thyself, O Stillheart! Place thou thyself on thy base, I come, I
bring unto thee a Tet of gold, thou shalt rejoice therein.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 66
Page No 69
APPENDIX
(From the Papyrus of Nebseni and the Papyrus of Nu)
Rise up thou, O Osiris, thou hast thy backbaone, O Stillheart, thou
hast thy neck vertebrae and thy back, O Stillheart! Place thou
thyself on thy base. I put water beneath thee, and I bring unto thee a
Tet of god that thou mayest rejoice therein.
RUBRIC (From the Papyrus of Nu): [This Chapter] shall be recited
over a Tet of gold set in a stand made of sycamore wood which hath
been steeped in a tincture of ankhamu flowers, and it shall be
placed on the neck of the deceased on the day of the funeral. If
this amulet be placed on his neck he shall become a perfect Khu in
KhertNeter, and at the festivals of the New Year he shall be like
unto the Followers of Osiris continually and for ever.
RUBRIC (From the Turin Papyrus): [This Chapter] shall be said over a
Tet of gold fashioned out of the trunk of a sycamore tree, and it
shall be placed on the neck of the deceased. Then shall he enter in
through the doors of the Tuat. His words whall be silenced. He shall
place himself on the ground on New Year's Day among the Followers of
Osiris.
If this Chapter be known by the deceased he shall live like a
perfect Khu in KhertNeter. He shall not be sent back from the doors
of Amentet. There shall be given to him the shens cake, and a cup of
wine, and the persen cake, and slices of meat on the altars of Ra,
or as some read, Osiris UnNefer. And his word shall be truth before
his enemies in KhertNeter continually, and for ever and for ever.
THE CHAPTER OF A TET OF CARNELIAN.
The Osiris Ani, whose word is
truth, saith: The blood of Isis, the spells of Isis, the magical
powers of Isis, shall make this great one strong, and shall be an
amulet of protection [against him] that would do to him the things
which he abominateth.
APPENDIX
RUBRIC (From the Papyrus of Nu): [This Chapter] shall be said over a
Tet of carnelian, which hath been washed in a tincture of ankhamu
flowers, and is fashioned out of the trunk of a sycamore tree. It
shall be placed on the neck of the deceased on the day of the funeral.
If this be done for him the magical powers of Isis will protect his
members. Horus, the son of Isis, shall rejoice when he seeth him. [No]
road shall be blocked to him. His hand shall be to heaven, his hand
shall be to earth, for ever. Do not let anyone see him. Verily....
RUBRIC (From the Saite Recension): [This Chapter] shall be said over
a Tet of carnelian, anointed with a tincture of ankhamu flowers,
made from the trunk of a sycamore tree. It shall be placed on the neck
of the Khu. If this book be done for him, the magical spells of Isis
shall protect him, and Horus the son of Isis shall rejoice [when] he
seeth him. No road shall be blocked to him. His hand shall be to
heaven, his hand shall be to earth....... If this book be known by him
he shall be in the following of Osiris UnNefer, and his word shall be
truth in KhertNeter. The doors in KhertNeter shall be opened to him.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 67
Page No 70
Wheat and barley shall be given to him in SekhetAanru. His name shall
be like [the names of] the gods who are there, the Followers of
Horus who reap.
THE CHAPTER OF A HEART OF SEHERT STONE.
The Osiris Ani, whose word
is truth, saith: I am the Benu bird, the Heartsoul of Ra, the
guide of the gods to the Tuat. Their Heartsouls come forth upon earth
to do what their KAU wish to do, and the Heartsoul of the Osiris
Ani shall come forth to do what his Ka wisheth to do.
THE CHAPTER OF THE HEADREST,
which is to be placed under the head
of the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth. Awake out of thy sufferings, O
thou who liest prostrate! Awake thou! Thy head is in the horizon. I
lift thee up, O thou whose word is truth. Ptah hath overthrown thine
enemies for thee. Thine enemies have fallen, and they shall never more
exist, O Osiris.
APPENDIX
(From the Papyrus of Nebseni, Sheet 21)
THE CHAPTER OF THE HEADREST [OR PILLOW].
Awake out of thy sufferings, O thou who liest prostrate. They (the gods) keep watch
over thy head in the horizon. Thou art lifted up, thy word is truth in
respect of the things which have been done by thee. Ptah hath cast
down headlong thine enemies. This work was ordered to be done for
thee. Thou art Horus, the son of Hathor, Nesert, Nesertet, who
giveth back the head after it hath been cut off. Thy head shall not be
carried away from thee, after [it hath been cut off]; thy head shall
be carried away from thee, never, never!
