_INTRODUCTORY_
The Book of the Dead may be described as the soul"s _vade mec.u.m_ in the journey from this world. It prescribes the forms the soul must have at command in order to ward off the dangers on the way to the underworld, during residence in the world, and on the journey back.
The ancient Egyptians considered this book as inspired by the G.o.ds, who caused their scribe, Thoth, to write it down. Every chapter is supposed to exist for the sake of persons who have died. Sometimes chapters had to be recited before the body was put down out of sight. Often a chapter, or more than one, was inscribed on the coffin, or sarcophagus, or mummy wrappings, this being thought a sure protection against foes of every kind.
This collection has been chiefly found written on papyrus in hieroglyphic or hieratic characters on coffins, mummies, sepulchral wrappings, statues, and on the walls of tombs. Complete copies have been found written on tombs of the time of the 26th Dynasty (about 800 B.C.).
There are many recensions, or editions, in the various libraries of Europe and also in the East, and no two of them are identical in the text. Lepsius translated from the Turin papyrus; Budge bases his translations on what is called the Theban recension. But in all the text is exceedingly corrupt, and translation is often no more than a guess.
Owing to the number of proper names and technical terms which we have no means of understanding, it is often quite impossible to know the drift of large paragraphs, and even of whole chapters. Since many of the chapters were treated merely as having a magical efficacy either when recited or when inscribed on something buried with the body, it was of small consequence whether or not the words were understood. The bare recital or writing of names of G.o.ds, etc., had a magical efficacy according to the people who counted the Book of the Dead their sacred scriptures.
As regards date, the greater number of the hymns and prayers were recited by the people of Egypt on behalf of their deceased friends before the first dynasty had begun to reign. Birch says before 3000 B.C.
The hymns and prayers were first of all preserved in the memory only, and their number was at an early time but small. They were written down when the priests had doubts with regard to the meaning of certain terms, and wished to hand them on unimpaired to posterity, being influenced by the belief that the words of this sacred book were, as such, magically potent. The oldest extant papyrus containing the Book of the Dead belongs to the 18th Dynasty, _i.e._, about 1500 B.C.; but we do not come across a complete copy, with the chapters collected and set in order much as they are to-day, until the 26th Dynasty (about the 7th century B.C.). Previous to this the chapters seem to have been put together with no regard to order; probably they existed on different papyri, which were used as occasion required. Commonly they would be sold, and for that purpose stored up.
The translations which can be recommended to students are those by Renouf, with text and notes; Budge, with text and notes; and that by C.H.S. Davis, U.S.A. (based on Pierre). All these editions include the vignettes, which are very helpful in understanding the text.
_I.--THE SCRIBE ANI PLEADS WITH OSIRIS THROUGH THOTH FOR ADMISSION TO THE UNDERWORLD AND FOR A SAFE EVIT (RESURRECTION)_
(Osiris)[1] Ani the Scribe says: Praise be to thee, Osiris Bull [so he was often represented]. O Amentet [the lower world] the eternal king is here to put words into my mouth. I am Thoth, the great G.o.d in the sacred book, who fought for thee. I am one of the great G.o.ds that fought on behalf of Osiris. Ra, the sun-G.o.d, commanded me--Thoth--to do battle on the earth for the wronged Osiris, and I obeyed. I am among them moreover who wait over Osiris, now king of the underworld.
I am with Horus, son of Osiris, on the day when the great feast of Osiris is kept. I am the priest pouring forth libations at Tattu, I am the prophet in Abydos. I am here, O ye that bring perfected souls into the abode of Osiris, bring ye the perfected soul of (Osiris) the Scribe Ani, into the blissful home of Osiris. Let him see, hear, stand, and sit as ye do in the home of Osiris.
O ye who give cakes and ale to perfected souls, give ye at morn and at eve cakes and ale to the soul of Ani the Scribe.
O ye who open the way and prepare the paths to the abode of Osiris, open the way and prepare the path that the soul of (Osiris) Ani the Scribe may enter in confidence and come forth [on the resurrection]
victoriously. May he not be turned back, may he enter and come forth; for he has been weighed in the scale and is "not lacking."[2]
_II.--THE PRAYER OF ANI THE SCRIBE_
_The chapter about coming forth by day and living after death._
Says (Osiris) Ani: O thou, only shining one of the moon; let me, departing from the crowd on earth, find entrance into the abode of shades. Open then for me the door to the underworld, and at length let me come back to earth and perform my part among men.
