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As you all well know My Coven Has an Egyptian theme.

While I was searching for some thing I came across this interesting page.

Egyptian Book of the Dead:

An Introduction to the Book of the Dead:

The Book of the Dead is the name given by Egyptologists to a group of mortuary spells written on sheets of papyrus covered with magical texts and accompanying illustrations called vignettes. These were placed with the dead in order to help them pass through the dangers of the underworld and attain an afterlife of bliss in the Field of Reeds. Some of the texts and vignettes are also found on the walls of tombs and on coffins or written on linen or vellum rather than on papyrus.

The texts are divided into individual spells or chapters, nearly two hundred in total, though no one papyrus contains them all. Specific chapters could be selected out of the total repertoire. If the prospective owner of a Book was wealthy and his death not untimely, he might commission a scribe to write the text for him, based upon his personal choice of spells. Other less wealthy clients had to make do with a ready written text, a template, in which spaces had been left for the insertion of the name and titles of the buyer.

These spells were influenced by and developed after the Pyramid Texts and Coffin Texts. The spells were originally designated by the Egyptians as the Book of the Coming Forth by Day, expressing the freedom granted to the spirit forms to come and go as they pleased in the afterlife. The Spells in this Book, like the Pyramid Texts and the Coffin Texts (which were named those by Egyptologists), primarily served to provision and protect the deceased. It is concerned with descriptions. and with practical help and magical assistance for the hereafter.

Early examples of spells from the Book of the Dead are found on mummy cloths and coffins of the New Kingdom, as were used commonly by officials beginning with the reign of Tuthmosis III, and then they appear on papyri. By the reign of Merneptah the spells appear on the walls of certain tomb chambers, beginning with Spell 125, the Judgment of the Dead. The spells also appeared continuously through the Third Intermediate Period and the Late Period.
Some spells such as #148 and 110 appear on temple walls, the latter at Medinet Habu. The chapters such as spells 26-30, and occasionally spell 6 and spell 126, regarding the heart, were inscribed on scarabs.

At first, only in certain cases and for special emphasis did spells include a vignette, a symbolic representation in pictorial form summarizing the intent or content of a spell. In a burial chamber from the reign of Tuthmosis III, only two of a total of 35 spells are illustrated, but by the Ramesside Period, the reverse is true and only a few spells are un-illustrated. In Dynasty 21 and in the Late Period, vignettes were often used for the spells, without the texts. But in many manuscripts the vignettes constitute a row of pictures, with texts placed beneath them.

The earliest Book of the Dead on record dates to the mid-fifteenth century BCE, but some of the spells had their origins in the Pyramid Texts from the 5th and 6th Dynasties, carved more than 1000 years earlier. The Pyramid Texts themselves in part refer in their own turn to rituals and practices probably in common usage 1000 years prior to them.

The Pyramid Texts were carved on the inside or pyramid walls of Kings and queens of the 6th Dynasty and early First Intermediate Period for another 200 years. Eventually more spells were added to the Pyramid Text repertoire, and the texts were written now in the cursive script called hieratic, not in hieroglyphics, within the wooden coffins. These texts are thus now known as Coffin Texts.

In the Coffin Texts, as in the Book of the Dead, the sun-god is no longer supreme with regard to the afterlife, as he was in the Pyramid Texts. Some spells in the Book of the Dead still praise the sun-god Ra as being all-important. But, now it is Osiris, the king of the underworld, under whom the blessed dead hope to spend eternity, and it is Osiris with whom the dead become assimiliated as "the Osiris X", where X is the name of the deceased. Osiris also became the judge of the dead, before whom a trial would take place to determine if the deceased was worthy to enter the realm of Osiris in the afterlife.

The Coffin Texts also spoke of a belief in an afterlife spent in the Field of Reeds where agricultural tasks would be performed by the deceased for all eternity. To undertake this work for the deceased, the ushabti-formaula makes its first appearance in the Coffin Texts, and are later incorporated into the Book of the Dead. The ushabtis were small figurines, often representing the deceased or servants of the deceased. They would act as magical substitute workers and relieve the deceased of all hard work in the afterlife.

None of these concepts were incongruous to the Egyptian. He could believe in an afterlife in which he would spend eternity in the company of the circumpolar stars as a blessed akh, yet also be restricted to the burial chamber and offering chapel of the tomb as a ka, but also visit the world of the living, inhabit the Field of Reed, and travel across the sky and through the underworld as a ba with the sun-god.

by Marie Parsons

I don't know if anyone has heard of it or has read it.

