Book of the Dead

Glossaries

Term	Definition
Book of the Dead	The Book of the Dead of ancient Egypt is a collection of funerary texts consisting of spells and prayers, designed to guide the deceased through the afterlife. The Book of the Dead is a collection of ancient Egyptian funerary texts that emerged during the New Kingdom (around 1550 BCE). These texts, written on papyri and often placed in the tombs of the deceased, contain magical formulas, spells, and prayers intended to guide the deceased through the afterlife. Their purpose was to protect the dead from the dangers of the underworld, help them overcome post-mortem trials, and ensure their passage to immortality. One of the most famous parts is the scene of the weighing of the heart, where the deceased is judged before Osiris. The Book of the Dead follows the tradition of the Pyramid Texts and Coffin Texts of earlier periods but became more widely accessible across different social classes.

Term

Definition

The Book of the Dead of ancient Egypt is a collection of funerary texts consisting of spells and prayers, designed to guide the deceased through the afterlife.

The Book of the Dead is a collection of ancient Egyptian funerary texts that emerged during the New Kingdom (around 1550 BCE). These texts, written on papyri and often placed in the tombs of the deceased, contain magical formulas, spells, and prayers intended to guide the deceased through the afterlife. Their purpose was to protect the dead from the dangers of the underworld, help them overcome post-mortem trials, and ensure their passage to immortality. One of the most famous parts is the scene of the weighing of the heart, where the deceased is judged before Osiris. The Book of the Dead follows the tradition of the Pyramid Texts and Coffin Texts of earlier periods but became more widely accessible across different social classes.