_A chapter whereby the funeral statuettes (Shabti) may be made to work for a man in the underworld._[3]
O thou statuette there! If in the underworld I shall be called upon to perform any tasks, be thou my representative and act for me--planting and sowing fields, watering the soil and carrying the sands of East and West.
_A chapter concerning the piercing of the back of Apepi._[4]
Tur, the overseer of the houses, says through his G.o.d Tmu: O thou wax one[5] who takest thy victims captive and destroyest them, who preyest upon the weak and helpless, may I never be thy victim; may I never suffer collapse before thee. May the venom never enter my limbs, which are as those of the G.o.d Tmu. O let not the pains of death, which have reached thee; come upon me. I am the G.o.d Tmu, living in the foremost part of Tur [the sky]. I am the only one in the primordial water. I have many mysterious names, and provide myself a dwelling to endure millions of years. I was born of Tmu, and I am safe and sound.
_About contending against fever with the shield of truth and good conduct._
Says (Osiris) Ani: I go forth against my foes endowed with the defence of truth and good conduct. I cross the heavens, and traverse the earth.
Though a denizen of the underworld, I tread the earth like one alive, following in the footsteps of the blessed spirits. I have the gift of living a million years. I eat with my mouth and chew with my jaw, because I worship him who is master of the lower world.
_III.--NU PRAISES RA (THE SUN-G.o.d) FOR HIS ABILITY TO GO DOWN INTO THE GRAVE AND RETURN TO EARTH THROUGH THE MAGIC USE OF THE SACRED TEXTS_
_About entering the underworld and coming forth therefrom._
Nu says: I cry aloud to thee, O Ra, thou guardian of the secret portals of Seb [the grave], which leads to where Ra in the underworld holds the balance which weighs every man"s righteousness every day. I have burst the earth [returned to earth]; grant that I may remain on to a good old age.
_IV.--THE SPIRIT OF THE SCRIBE MESEMNETER PRAYS THAT SOME OFFENDED G.o.d MAY BE CONCILIATED_
_About removing the anger of the G.o.d towards the departed one._
The scribe Mesemneter, chief deputy of Amon, says: Praise be to thee, O G.o.d, who makest the moments to glide by, who guardest the secrets of the life beyond that of the earth, and guidest me when I utter words. The G.o.d is angered against me. But let my faults be wasted away, and let the G.o.d of Right and Truth bear them upon me. Remove them wholly from me, O G.o.d of Right and Truth. Let the offended one be at peace with me. Remove the wall of separation from before us.
_A hymn to Ra at his rising and setting_.
(Osiris) the scribe says: Praise to thee, O Ra, when thou risest. Shine thou upon my face. Let me arise with thee into the heavens, and travel with thee in the boat wherein thou sailest on the clouds.
Thou pa.s.sest in peace across the heavens, and art victorious over all thy foes.
Praise to thee who art Ra when thou risest, and Tmu when in beauty thou settest. The dwellers in the land of night come forth to see thee ascend the sky. I, too, would join the throng; O let me not be held back.
_Hymn of praise to Osiris._
Praise be unto thee, Osiris, lord of eternity, who appearest in many guises, and whose attributes are glorious.
Thou lookest towards the underworld and causest the earth to shine as with gold.
The dead rise up to gaze on thy face; their hearts are at peace if they but look on thee.
_V.--LITANY TO OSIRIS_
_Prayer_. Praise to thee, O lord of the starry G.o.ds of Annu, more glorious than the G.o.ds hidden in Annu.
_Answer (repeated after each prayer)._ Grant thou me a peaceful life, for I am truthful and just. I have uttered no falsehoods nor acted deceitfully.
_Prayer_. Praise to thee, O Ani; with thy long strides movest thou across the heavens.
_Prayer_. Praise to thee, O thou who art mighty in thy hour, great and mighty prince, lord and creator of eternity.
_Prayer_. Praise to those whose throne is Right and Truth, who hatest fraud and deceit.
_Prayer_. Praise to thee who bringest Hapi [the Nile]; in thy boat from his source.