I am leaving the link so you can take a look.
http://www.touregypt.net/bkofdead.htm

Tell me what you think.

I actually own the copy of the book...:)

With the atual hyms of osiris translated into english LOL

:) here is one for interest sake

Thank you for sharing, That hymn is great.

Ahhh the Ancient Egyptians....you gotta love 'em...one of my favourite civilizations along with the Ancient Greeks

"The earliest Book of the Dead on record dates to the mid-fifteenth century BCE"

No such thing as the Egyptians or pyramids during this time in antiquity--just thought I point that out. Around 5,000 BC, early--really early--pyramids were being built, in the form of Ziggurats, or just temples built on top of another one. The civilizations that built temples like this had nothing resembling The Book of the Dead, especially not the Egyptian Book of the Dead. I might have more to comment on, since this is really the only way to get initial thought out on this style of forum.

Strigocia:
I would to have you comment more on this subject. I can only tell you where it is as the link above.

I would really love for you to take a look at it and tell me what you think.

"The Coffin Texts also spoke of a belief in an afterlife spent in the Field of Reeds where agricultural tasks would be performed by the deceased for all eternity."

The Field of Reeds was not as this person says. In Egytian myth, The Field of Reeds was their paradise, a place to live this new immortal life as they see fit--not to work in a field. Everything the deceased needed would be given to them and work was not necessary.

The Book of the Dead was not just a spell book. It was directions. The deceased had to pass many trials, and depending on how well their Book was written (Or what they could afford to be included), the deceased had either a good or bad chance of reaching The Field of Reeds. But, they also had to pass the "Weighing of the Heart," this being the reason the heart was removed during mummification. They would have to place their heart on a scale and it would have to be balanced with a feather--not to heavy or light. There was no spell to get a person through this part, and it ment either their paradise or their eternal pain.

Strigocia:

As I am working my way through this book, I do not have a solid base to go on. I know that what I have in the leading post is an introduction. I find it very fascinating. I hope to have it finished soon.

I will bow to your wisdom, and say for now, that the woman who wrote the introduction didn't understand what it was.

i have always been intrigued by ancient egypt. love the culture and the way of life that they had to live...studied that as well

i also own a copy of this book and many others that are of great knowledge to all

Master druid

Masterdruid:

There seems to be a some debate that this book is authentic.

I have now, 2 people who have a copy
of this book.

Do you think it is a authentic representation of the "Book of the Dead" ?

I thought it was fascinating. I am thinking of putting it in my Coven. I would like to see what my members think about it.

I found this very interesting:

The Chapter Of Bringing Words Of Power To The Osiris Ani,

who saith: I am Tem-Khepera who produced himself on the thighs of his divine mother. Those who dwell in Nu have been made wolves, and those who are among the Tchatcha Chiefs have become hyenas. Behold, I will gather together to myself this charm from the person with whom it is [and from the place] wherein it is [and it shall come to me] quicker than a greyhound, and swifter that light. Hail, thou who bringest the Ferry-Boat of Ra, thou holdest thy course firmly and directly in the north wind as thou sailest up the river towards the Island of Fire which is in Khert-Neter. Behold, thou shalt gather together to thee this charm from wheresoever it may be, and from whomsoever it may be with [and it shall come to me] quicker than a greyhound, and swifter than light. It (the charm) made the transformations of Mut; it fashioned the gods [or] kept them silent; by it Mut gave the warmth [of life] to the gods. Behold, these words of power are mine, and they shall come unto me from wheresoever they may be, or with whomsoever they may be, quicker than greyhounds and swifter than light, or, according to another reading, "swifter than shadows."



Book of the Dead

so are the spells in this book of the dead to keep the dead in or release the spirit out..

what exactly are the spells for? I don't get it.

Now you must have known I had one too? :)
I also have a copy of "Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines." Both by the same author. "W.Y.Evans-Wentz." They both make a good read. He also has two other books out too.

Billythe Just, can you please explain what the spells are for. I don't understand as I am kind of new to this stuff.

Sorry, my bad. My head is still spinning from massage class. I have the "Tibetan Book of the Dead." Not Egyptian. Please pay me no mind.

BillyTheJust:

What exactly are the differences between the Egyptian and Tibetian Books of the Dead?

The Tibetan Book, real simple version so not to go off topic, is recited to a dying person or dead to help them pass over. They believe that the afterlife is in layers. This "guide" is to help them find their way. It also has many helpful words for the living as well. Sometimes it is recited at "alternate funerals."