THE TEXTS IN THE FUNERAL CHAMBER
SPEECH OF ISIS. Isis saith: I have come to be a protector unto
thee. I waft unto thee air for thy nostrils, and the north wind
which cometh forth from the god Tem unto thy nose. I have made whole
for thee thy windpipe. I make thee to live like a god. Thine enemies
have fallen under thy feet. I have made thy word to be true before
Nut, and thou art mighty before the gods.
SPEECH OF NEPHTHYS. Nephthys saith unto the Osiris Ani, whose word
is truth: I go round about thee to protect thee, O brother Osiris.
I have come to be a protector unto thee. [My strength shall be near
thee, my strength shall be near thee, for ever. Ra hath heard thy cry,
and the gods have made thy word to be truth. Thou art raised up. Thy
word is truth in respect of what hath been done unto thee. Ptah hath
overthrown thy foes, and thou art Horus, the son of Hathor.]
SPEECH OF THE TET. I have come quickly, and I have driven back the
footsteps of th god whose face is hidden. I have illumined his
sanctuary. I stand near the god Tet on the day of repelling
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 68
Page No 71
disaster. I watch to protect thee, O Osiris.
SPEECH OF KESTA (Mesta). I am Kesta, thy son, O Osiris Ani, whose
word is truth. I come to protect thee. I will make thy house to
flourish, permanently, even as Ptah hath commanded me, and as Ra
himself hath commanded.
SPEECH OF HAPI. I am Hapi, thy son, O Osiris Ani, whose word is
truth. I come to protect thee. I bind together thy head and the
members of thy body. I smite down for thee thine enemies under thee. I
give unto thee thy head for ever and for ever, O Osiris Ani, whose
word is truth, whose word is truth in peace.
SPEECH OF TUAMUTEF. Tuamutef saith: I am thy son Horus, who
loveth thee. I come to avenge thee, O my father Osiris, upon him
that did evil unto thee. I have set him under thy feet for ever and
for ever, permanently, permanently, O Osiris Ani, whose word is truth,
whose word is truth.
SPEECH OF QEBHSENUF. Qebsenuf saith: I am thy son, O Osiris Ani,
whose word is truth. I come to protect thee. I have collected thy
bones and I have gathered together thy members. [I have brought thy
heart, and I have placed it upon its throne within thy body. I make
thy house to flourish after thee, O thou who livest for ever.]
SPEECH OF THE FLAME. I protect thee with this flame. I drive him
[the foe] away from the valley of the tomb. I cast the sand about [thy
feet]. I embrace the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, in peace.
SPEECH OF THE FLAME. I come to hew in pieces. I have not been hewn
in pieces, and I will not permit thee to be hewn in pieces. I come
to do violence [to thy foe], but I will not permit violence to be done
unto thee. I protect thee.
A SOUL SAITH: The Osiris Ani, whose is truth, praiseth Ra when he
rolleth up into the sky in the eastern horizon of heaven.
A SOUL SAITH: The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, in peace in
KhertNeter, praiseth Ra when he setteth in the western horizon of
heaven, [and saith], "I am a perfect soul."
SPEECH OF ANI. The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, saith: I am a
perfect soul dwelling in the divine egg of the Abtu Fish. I am the
Great Cat which dwelleth in the Seat of Truth, wherein the god Shu
riseth.
SPEECH OF THE USHABTI FIGURE [THE CHAPTER OF NOT DOING WORK IN
KHERTNETER]. Illumine the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth. Hail,
Shabti Figure! If the Osiris Ani be decreed to do any of the work
which is to be done in KhertNeter, let everything which standeth in
the way be removed from him whether it be to plough the fields, or to
fill the channels with water, or to carry sand from [the East to the
West]. The Shabti Figure replieth: I will do it, verily I am here
[when] thou callest.
APPENDIX
(From the Papyrus of Nu and the Papyrus of Nebseni)
The Speech of Anpu: Anubis the dweller in the mummy chamber,
Governor of the Divine House, layeth his hands upon the lord of
life, the scribe, the draughtsman of Ptah, Nebseni, the lord of
fealty, begotten of the scribe and mason Thena, born of the lady of
the house Mutrest, whose word is truth, and devoting himself to him
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 69
Page No 72
as his guardian, saith: Homage to thee, thou happy one, lord! Thou
seest the Utchat. PtahSeker hath bound thee up. Anpu hath exalted
thee. Shu hath raised thee up, O Beautiful Face, thou governor of
eternity. Thou hast thine eye, O scribe Nebseni, lord of fealty, and
it is beautiful. Thy right eye is like the Sektet Boat, thy left eye
is like the Atet Boat. Thine eyebrows are fair to see in the
presence of the Company of the Gods. Thy brow is under the
protection of Anpu, and thy head and face, O beautiful one, are before
the holy Hawk. Thy fingers have been stablished by thy scribe's
craft in the presence of the Lord of Khemenu, Thoth, who hath bestowed
upon thee the knowledge of the speech of the holy books. Thy beard
is beautiful in the sight of PtahSeker, and thou, O scribe Nebseni,
thou lord of fealty, art beautiful before the Great Company of the
Gods. The Great God looketh upon thee, and he leadeth thee along the
path of happiness. Sepulchral meals are bestowed upon thee, and he
overthroweth for thee thine enemies, setting them under thy feet in
the presence of the Great Company of the Gods who dwell in the House
of the Great Aged One which is in Anu.
