Book of the Dead

The ancient Egyptian book of the dead, is an old text from around the 9th dynasty, (around 1275)*

The book was a collection, containing various illustrations, that was written on a papyrus scroll. It was usually buried with the deceased, such as mummified rulers. Inside, it gave all the advice and information, that a soul would need, to get to the afterlife safely. The finest copies were written ahead of death.

The netherworld, was imagined as a very hostile world, full of dangers. Without this book being present inside the chamber, it was viewed as unlikely, that the deceased soul, would have been able to safely reach the afterlife.

These spells, and the information contained in the scroll, were very important, in ancient Egyptian culture.

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aes/p/book_of_the_dead_of_ani.aspx *

http://www.britishmuseum.org/pdf/3665_botd_schools_teachers.pdf **

* Indicates reference link.