The Egyptian Book of the Dead is a very specific book. It is a book in the sense that it was put together, like a book, to be placed with the deceased. Sir E. A. Wallis Budge discovered and translated the most complete version of a Book of the Dead, only to chop it up in pieces to make further translation easier. Like I said before, depending on a persons standing, a Book of the Dead could be complete or only part, whatever they could afford. A Tibetian book of the Dead more than likely was used for the same thing. The spells in the Egyptian book are and were never ment for the living world. They are only ment to be used by the spirt in it's trial to get to paradise.

Strigocia:

The spells are used by the dead, to overcome different obstacles, in order reach what was heaven, for lack of a better term, to them?

Yes. Think of it this way: they used the book of the dead like a map. They followed the directions in the book, which told them everything to say. Most of the trials were in the form of questions. They would have to know how to answer the questions correctly to move to the next stage. Some of the spells where used to defeat monsters that were ment to stop you through the different stages. The only part of the trials where the book was useless what the final stage, "The weighing of the heart." The deceased would literally put their heart on a scale, in hopes that it would balance out with a feather. If they were heavy hearted they would not worthy of paradise. The same goes if they were too light hearted. :) It was required that they were fair and balanced in their life to move on to The land of the reeds.

This all pretty cool. I like the fact that death used to come with instructions....Of I believe that the soul is reborn each time with a purpose so I guess I will still just enjoy the historical value of the info.

Thanks for info BillytheJust.

Strigocia:

Even with the spells that are used to help with the trials, it all comes down to if your life was balanced while you were alive?

This is the basic premise of the Book of the Dead?

Funny how the book of dead holds sway over the living, and inverse is true for the book of the living.

According to the those, with more knowledge than I possess, the book of the dead was never to be seen by the living.

I know that it is my topic, and I don't want to go to much off topic: How many books oof the dead are there?

I had a pdf format of the book, containing the hymns in hieroglyphs and beneath in english.

I wa always fascinated in Egyptian Mythology. I also ahave a necklace which i always wear, an ankh filled with hieroglyphs (its an ankh of luck)

i'm not a great expert about egyptians, it's not a culture i'm really interested in, but i've read part of the book... i know there are 3 versions of it coming from 3 different times... i read it long ago and i don't remember a lot anymore, but i could take it back and read it if anyone is interested in something.

BroomhildaVonHex:

The three different parts that you mentioned, are they the trials that were spoken of earlier in the thread?

Actually, anyone who knows this, can anwer.

The earliest version, Heliopolitan, is from the 16th century BC from the V to the XII Dynasty, written by the priests of the college of Annu (or Anu). Then there is the the Theban version, from the XVIII alla XXII dinasty and the last is the Saite version from the XXVI dinasty.

BroomhildaVonHex:

Do they all contain spells to help the dead reach paradise?

Are they also to help the dead to make the transition from life to new life or afterlife?

"The earliest version, Heliopolitan, is from the 16th century BC from the V to the XII Dynasty, written by the priests of the college of Annu (or Anu). Then there is the the Theban version, from the XVIII alla XXII dinasty and the last is the Saite version from the XXVI dinasty."

I am going to say this again, but I could be proven wrong. There was no Eqypt (it is the Egyptian book that we are speaking of) and there was no written language of priests in that century. The first written language, used mainly by religious figures, was not created until around the 4th century BC. Perhaps the Book of the Dead that you speak of shares stories from that time, but it is not possible that it was written during that time. :)

it's a book about prayers, advices and magic spells to protect the soul (Ka) in the dead world... that's almost all i know *sorry*

Thank you all. All of the information I have receive on this subject, has been astounding.
It is something I am going to continue to look into.

yup, it's interesting indeed, i've learnt new things myself reading the posts in this thread... very interesting- as well- is the Necronomicon (i hope to have spelt it right), it's another book of the dead.

BroomhildaVonHex:

From what culture is the book you mention from? I have never heard of it. I have to admit the only one I was aware of is the Egyptian one.

it's from Arab culture, Yemen if i don't remember bad... The original title was Al Azif that should indicated strange nocturnal sounds that were supposed to be the howl of the demons. I guess if you do some researches online you can find something about it, else i can pass you few links.

I had no idea there was so many books of the dead about. I would really like to know how many there are. I have three others than the original Egyptian one that I found. I know the topic is actually for the Egyptian Book of the Dead.

Since there seems to be many more out there if you know of any others, please feel free to post about it here.

