Book of the Dead Gallery
Papyrus of Any. ca. 1275
Choose from 126 images in our Book of the Dead collection.
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Book of the Dead
Detail from the Book of the Dead of Cesmedhed khonsu, Amon's (Amun) musician. Properly called the "Spells of Coming (or Going) Forth By Day" these would consist of a number of funerary chapters for the deceased to read during their journey into the underworld and would be buried in their tomb with them.The book of the dead evolved over a long period of time from the Pyramid texts of the Old Kingdom until 1600 BC. This painted papyrus shows six painted scenes from a series created for the priests of Amon. The papyrus contains mythological scenes and magical formuli to guide the deceased in the afterlife. The deceased is shown on the right with a table of offerings before the god Osiris. National Archaelogical Museum, Florence
© Sheila Terry
Featured Book of the Dead Image
Book of the Dead of Hori, c. 1069-945 BC. Creator: Unknown
Book of the Dead of Hori, c. 1069-945 BC. The Egyptian Book of the Dead--or as they called it, the Book of Going Forth By Day--was not a single, unified, and authoritative manuscript, but a handful of special spells selected from a pool of about 200 age-old magical formulae. This illustrated Book of the Dead inscribed for the priest Hori includes the so-called Book of Gates. There are sixteen gates through which Hori must pass, each guarded by a fierce, animal-headed, knife-brandishing monster. Among them are "The Mistress of Wrath," "The Fiery One," and the "Long-Horned Bull." To reach the afterlife, Hori must present the gate-keepers with a series of secret passwords provided for him in the papyrus. At the far right, we see Hori, who having completed his task, is now reborn
© Heritage Art/Heritage Images
Featured Book of the Dead Image
Winged scarab pectoral chain, from the tomb of Psusennes I
Winged scarab pectoral chain, from the tomb of Psusennes I. The scarab, representing the god Kheperi the rising sun, holds aloft a cartouche containing the name of the king. On the reverse is chapter 126 of the Book of the Dead calling on the gods of the solar barque of Re to protect the king. Country of Origin: Egypt. Culture: Ancient Egyptian. Date/Period: 21st Dynasty, 1039 - 991 BC. Place of Origin: 3rd Inter, period. Tanis w.15.5 cms. Material Size: Gold, glass, semi-precious stones. Credit Line: Werner Forman Archive/ Egyptian Museum, Cairo . Location: 42A
© Werner Forman Archive / Heritage-Images