[HERE] BEGIN THE CHAPTERS OF SEKHETHETEPET, AND THE CHAPTERS OF COMING
FORTH BY DAY, OF ENTERING INTO AND COMING FORTH FROM KHERTNETER, OF
ARRIVING IN SEKHETAANRU, AND OF LIVING IN PEACE IN THE GREAT CITY, THE LADY
OF WINDS.
[The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose
word is truth, saith:] Let me be master there. Let me be a khu there.
Let me plough there. Let me reap there. Let me eat there. Let me drink
there. [Let me beget there]. Let me do there all the things which
one doeth upon earth. The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, saith:
Horus vanquished Set when [he] looked at the building of
SekhetHetepet. [He] spread air over the Divine Soul in its Egg, in
its day. He delivered the interior of the body of Horus [from the
Akeru Gods]. I have crowned him in the House of Shu. His house is
the stars. Behold, I take up my place in its nomes. He hath guided the
hearts of the Company of the Firstborn Gods. He hath reconciled the
Two Fighters (Horus and Set), the guardians of life. He hath done what
is fair, bringing an offering. He hath reconciled the Two Fighters
with him that belongeth to them. He hath cut off the hairy scalp of
the Two Fighters. He hath destroyed the revolts of [their] children. I
have done away all the evil which attacked their souls. I am master in
[SekhetHetepet]. I know it. I have sailed over its lakes that I might
arrive at the cities thereof. I have made strong my mouth. The
Spiritsouls are ready [to fight], but they shall not gain the mastery
over me. I am equipped in thy Fields, O god Hetep. What thou wishest
thou shalt do, [saith this god].
APPENDIX
(From the Papyrus of Nebseni, Sheet 17)
HERE BEGIN THE CHAPTERS OF SEKHETHETEPET, AND THE CHAPTERS OF COMING
FORTH BY DAY; OF GOING INTO AND OF COMING FORTH FROM KHERTNETER; OF
ARRIVAL IN SEKHETAARU; OF LIVING IN SEKHETHETEPET, THE MIGHTY CITY, THE
LADY OF WINDS; OF HAVING POWER THEREIN; OF BECOMING A SPIRITSOUL THERE; OF
PLOUGHING THERE; OF REAPING THERE; OF EATING THERE; OF DRINKING THERE; OF
MAKING LOVE THERE; AND OF DOING EVERYTHING THERE EVEN AS A MAN DOETH UPON
EARTH. NEBSENI, THE SCRIBE AND DRAUGHTSMAN OF PTAH, SAITH:
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 70
Page No 73
Set vanguished Horus, who was looking
at the building in SekhetHetepet. I set free Horus from Set. Set
opened the paths of the Two Eyes (the Sun and Moon) in the sky. Set
ejected water with air upon the soul of his Eye, which dwelt in the
town of Mert; he delivered the interior of the body of Horus from
the hands of the Akeru Gods. Behold me! I paddle this great boat
over the Lake of the god Hetep; I seized upon it in the mansion of
Shu. The mansion of his stars reneweth youth, reneweth youth. I paddle
over the Lakes thereof so that I may arrive at the towns thereof. I
sail up to the town of the god Hetep.... Behold, I am at peace with
his times, and with his guidance, and with his will, and with the
Company of the Gods, who are his firstborn. He maketh the Two Fighters
(Horus and Set) to be at peace [with each other], and to keep ward
over the living whom he hath created in fair form, and he bringeth
peace; he maketh the Two Fighters to be at peace with those who
watch over them. He cutteth off the hair from their divine fighters,
he driveth away storm from the children. He guardeth from attack the
Spirits. I have gained power therein. I know it. I have sailed over
its Lakes so that I might arrive at its towns. My mouth is strong. I
am equipped against the Spirits. They shall not gain the mastery
over me. I am rewarded [with] these thy Fields, O god Hetep. What thou
wishest that do thou, O lord of the winds. I shall be a spirit
therein. I shall eat therein. I shall drink therein. I shall plough
therein. I shall reap the grain therein. I shall be strong therein.
I shall make love therein. My words shall be strong therein. I shall
not be in subjection therein. I shall be a man of might therein.
