Book of the Dead

At a glance

History, context & interpretation

The text and its story

Illustrated papyrus scrolls placed in tombs with about 190 known spells. Spell 125 shows the Weighing of the Heart before Osiris, where the deceased recites the 'Negative Confession' of 42 sins not committed.

Traditional attribution

Spells revealed by Thoth, god of writing and magic.

Historical scholarship

Many anonymous scribes; each papyrus was custom-made for its owner, such as the Papyrus of Ani (c. 1250 BCE).

Context and curiosity

The Papyrus of Ani in the British Museum is about 24 metres long.

Chronology and transmission

This text belongs to Ancient Egypt (New Kingdom to Ptolemaic Egypt). The catalogue gives its approximate dating as c. 1550–50 BCE and original language or script as Egyptian (hieroglyphic & hieratic). The dated manuscript witnesses and traditional claims may not refer to the same historical event.

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Sources and further reading

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_the_Dead

Historical descriptions are educational summaries. Religious traditions, scholarly interpretations and unverified claims are distinguished where possible; imagery may be illustrative rather than an artifact photograph.