BroomhildaVonHex:

Please feel free to put the links here in this thread. I am sure, I am not the only one, who would be interested to read about another Book of the Dead.

i would like to see both...it would be interesting to compare and see which holds what.

very interesting,i own a copy of The Egyptian Book of the Dead(E.A.Wallis Budge)and would like to know how accurate this translation is,my thanks.....

It is an interesting read. However, I find that the true method of discovering these methods comes from the death within oneself, thus, weeding out that which is not needed.

I had the verson of the Necronomicon as well. Its quite difficult to understand.

the link is the online pdf versoin of the necronomicon.

http://www.galdar.de/necronomicon.pdf#search='necronomicon%20pdf'

yes! all books mentioned her divine
egyptian book of the dead is great
tibetan book of the dead as well
and others mentioned.
thanks for hymm to osiris by the way.

I also thought it was interesting to have so many books of instruction for the dead.

I am still waiting to see if anyone knows of any others.

Dark Greeting's, Try the book of Comeing Forth by Day. i write Heiroglyphics.
Dark Blessing's,
KA

KA0000:

Thank you for your input. I definitely will look for the book you mentioned.

I don't want to knock this thread off topic - but can someone tell me where you get any of these books (I know its not Amazon)

Artemka:

I found the version I have, though Google.
If you search for "Book of the Dead" you should be able to find the books themselves, and where they can be acquired.

I have not been able to find any more then what has already been mentioned.

Thank you

It is always a pleasure to help another, as so many have help me.

one thing I would like to add is that there have been improvements to the understanding of heiroglyphs since the advent of e.a.wallace budges' translation.
as a personal prefrence I try to find other translations and compare them in particular regard to this work. the main reason being that e.a. budges' translation reads too much like a king james bible for my taste. there are other translations unfortunatly I cant recall the translators names off hand though I will get back with some when I have remembered or come across them again.

PashaBendtt:

I believe it is a well establish fact:
You always lose something in the translation. I would be interested in know what you find.

I've been very obsessed with Egyptian history and mythology since I was a girl and have studied it extensively, I think I was First hooked when I was 17 and saw the Ramesses II exhibit in Charlotte.I too have owned a copy of the Book of the Dead for many years now.truly fascinating reading.

you would love San Jose, then. We have a Egyptian museum here. It is call the ruscistian(sp?) museum.. It has a lot of information about anciet Egypt.

I have come across the two translators I was refering to earlier
Ramses Seleem and
Raymond Faulkner
from what I have seen their translations are more current though there may be others that I have yet to come across.

PashaBrendtt:

That is very interesting. Do you know if they are online somewhere?

PrettyViolence:

Can you tell us more about the Egyptian museum in your area?

All of this is very inresting ...
This maybe a bit off topic , and maybe not..
I love the first movie.. The mummy In the movie they used the book of the dead .. But there was another book in the movie it was it was to bring life .. Is there supposed to be a book to bring life as well?

In answer to Artemka"s question on where to get a copy,any major book store with a good New Age section will carry it,for instance,Waldenbooks,Books a Million,Barns and Noble,if they don't carry it they can order it for you....Be Well

i have hear about it on tv, but not really sure what it is.

I actually saw the special on this the other week.It was totally interesting, The documentary almost sounded like it was a scam that was being ran on people 100 years ago.

there are exerpts on line of the other translations but I havent found an entire copy usualy what I find is hardcopies for sale.

it is about the body being The temple

worship of it

and through it merging with the basic energy

the sacredness of the body

it being the only vehicle to link to the source

this is not about necrophillia or spirits or the dead even

it is about the body

worship of the body
the temple with its gates

the sacredness

this is a secret

to the garden

the secret garden

like Bruce Springsteen says

now ive said too much
i havent said enough

million miles away
always

as it should be

and it is

LadyRaisha:

Thank you for the link to the Necronomicon.

hmm....have the book...I haven't actually read it due to I dont really like to read alot...its an older copy I found in the new age section of a used book dealer....I'd be curious to know how simular or varying it is to the Necronomicon: Book of the Dead

MyrrhkuriTheFallenOne:

If you decided to read and compare the two, please let us know if there are any differences.

I have heard of this, thank you for providing a link and your thoughts on it

Are we speaking of the H.P.Lovecraft version of The Necronomicon? If this is the case, it is a work of fiction, and only the stolen stories can be debated as true. It was created to go along with his Cthulhu mythos of stories.

I love the Egyptians and anything to do with the Greek Mythology I will go check out the link and thank you for the Info..

The Egyptians are the most interesting culture I think out there next to the Greeks. I apprreciate the info. I will check it out....

I know that there are mummies and sarcophagus, and there some scrolls there also. it is really very interesting.