Thou hast made strong the mouth and throat. Hetep Qettbu is its
name. [It is] stablished upon the pillars of Shu, and is linked with
the pleasant things of Ra. He is the divider of years, the hidden of
mouth; silent is his mouth, hidden is what he uttereth, he
fulfilleth eternity, he taketh possession of everlastingness of
existence as Hetep, NebHetep. Horus maketh himself strong like unto a
hawk which is one thousand cubits in length, and two thousand cubits
in life. He that equipments with him, he journeyeth on, he cometh to
the place where his heart would be, among the Lakes which are in its
towns. He begetteth in the birthchamber of the god of the town, he is
satisfied with the food of the god of the town; he doeth what ought to
be done there, in the Field of SmaserKhet..... everything of the
birthchamber of the god of the town. Now [when he] setteth in the
[land of] life like crystal he performeth everything therein, [which
things are] like unto the things done in the Lake Neserser, wherein
there is none that rejoiceth, and wherein are evil things of all
kinds. The god Hetep goeth in and cometh out, and marcheth hither
and thither in the Field of SmaserKhet, the Lady of the
birthchamber of the god of the town. [Let me] live with the god
Hetep, clothed, and not despoiled by the Lords of the North, and may
the Lord of things bring food unto me. May he make me to go forward.
May I come forth. May he bring to me my Power there, may I receive it,
and may I be rewarded by the god Hetep. May I be master of the great
and mighty word in my body in this my place. Make me to remember it.
Let me [not] forget it. Let me go forward, let me plough. I am at
peace with the god of the town. I know the water, the towns, the
nomes, and the lakes which are in SekhetHetepet. I live therein. I am
strong therein. I shine therein. I eat therein. I..... therein. I reap
the harvest therein. I plough therein. I beget children therein. I
am at peace therein with the god Hetep. Behold I sow seed therein. I
sail about on the lakes thereof, and I arrive at its towns, O god
Hetep. Behold my mouth is equipped, it possesseth horns . Give unto me
the abundance of the KAU (Doubles) and Spiritsouls. He who counteth
me is Shu. I know him not. I come to its towns. I sail over its lakes.
I walk about in SekhetHetepet. Behold, it is Ra who is in heaven.
Behold, it is Hetep [who is] its double offering of peace. I have
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 71
Page No 74
advanced to its territory. I have put on my apparel. I have come
forth. I have given what it was upon me to give. I have made glad in
[my] heart. I have conquered. I am strong. I have given directions
to Hetep.
[Hail], Unenemhetep, I have come to thee. My soul followeth me.
The god Hu is on my hands. [Hail], Nebttaui, in whom I remember and
forget, I have become alive. I have attacked none, let none attack me.
I have given, give thou to me gladness. Make thou me to be at peace,
bind thou up my veins, let [me] receive air. [Hail], Unenemhetep,
the Lord of Winds. I have come there. I have opened my head. Ra
sleepeth. I watch not, [for] the goddess Hetemet is at the door of
heaven by night. Obstacles have been put before, but I have
collected his emissions. I am in my city. O Nuturt (Great City), I
have come into thee. I have counted up my abundant stores. I advance
on my way to Uakh. I am the Bull which is tied with a rope of
lapislazuli, the lord of the Field of the Bull, the lord of the words
of the god, the goddess Septet (Sothis) at her hours. O Uakh, I have
come into thee. I have eaten my food. I am master of choice pieces
of the flesh of oxen and of feathered fowl, and the birds of Shu
have been given unto me. I follow the gods, and I come [after the
Doubles]. O Tcheft, I have come into thee. I array myself in
apparel, and I gird about myself the sat garment of Ra. Behold the
Court of the sky, and the followers of Ra who dwell in heaven. O
Unemhetep, the lord of the Two Lands, I have come into thee. I
have plunged into the Lakes of Tchesert; behold, impurity of every
kind hath removed from me. The divine Great One flourisheth therein.
Behold, I have found [him]. I have netted geese, and have fed full
upon the finest of them. O Qenqentet, I have come into thee. I have
seen the Osiris [my father]. I have saluted my mother. I have begotten
children. I have snared the serpents, and I am delivered. I know the
name of the god who is with the goddess Tchesert, and who hath
straight hair, and is equipped with horns [ready to gore]. He reapeth,
and I both plough and reap. O Hetemet, I have entered into thee. I
have approached the lapislazuli. I have followed the winds of the
Company of the Gods. The Great God hath given my head unto me. He
who hath bound my head on my body for me is the Mighty One, with
eyes of lapislazuli, namely, Arienabf ("He doeth as he pleaseth").
