Pyramid Texts

Glossaries

Term	Definition
Pyramid Texts	The Pyramid Texts are the oldest Egyptian religious writings, inscribed on the walls of the pyramids of Old Kingdom pharaohs to ensure their afterlife. The Pyramid Texts form the oldest known religious corpus of ancient Egypt, dating back to the Old Kingdom around 2350 BCE. Initially reserved for pharaohs, these texts were inscribed inside the burial chambers of pyramids to ensure the king's protection and resurrection in the afterlife. They include spells, prayers, and magical formulas to help the deceased defend against the dangers of the underworld and achieve their ascent to the sky to join the gods, particularly Ra, the sun god, and Osiris, the god of resurrection. A key theme is the protection of the royal body and the unification of the pharaoh with the divine. These texts later evolved into the Coffin Texts in the Middle Kingdom and the Book of the Dead in the New Kingdom.

Term

Definition

The Pyramid Texts are the oldest Egyptian religious writings, inscribed on the walls of the pyramids of Old Kingdom pharaohs to ensure their afterlife.

The Pyramid Texts form the oldest known religious corpus of ancient Egypt, dating back to the Old Kingdom around 2350 BCE. Initially reserved for pharaohs, these texts were inscribed inside the burial chambers of pyramids to ensure the king's protection and resurrection in the afterlife. They include spells, prayers, and magical formulas to help the deceased defend against the dangers of the underworld and achieve their ascent to the sky to join the gods, particularly Ra, the sun god, and Osiris, the god of resurrection. A key theme is the protection of the royal body and the unification of the pharaoh with the divine. These texts later evolved into the Coffin Texts in the Middle Kingdom and the Book of the Dead in the New Kingdom.