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Book of the Dead
Various Egyptian priests
A collection of funerary spells intended to assist the deceased in the afterlife. Major source for Egyptian underworld mythology and the weighing of the heart ceremony.
Notable Academic Translations
E.A. Wallis Budge (1895)Raymond O. Faulkner (1972)John L. Foster (1998)
Recommended Reading Order
Begin with Spell 125 (the Judgment and Weighing of the Heart), the moral core of Egyptian religion; then read Spell 1 for the tomb procession and Spell 110 for the vision of paradise in Aaru.
Canonical Figures in this Text
Key heroes and divinities who feature prominently across the chapters of this work
Deities & Immortals
Anubis
Jackal-headed master of embalming who guides the soul and balances the scale in the Hall of Truth
Spells 26, 125
Horus
Protective prince and son of Osiris who introduces the vindicated soul to his enthroned father
Spells 125, 173
Ma'at
Goddess of cosmic order whose white ostrich feather is the standard against which the heart is weighed
Spell 125
Ra
Supreme sun god aboard the solar barque whom the blessed dead accompany through eternity
Spells 15, 130
Key Dramatic Scenes
Pivotal passages and mythological turning points recorded in this canon
- I
The Negative Confession (Declaration of Innocence)
(Spell 125)Standing before forty-two divine judges in the Hall of Ma'ati, the deceased recites specific denials of sins, demonstrating a life lived in harmony with Ma'at.
- II
The Weighing of the Heart
(Spell 125 Papyrus of Ani)Anubis balances the deceased's heart (ib) against the feather of truth; Thoth stands poised with stylus and palette while Ammit waits to devour the sinful.
- III
Entrance into the Field of Reeds (Aaru)
(Spell 110)Declared 'true of voice' (maa kheru), the spirit sails into the fertile celestial paradise to plow, reap, and feast beside Osiris forever.
Source Passages and Editorial Notes
Direct quotations are distinguished from editorial paraphrases and records awaiting verification.
Ref: Spell 30B
Original wording unverifiedO my heart which I had from my mother! O my heart of my transformations! Stand not forth against me as a witness, oppose me not in the tribunal, cast no weight against me before the keeper of the balance!
Translator: Raymond O. FaulknerRaymond O. Faulkner, 1985
Featured in The Weighing of the Heart Ceremony →Ref: Spell 125
Editorial paraphraseHail to you, divine lords of truth! I have done no iniquity, I have not diminished the temple offerings, I have not altered the measure of grain. I am pure! I am pure! I am pure! I am pure!
Translator: Raymond O. FaulknerEditorial selection; Faulkner not checked line by line
Featured in The Weighing of the Heart Ceremony →Original Excerpt
Verification pendingWorship of Ra when he rises in the eastern horizon of heaven. Hail to you, Ra, in your rising, Atum-Horakhty.
Translator: Rendering attributed to Faulkner; exact passage wording not independently verifiedNo verified edition or transcription recorded
Featured in Ra →Ref: Spell 151
Verification pendingHail to you, Anubis, keeper of the mysteries of the sacred land! He says: 'I am the protector of Osiris. I give you your head, I reunite your limbs, and I perform the transfiguration rites for you in the house of gold.'
Translator: Raymond O. FaulknerNo verified edition or transcription recorded
Featured in Anubis →Stories Sourced from this Work
The Solar Barque - Ra's Daily Journey
Each day, Ra travels across the sky in his solar barque, bringing light and warmth to the world. As night falls, Ra enters the underworld (Duat), facing his greatest enemy: Apophis.
The Weighing of the Heart Ceremony
When a person dies, their heart is weighed on scales by Anubis against the feather of Ma'at (truth and justice). Thoth records the results.
Journey Through the Duat
The soul's perilous journey through the Egyptian underworld, facing demons and trials before reaching the Hall of Ma'at where the heart is weighed against the feather of truth.