O Usert, I have come into thee, to the house wherein food is brought
unto me. O Smam, I have come into thee. My heart watcheth, my head
is equipped with the White Crown. I act as the guide of the
celestial beings. I make to flourish terrestrial beings. There is
joy of heart for the Bull, and for the celestial beings, and for the
Company of the Gods. I am the god, the Bull, the Lord of the gods, who
maketh his way over the turquoise. O wheat and barley of the nome of
the god, I have come into thee. I have come forward. I have lifted
[you] up, following the best offerings of the Company of the Gods. I
have moored my boat to the tyingup post in the lakes of the celestial
beings. I have pulled up the typingup post. I have recited words, and
I have ascribed praises unto the gods who dwell in SekhetHetepet.
THE CHAPTER OF PROVIDING THE DECEASED WITH MEAT, MILK, ETC.
The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, saith: Homage to thee, O Ra,
the Lord of Truth, the Only One, the Lord of Eternity and Maker of
Everlastingness. I have come before thee, O my Lord Ra. I would make
to flourish the Seven Cows and their Bull. O ye who give cakes and ale
to the Spiritsouls, grant ye that my soul may be with you. Let him be
born on your thighs. Let him be like unto one of you for ever and
for ever. Let the Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, have glorious power
in the Beautiful Amentet.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 72
Page No 75
The Names of the Seven Holy Cows and their Bull:
1. HetKau Nebtertcher.
2. Akertkhentetasts.
3. Khebitetsahneter.
4. Urmertusteshertshenti.
5. Khnemtemankhanuit.
6. Sekhmetrensemabats.
7. Shenatpetuthestneter.
Bull: Kathaihemt.
ADDRESSES TO THE FOUR RUDDERS OF HEAVEN
Hail, thou Beautiful Power, thou Beautiful Rudder of the Northern
Heaven.
Hail, thou who circlest, Guide of the Two Lands, Beautiful Rudder of
the Western Heaven.
Hail, Splendour, Dweller in the temple of the Ashemu gods, Beautiful
Rudder of the Eastern Heaven.
Hail, Dweller in the temple of the Red gods, Beautiful Rudder of the
Southern Heaven.
ADDRESSES TO THE FOUR COMPANIES OF THE GODS
Hail, ye gods who are above the earth, ye Guides of the Tuat.
Hail, ye Mothergoddesses, who are above the earth in KhertNeter,
in the House of Osiris.
Hail, ye gods who guide Tatchesert, who are above the earth and are
guides of the Tuat.
Hail, ye Followers of Ra, who follow in the train of Osiris.
APPENDIX
(From the Papyrus of Nu)
RUBRIC: [These words] shall be said when Ra appeareth over [figures]
of these gods written in colour upon a tablet, and thou shalt place
offerings of tchefau food before them, cakes, ale, flesh, geese, and
incense. They shall cause the deceased to enjoy the "offerings which
come forth at the word [of command]" before Ra; and they shall give
the deceased an abundance of food in KhertNeter, and shall deliver
him from every evil thing whatsoever. And thou shalt not recite this
Book of UnNefer in the presence of anyone except thine own self. If
this be done for the deceased Ra shall be a rudder for him, and
shall be to him a strong protecting power, and he shall destroy all
his enemies for him in KhertNeter, and in heaven, and upon earth, and
in every place whereinsoever he may enter, and he shall enjoy
celestial food regularly and continually for ever.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 73
Page No 76
(From the Saite Recension)
THE BOOK OF MAKING PERFECT THE KHU
in the heart of Ra, of making him
to have the mastery before Tem, of magnifying him before Osiris, of
making him mighty before KhentAmentet, and of setting awe of him
before the Company of the Gods. It shall be recited on the day of
the New Moon, on the sixth day festival, on the fifteenth day
festival, on the festival of Uak, on the festival of Thoth, on the
Birthday of Osiris, on the festival of Menu, on the night of Heker,
[during] the Mysteries of the Tuat, during the celebration of the
Mysteries in Akertet, at the smiting of the emissions, at the
passage of the Funerary Valley, [and] the Mysteries...... [The recital
thereof] will make the heart of the Khu to flourish and will make long
his strides, and will make him to advance, and will make his face
bright, and will make it to penetrate to the God. Let no man witness
[the recital] except the king and the Kherheb priest, but the
servant who cometh to minister outside shall not see it. Of the Khu
for whom this Book shall be recited, his soul shall come forth by
day with the living, he shall have power among the gods, and it will
make him irresisitible for ever and ever. These gods shall go round
about him, and shall acknowledge him. He shall be one of them. [This
Book] shall make him to know how he came into being in the
beginning. This Book is indeed a veritable mystery. Let no stranger
anywhere have knowledge of it. Do not speak about it to any man. Do
not repeat it. Let no [other] eye see it. Let no [other] ear hear
it. Let no one see it except [thyself] and him who taught [it to
thee]. Let not the multitude [know of it] except thyself and the
beloved friend of thy heart. Thou shalt do this book in the seh
chamber on a cloth painted with the stars in colour all over it. It is
indeed a mystery. The dwellers in the swamps of the Delta nad
everywhere there shall not know it. It shall provided the Khu with
celestial food upon in KhertNeter. It shall supply his Heartsoul
with food upon earth. It shall make him to live for ever. No [evil]
thing shall have the master over him.
