Coffin Texts

Glossaries

Term	Definition
Coffin Texts	The Coffin Texts are a collection of funerary writings inscribed inside sarcophagi during Egypt's Middle Kingdom, intended to guide the deceased through the afterlife. The Coffin Texts, also known as Sarcophagus Texts, are a collection of funerary writings used during Egypt's Middle Kingdom (around 2055–1650 BCE). Following the tradition of the Pyramid Texts reserved for pharaohs, the Coffin Texts signify a democratization of funerary practices, extending access to immortality to nobles and officials. These texts were inscribed inside sarcophagi or coffins and contained prayers, spells, and magical incantations meant to protect the deceased, help them overcome challenges in the afterlife, and ensure their resurrection. A key theme is the deceased’s unification with Osiris and the survival of their soul in eternity. The Coffin Texts foreshadow the Book of the Dead of the New Kingdom.

Term

Definition

The Coffin Texts are a collection of funerary writings inscribed inside sarcophagi during Egypt's Middle Kingdom, intended to guide the deceased through the afterlife.

The Coffin Texts, also known as Sarcophagus Texts, are a collection of funerary writings used during Egypt's Middle Kingdom (around 2055–1650 BCE). Following the tradition of the Pyramid Texts reserved for pharaohs, the Coffin Texts signify a democratization of funerary practices, extending access to immortality to nobles and officials. These texts were inscribed inside sarcophagi or coffins and contained prayers, spells, and magical incantations meant to protect the deceased, help them overcome challenges in the afterlife, and ensure their resurrection. A key theme is the deceased’s unification with Osiris and the survival of their soul in eternity. The Coffin Texts foreshadow the Book of the Dead of the New Kingdom.