Book of Amduat

Glossaries

Term	Definition
Book of Amduat	The Book of Amduat is a major ancient Egyptian funerary text from the New Kingdom. It describes Ra's nightly journey through the underworld, dividing his path into twelve hours representing stages of the afterlife. The Book of Amduat, meaning "That Which Is in the Afterlife," is an ancient Egyptian funerary text from the New Kingdom, primarily inscribed in royal tombs. It provides a detailed account of Ra's nightly journey through the twelve regions of the underworld, each corresponding to an hour of the night. This journey symbolizes the daily cycle of the sun's rebirth and reflects ancient Egyptian beliefs in the pharaoh's role and cosmic order. The Amduat's illustrations and inscriptions depict intricate scenes of the underworld, including gods, the deceased, demons, and challenges faced along the way. The text was intended to guide the deceased's soul through these stages, ensuring their rebirth and immortality. Tombs of pharaohs such as Thutmose III and Ramses VI feature detailed versions of the text, emphasizing its importance in royal funerary rituals.

Term

Definition

The Book of Amduat is a major ancient Egyptian funerary text from the New Kingdom. It describes Ra's nightly journey through the underworld, dividing his path into twelve hours representing stages of the afterlife.

The Book of Amduat, meaning "That Which Is in the Afterlife," is an ancient Egyptian funerary text from the New Kingdom, primarily inscribed in royal tombs. It provides a detailed account of Ra's nightly journey through the twelve regions of the underworld, each corresponding to an hour of the night. This journey symbolizes the daily cycle of the sun's rebirth and reflects ancient Egyptian beliefs in the pharaoh's role and cosmic order.

The Amduat's illustrations and inscriptions depict intricate scenes of the underworld, including gods, the deceased, demons, and challenges faced along the way. The text was intended to guide the deceased's soul through these stages, ensuring their rebirth and immortality. Tombs of pharaohs such as Thutmose III and Ramses VI feature detailed versions of the text, emphasizing its importance in royal funerary rituals.