DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.30604#0039
TIIE VERSIONS OF THE BOOK OF TIIE DEAD.
xxxi
In the Theban version the main principles of the Egyptian religion which
were held in the times when the pyramid texts were written are maintained, and
the views concerning the eternal existence of the soul remain unaltered. Many
passages in the work, however, show that modifications and developments in details
have taken place, and much that is not met with in the early dynasties appears,
so far as we know, for the first time. The vignettes too are additions to the
work; but, although they depict scenes in the life beyond the grave, they do not
seem to form a connected series, and it is doubtful if they are arranged on any
definite plan. A general idea of the contents of this version may be gathered
from the following list of chapters1 *:—
Chapter I. Here begin the Chapters of “ Coming forth by day,” and of the
songs of praise and glorifying,3 and of coming forth from, and going into, the
underworld.3
Vignette : The funeral procession from the house of the dead to the tomb.
Chapter Ib. The Chapter of making the mumrny^_^ J to go into the tuat
* ^ ,4 on the day of the burial.5
Vignette: Anubis standing by the bier upon which the mummy of the
deceased is laid.
Chapter II. [The Chapter of] coming forth by day and of living after death.
Vignette : A man standing, holding a staff J.
Chapter III.* Another Chapter like unto it (i.e., like Chapter II).6
This Chapter has no vignette.
Chapter IV.* Another Chapter of passing along the way over the earth.
This Chapter has no vignette.
1 The various chapters of the Book of the Dead were numbered by Lepsius in his edition of the
Turin papyrus in 1842. This papyrus, however, is a product of the Ptolemai'c period, and contains a
number of chapters which are wanting in the Theban version. For convenience, Lepsius’ numbers are
retained, and the chapters which belong to the Saite version are indicated by an asterisk. For the
hieroglyphic text see Naville, Einleitung, p. 193 ff.
s Another title reads:—“ The Chapter of going in to the divine chiefs of Osiris on the day of the
burial, and of going in after coming forth.” This chapter had to be recited on the day of the burial.
neter %ert, the commonest name for the tomb.
4 The Egyptian underworld.
6 sam tai “ the union with the earth.”
6 In some papyri Chapters II. and III. are united and have only one title; seeNaville, Todtenbuch,
Continuity of
doctrine.
Theban version
list of chapters.
xxxi
In the Theban version the main principles of the Egyptian religion which
were held in the times when the pyramid texts were written are maintained, and
the views concerning the eternal existence of the soul remain unaltered. Many
passages in the work, however, show that modifications and developments in details
have taken place, and much that is not met with in the early dynasties appears,
so far as we know, for the first time. The vignettes too are additions to the
work; but, although they depict scenes in the life beyond the grave, they do not
seem to form a connected series, and it is doubtful if they are arranged on any
definite plan. A general idea of the contents of this version may be gathered
from the following list of chapters1 *:—
Chapter I. Here begin the Chapters of “ Coming forth by day,” and of the
songs of praise and glorifying,3 and of coming forth from, and going into, the
underworld.3
Vignette : The funeral procession from the house of the dead to the tomb.
Chapter Ib. The Chapter of making the mumrny^_^ J to go into the tuat
* ^ ,4 on the day of the burial.5
Vignette: Anubis standing by the bier upon which the mummy of the
deceased is laid.
Chapter II. [The Chapter of] coming forth by day and of living after death.
Vignette : A man standing, holding a staff J.
Chapter III.* Another Chapter like unto it (i.e., like Chapter II).6
This Chapter has no vignette.
Chapter IV.* Another Chapter of passing along the way over the earth.
This Chapter has no vignette.
1 The various chapters of the Book of the Dead were numbered by Lepsius in his edition of the
Turin papyrus in 1842. This papyrus, however, is a product of the Ptolemai'c period, and contains a
number of chapters which are wanting in the Theban version. For convenience, Lepsius’ numbers are
retained, and the chapters which belong to the Saite version are indicated by an asterisk. For the
hieroglyphic text see Naville, Einleitung, p. 193 ff.
s Another title reads:—“ The Chapter of going in to the divine chiefs of Osiris on the day of the
burial, and of going in after coming forth.” This chapter had to be recited on the day of the burial.
neter %ert, the commonest name for the tomb.
4 The Egyptian underworld.
6 sam tai “ the union with the earth.”
6 In some papyri Chapters II. and III. are united and have only one title; seeNaville, Todtenbuch,
Continuity of
doctrine.
Theban version
list of chapters.