THE ADDRESSES OF THE FOUR RUDDERS
Hail, Power of Heaven, Opener of the Disk, thou Beautiful Rudder
of the Northern Heaven.
Hail, Ra, Guide of the Two Lands, thou Beautiful Rudder of the
Western Heaven.
Hail, Khu, Dweller in the House of the Akhemu gods, thou Beautiful
Rudder of the Eastern Heaven.
Hail, Governor, Dweller in the House of the Tesheru Gods, thou
Beautiful Rudder of the Southern Heaven.
Grant ye cakes, and ale and tchefau food to the Osiris Aufankh,
whose word is truth.
Hail, Father of the Gods! Hail, Mother of teh Gods in KhertNeter!
Deliver ye the Osiris from every evil thing, from every evil
obstruction, from every dire attack of an enemy, and from that
deadly snarer with knifelike words, and from men, and gods, and
Spiritsouls, and the damned, on this day, on this night, on this
present festival of the fifteenth day, and in this year, and from
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 74
Page No 77
the things of evil thereof.
HYMN TO OSIRIS KHENTIAMENTI UNNEFER
The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, praiseth Osiris KhentiAmenti
UnNefer, and saith: Hail, my Lord, who dost hasten through eternity,
whose existence is for ever, Lord of Lords, King of Kings,
Sovereign, God of the Gods, who live in their shrines,.... gods....
men. Make thou for me a seat with those who are in KhertNeter, who
adore the forms of thy KA, and who traverse millions of millions of
years....... May no delay arise for thee in Tamera. Let them come
to thee, all of them, great as well as small. May this god give the
power to enterin and to come forth from KhertNeter, without
repulse, at any door of the Tuat, to the KA of the Osiris Ani.
APPENDIX
(From the Papyrus of Sutimes)
SUTIMES, THE LIBATIONER AND PRESIDENT OF THE ALTAR CHAMBER OF THE APTS,
DIRECTOR OF THE SCRIBES OF AMEN, WHOSE WORD IS TRUTH, PRAISETH OSIRIS, AND
DOETH HOMAGE TO THE LORD OF ETERNITY, AND SATISFIETH THE WILL OF THE GOD,
AND SPEAKETH TRUTH, THE LORD OF WHICH IS UNKNOWN, AND SAITH:
Homage to thee, O thou Holy God, thou mighty and beneficent
being, thou Prince of Eternity, who dwellest in thy abode in the
Sektet Boat, whose risings are manifold in the Atet Boat, unto whom
praises are rendered in heaven and upon earth. Peoples and nations
exalt thee, and the awe of thy terror is in the hearts of men, and
Spirtsouls, and the dead. Thy soul dwelleth in Tetu, and the awe of
thee is in Hensu. Thou settest the visible emblems of thyself in
Anu, and the majesty of thy transformations in the holy place. I
have come unto thee. Truth is in my heart, and in my breast there is
neither craft nor guile. Grant thou that I may have my being among the
living, and that I may sail up and down the river among those who
are in thy following.
THE CHAPTER OF THE PRAISE OF HATHOR, LADY OF AMENTET
Hathor, Lady of Amentet, the Dweller in the Great Land, the Lady
of TaTchesert, the Eye of Ra, the Dweller in his breast, the
Beautiful Face in the Boat of Millions of Years, the Seat of Peace
of the doer of truth, Dweller in the Boat of the favoured ones.....
