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The Egyptian Book of the dead

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Subjects

Future life Incantations, Egyptian

In: Mythology, Legends & Folklore·History - Ancient·Religion/Spirituality

Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #69566.

About this book

The Egyptian Book of the Dead is a ritual compilation that maps the soul’s journey through the after‑life, organized as a series of numbered chapters and vignettes. The opening of the text presents an extensive index, listing each chapter’s purpose, ranging from “Coming forth by day” and “Entering the Netherworld” to “Opening the Tuat” and “Hymns to Râ.” The catalogue of sections reveals a meticulous structure: protective spells, invocations, and transformations designed to safeguard the deceased against hostile forces, secure the heart, and grant access to divine realms. This systematic layout, with references to plates and specific verses, underscores the work’s function as a practical guide for resurrection and eternal glory, rather than a narrative story.

The voice is that of an ancient priestly scribe, employing formal, formulaic incantations characteristic of Late Egyptian funerary literature. Its style is dense, repetitive, and ritualistic, reflecting the ceremonial language of temple texts. Readers fascinated by Egyptian mythology, comparative religion, or the mechanics of ancient magic will find this collection rewarding, especially those who appreciate detailed spell‑craft and the cultural context of early mortuary practices.

Characters in The Egyptian Book of the dead

N, the VictoriousMale Egyptian noble, linen kilt, white shendyt, gold collar, false beard, solemn expression

The opening · free to read

The Beginning of the Chapters of the Garden of Hotepit, and of the Chapters of coming forth by day; and of entering and coming forth in the Netherworld, and of arriving at the Garden of Aarru, at the Rise(1.) in Hotepit and at the Grand Domain, blest with the breezes: that I may take possession there and be in Glory there: that there I may plough and mow: that there I may eat and drink and love: doing whatsoever things are done upon earth.

Horus is seized by Sutu: who looketh as one turning(2.) towards the Garden of Hotepit.

But for me Sutu releaseth Horus: and the double path which is nigh to Heaven is thrown open by Sutu. And Sutu taketh his portion of the breeze through the Power of his own day,(3.) and he delivereth the bowels of Horus from the gods below.

Lo, I sail the great Bark on the Stream of the god Hotep. I took it at the mansion of Shu.

The mansion of his stars is again and again renewed.(4.) I sail upon its streams that I may come to the domains thereof.

For I am in unison with his successive changes and his rules, and his papyrus,(5.) and his attendant gods, and his chieftains. He reconcileth the two Warrior gods with those who have the charge of food and the beautiful creation which he raiseth up; and he reconcileth the two Warrior gods with each other.(6.)

He severeth the mourners from those who quarrel with them: he putteth a stop to them whose hand is violent against those weaker than themselves: he keepeth within bounds the contentions of the Powers.

May I have possession there.

I know it, and I sail upon its streams that I may come to the domains thereof.

My mouth is potent and secured against the Glorified that they may not have the mastery of me.

May I have the investiture of thy Garden, O Hotep. What thou willest, do thou it.

Let me be glorified there, and eat and drink there, and plough there, and reap there, and grind(7.) there, and have my fill of love there.

May my mouth be potent there, let me there utter my Words of Power and not be slighted.

I am in possession of that Word of Power of mine which is the most potent one within this body of mine here: and by means of it I make myself either known or unknown.

I make my progress and I plough.

I take my rest in the divine Domain.

I know the names of the domains, the districts and the streams within the Garden of Hotep.

I am there, I am master there, I am in glory there, I eat there; I plant and I reap there; I plough there, and I take my fill of love. I am united there with the god Hotep.

I cast my seed there, and I sail upon its stream that I may come to the domains thereof, O Hotep.

Lo, my mouth is armed with sharp points. There is given to me the abundance which belongeth to the Ka and to the Glorified.

I give the reckoning of Shu to him who understandeth it.

I sail upon its stream, and I range within the Garden of Hotep, for Rā is in the sky, and Hotep is putting together the oblations.

I hasten to the land, and I fasten my stole upon me, that I may come forth, and that that may be given to me which hath to be given; that I may have joy and take possession of the wealth which Hotep assigneth to me.

=Rise in Hotep=, I arrive in thee, my soul is with me, and my provision is before the Mistress of the Two Earths, who maketh fast my Words of Power, which recall to mind that which I have forgotten. Let me live free from strife; and be there granted to me enlargement of heart.

Let my arteries be made fast, and let me have the enjoyment of the Breeze.(8.)

Rise in Hotep, blest with the Breeze, I arrive in thee, my head is uncovered: Rā sleepeth, but there waketh for me, and there shineth upon me Hesit [the Cow-goddess](9.) who lieth at the confines of Heaven by night.

He standeth in my way who heapeth against me his own dross.

But I am in my own domain.

=Great Domain=, I arrive in thee and I reckon up the abundance as I pass on to Uach.(10.)

I am the Bull, raised on high in the Blue; the lord of the Bull’s field; which Sothis describeth to me at her successive hours.

=Uach=, I arrive in thee, and I eat my cakes, and take possession of my joints of flesh and meat and fowl.

The winged things of Shu are given to me, and my Kau follow me.(11.)

=T’efait=,(12.) I arrive in thee, I put on the stole and fasten upon me the girdle of Rā, whilst he is in heaven,(13.) and the gods who are in heaven are following Rā.

=Rise in Hotep, Lord of the Two Earths=, I arrive in thee: I salute the stream of T’eserit.(14.) Lo, here am I, and all impurity is far from me. The great one flourisheth ... I net the ducks, and I eat dainties.

=Kankanit=,(15.) I arrive in thee; that I may see my father and attentively view my mother.

I take care to net the reptiles; and that which protecteth me is that I know the name of that god who is next to T’eserit (goddess with flowing locks and armed with horns), and who reapeth.

I myself plough and reap.

=Hesit=, I arrive in thee, and I encounter the Blue.

I follow the Breezes, and the company of the gods.

It is the Great goddess who hath given me my head, and he who fasteneth my head upon me is the Great god, the Blue-eyed, who doeth according to his own will.

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