Book of the Dead essays

Book of the Dead essays The Egyptian Book of the Dead is a collection of magic spells and formulas that was illustrated and written, usually on papyrus. It began to appear in Egyptian tombs around 1600 BC. The text was intended to be spoken by the deceased during their journey into the Underworld. It enabled the deceased to overcome obstacles in the afterlife. It did this by teaching passwords that allowed the deceased to turn into mythical creatures to navigate around hazards, while granting the help and protection of the gods, and proclaiming the deceased's identity with the gods. (http://members.aol.com/egyptart/book.html). The Egyptians believed that the human soul used the first night after death to travel into the afterlife. However, the body, which the Egyptians believed was an essential element to the afterlife had to be mummified. And this process took 72 days to perform properly. This also gave them time to put finishing touches on the tomb and to pack all the deceased's worldly possessions, which they would surely need in the afterlife. (http://members.aol.com/egyptart/ani.html) The Hall of Maat is where the judgement of the dead was performed. This was done by weighing one's heart (conscience) against the feather of Maat (truth and justice). When the person arrived for judgment, they would first declare their purity before an assembly of gods including Osiris. The Ibis headed god Thoth was on hand to record the result of the judgment. If the heart was lighter than the feather the dead person was allowed to pass on into the underworld, but if it failed the test then the Eater of souls would devour the deceased (akhet.co.uk/anubis.htm). Religion guided every aspect of Egyptian life. Egyptian religion was based on polytheism, or the worship of many deities, except for during the reign of Akenaton. The Egyptians had as many as 2000 gods and goddesses. Some, such as Amun, were worshipped throughout the whole country...