APPENDIX
THE CHAPTER OF THE FOUR TORCHES
(From the Papyrus of Nu, Sheets 26 and 27)
THE CHAPTER OF THE FOUR LIGHTED LAMPS WHICH ARE MADE FOR THE
SPIRITSOUL. Behold, thou shalt make four rectangular troughs of
clay wherein thou shalt scatter incense, and thou shalt fill them with
the milk of a white cow, and by means of these thou shalt extinguish
the lamps. The Osiris Nu, the steward of the overseer of the seal,
whose word is truth, saith: The fire cometh to thy KA, O Osiris
KhentiAmenti! The fire cometh to thy KA, O Osiris Nu, whose word is
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 75
Page No 78
truth. The ordering of the night cometh after the day. [The fire
cometh to thy KA, O Osiris, Governor of those who are in Amenti],
and the two sisters of Ra come likewise. Behold it (the fire) riseth
in Abtu, and it cometh; I cause it to come, the Eye of Horus. It is
set in order upon thy brow, O Osiris KhentiAmenti; it is set in thy
shrine and riseth on thy brow; it is set on thy brow, O Osiris Nu,
it is set on thy brow. The Eye of Horus protecteth thee, O Osiris
KhentiAmenti, and it keepeth thee in safety; it casteth down headlong
all thine enemies for thee, and all thine enemies have fallen down
headlong before thee. O Osiris Nu, the Eye of Horus protecteth thee,
it keepeth thee in safety, and it casteth down headlong all thine
enemies. Thine enemies have fallen down headlong before thy KA, O
Osiris KhentiAmenti. The Eye of Ra protecteth thee, it keepeth thee
in safety, and it hath cast down headlong all thine enemies. Thine
enemies have fallen down headlong before thy KA, O Osiris Nu, whose
word is truth. The Eye of Horus protecteth thee, it keepeth thee in
safety, it hath cast down headlong for thee all thine enemies, and
thine enemies have fallen down headlong before thee. The Eye of
Horus cometh. It is sound and well, it sendeth forth light even as
doth Ra in the horizon. It covereth the powers of Suti with
darkness, it mastereth him, and it bringeth its flame against him by
its own command. The Eye of Horus is sound and well, thou eatest the
flesh thereof, thy body possesseth it. Thou acclaimest it. The Four
Fires enter into thy KA, O Osiris KhentiAmenti, the Four Fires
enter into thy KA, O Osiris Nu, the steward of the overseer of the
seal, whose word is truth.
Hail, ye sons of Horus, Kesta, Hapi, Tuamutef, and Qebhsenuf, ye
have given your protection to your divine Father Osiris KhentiAmenti,
give ye your protection to the Osiris Nu, whose word is truth. Now
therefore, inasmuch as ye have destroyed the Opponent of Osiris
KhentiAmenti, who liveth with the gods, having smitten Suti with
his right hand and arm when dawn came upon the earth, and Horus hath
become master [of Suti], and hath avenged his divine Father himself;
and inasmuch as your divine Father hath been made to flourish
through the union of the KA of Osiris KhentiAmenti, whch ye effected,
and the Eye of Horus hath avenged him, and hath protected him, and
hath cast down headlong for him all his enemies, and all his enemies
have fallen down before him, even so do ye destroy the Opponent of the
Osiris Nu, the steward of the overseer of the seal, whose word is
truth. Let him live with the gods, let him smite his enemy, let him
destroy him, when light dawneth on the earth. Let Horus be master
and avenge the Osiris Nu, and let the Osiris Nu flourish through his
union with his KA which ye have effected. O Osiris Nu, the Eye of
Horus hath avenged thee. It hath cast down headlong all thine
enemies for thee, and all thine enemies have been cast down headlong
before thee.
Hail, Osiris KhentiAmenti, grant thou light and fire to the perfect
Heartsoul which is in Hensu. And [O ye Sons of Horus], grant ye power
unto the living heartsoul of the Osiris Nu by means of his fire.
Let him not be repulsed, and let him not be driven back at the doors
of Amentet! Let his offerings of bread and of linen garments be
brought unto him among the lords of funeral oblations. O offer ye
praises, as unto a god to the Osiris Nu, the destroyer of his Opponent
in his form of Truth, and in his attributes of a god of truth.
RUBRIC: [This Chapter] shall be recited over four torches of atma
cloth, which hath been anointed with the finest Thehennu unguent,
and the torches shall be placed in the hands of four men who shall
have the names of the pillars of Horus written upon their shoulders,
and they shall burn the torches in the beautiful light of Ra, and this
shall confer power and might upon the Spiritsoul of the deceased
among the stars which never set. If this Chapter be recited for him he
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 76
Page No 79
shall never, never perish, and he shall become a living soul for ever.
These torches shall make the Spiritsoul to flourish like Osiris
KhentiAmenti, regularly and continually for ever. It is a struggle.
Thou shalt not perform this ceremony before any human being except
thine own self, or thy father, or thy son, because it is an
exceedingly great mystery of the Amentet, and it is a type of the
hidden things of the Tuat. When this ceremony hath been performed
for the deceased, the gods, and the Spiritsouls, and the dead shall
see him in the form of KhentiAmenti, and he shall have power and
dominion like this god.
