20: ANCIENT EGYPTIAN BOOKS FOR THE DEAD


Ancient Egyptian books for the dead

"Book of Coming forth by Day"
(modern title "Book of the Dead")

Egyptian writing
Hieroglyphs

Text/image

Papyrus

Papyrus Roll /Scroll

“Rubrics” (titles, special instructions, etc. written in red)


Ancient Egyptian books for the dead:

"Pyramid texts", Old Kingdom, c. 2300 BCE

For king

"Coffin Texts"

First Intermediate Period/Middle Kingdom (c. 2100-1800 BCE)

"Book of Two Ways"

Late Middle Kingdom/Second Int. Period
(c. 1700 BCE onwards)
"Book of Coming forth by Day"
(aka "Book of the Dead"

Spells, chapters

Illustrations, "vignettes"

"Book of the Dead" collection of short texts

No standard order, contents until late

Chapter/Spell numbers


Book of the Dead of Ani in British Museum
(aka Papyrus of Ani)

Budge

Ani
c. 1250 BCE
Scribe, overseer

Wife Tutu
Nebet per (administrator of a household)
Musician of Amun


Paper Assignment next time:

-2000-2500 word paper

-paper will concentrate on specific part of Book of the Dead

-paper will answer questions, use information from class: NOT a research paper