If thou shalt undertake to perform for the deceased that which is
ordered in this "Chapter of the four blazing torches," each day,
thou shalt cause the form of the deceased to come forth from every
hall [in the Tuat], and from the Seven Halls of Osiris. And he shall
live in the form of the God. He shall have power and dominion
corresponding to those of the gods and the Spiritsouls for ever and
ever. He shall enter in through the secret pylons and shall not be
turned back in the presence of Osiris. And it shall come to pass,
provided that the following things be done for him, that he shall
enter in and come forth. He shall not be turned back. No boundary
shall be set to his goings, and the sentence of the doom shall not
be passed upon him on the Day of the Weighing of Words before
Osiris never, never.
And thou shalt perform whatsoever [is written in] this book on
behalf of the deceased, who shall thereby become perfect and pure. And
thou shalt "open his mouth" with the instrument of iron. And thou
shalt write down these things in accordance with the instructions
which are found in the books of Prince Herutataf, who discovered
them in a secret coffer (now they were in the handwriting of the god
[Thoth] himself and had been deposited in the Temple of the goddess
Unnut, the Lady of Unu) during a journey which he was making in
order to inspect the temples, and the templeestates, and the
sanctuaries of the gods. And thou shalt perform these ceremonies
secretly in the Tuatchamber of the tomb, for they are mysteries of
the Tuat, and they are symbolic of the things which are done in
KhertNeter.
And thou shalt say: I have come, I have advanced hastily. I cast
light upon his (the deceased's) footsteps. I am hidden, but I cast
light upon his hidden place. I stand up close to the Tet. I stand up
close to the Tet of Ra, I turn back the slaughter. I am protecting
thee, O Osiris.
RUBRIC: This Chapter shall be recited over a Tet of crystal, which
shall be set upon a brick made of crude mud, whereupon this Chapter
hath been inscribed. Thou shalt make a cavity in the west wall [of the
tomb], and having turned the front of the Tet towards the east, thou
shalt wall up the cavity with mud which hath been mixed with extract
of cedar. This Tet shall drive away the enemies of Osiris who would
set themselves at the east wall [of the tomb].
And thou shalt say: I have driven back thy foes. I keep watch over
thee. He that is upon his mountain (Anpu) keepeth watch over thee
ready for the moment when thy foes shall attack thee, and he shall
repulse them for thee. I will drive back the Crocodile at the moment
when it attacketh thee, and I will protect thee, O Osiris Nu.
RUBRIC: This Chapter shall be recited over a figure of Anpu made
of crude mud mixed with incense. And the figure shall be set upon a
brick made of crude mud, whereupon this Chapter hath been inscribed.
Thou shalt make a cavity in the east wall, and having turned the
face of the figure of Anpu towards the west wall [therein] thou
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 77
Page No 80
shalt wall up the cavity. This figure shall repulse the enemies of
Osiris, who would set themselves at the south wall.
And thou shalt say; I am the belt of sand round about the hidden
coffer. I turn back the force of the blazing fire of the funerary
mountain. I traverse the roads, and I protect the Osiris Nu, the
steward of the overseer of the seal, whose word is truth.
RUBRIC: This Chapter shall be recited over a brick made of crude mud
whereon a copy of this Chapter hath been inscribed. And thou shalt
place a reed in the middle thereof, and thou shalt smear it with
pitch, and set light thereto. Then thou shalt make a cavity in the
south wall, and, having turned the front of the brick towards the
north, thou shalt wall the brick up inside it. [It shall repulse the
enemies of the Osiris Nu] who would assemble at the north wall.
And thou shalt say: O thou who comest to set fire [to the tomb or
mummy], I will not let thee do it. O thou who comest to cast fire
[herein], I will not let thee do it. I will burn thee, and I will cast
fire upon thee. I protect the Osiris Nu, the steward of the overseer
of the seal, whose word is truth.
RUBRIC: This Chapter shall be recited over a brick of crude mud,
whereon a copy of this Chapter hath been inscribed. [And thou shalt
set upon it] a figure of the deceased made of palm wood, seven fingers
in height. And thou shalt perform on it the ceremony of "Opening the
Mouth." Then thou shalt make a cavity in the north wall, and having
[placed the brick and the figure inside it], and turned the face of
the figure towards the south, thou shalt wall up the cavity. [It shall
repulse the enemies of the Osiris Nu], who would assemble at the south
wall.
And behold, these things shall be done by a man who is washed clean,
and is ceremonially pure, and who hath eaten neither meat nor fish,
and who hath not [recently] had intercourse with women. And behold,
thou shalt make offerings of cakes and ale to these gods, and shalt
burn incense on their fires. Every Spiritsoul for whom these things
shall be done shall become like a holy god in KhertNeter, and he
shall not be turned back at any gate in Amentet, and he shall be in
the following of Osiris, whithersoever he goeth, regularly and
continually.
.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The Egyptian Book of the Dead 78
Bookmarks
1. Table of Contents, page = 3
2. The Egyptian Book of the Dead, page = 4
3. E.A. Wallis Budge, page = 4