Ques ; What Is The Egyprian Book Of The Dead ?

Ans ; The Egyprian Book Of The Dead is a sacred writeing of inspiration filled with Prayers , Short litanies ( A Form Of Prayer ) , And recitations , That was recited by your Ancient Egyptian Ancestors on behalf of their relatives that had passed on to a future life . For the greatest importance is attached to this composition , In knowing that these recitals will secure for the deceased an unhindered passage into the next world and enable the deceased to overcome the opposition of disagreeable influences . They had protection from various amulets and spells that enabled them to fight off these Malveloent Beings . They had spells that would liberate you from certain labors . for instance the poor person who endured physical labor all his life may have a spell recited or engraved in something that would liberate Him / Her from further physical acts . portions of The Book Of The Dead were everntually incorporated into their funeral ceremonies and A Papyrus copy of The Book Of The Dead was placed near The Sarcophagus ( Stone Coffin ) in every tomb .

Ques ; Why Is It Called The Book Of The Dead ?

Ans ; Many ofthe grave or Tomb Robbers called The Scrolls found with the mimmies The Dead Man's Book which became Katab Al Mayyit - arabic - Meaning The Book Of The Dead Man Or Kitab Al Mayyitun - arabic - Meaning Book Of The Dead . Actually The Book Of The Dead was taken from older texts . There are Texts written on The Walls Of The Pyramids which are referred to as The Pyramid Text . These Texts have been modified because it was feared that they were dangerous because of Their Hieroglyphics Of Scorpions , Snakes , Birds and Humans . However , Because of their potential danger they were replaced with symbols in order to ensure the safety of The Deceased Pharaoh .

In order to preserve the bodies of The Dead Relative , Various processes of Embalming were depending on The status of the deceased and The Wealth of the deceased family . There is a period of time where the people are allowed to publicly voice their opinion about their Pharaoh .
In some cases , If he was found to be unjust or cruel during his ruling he was denied a decent burial . When one becomes Pharaoh he is like a link between The '' Gods'' Neteru and man , And must rule justly or receive an eternal mocking after his death , with this in mind The Pharaoh is encouraged to rule justly . A Pharaoh that ruled justly and was loved by his people and received A Royal Funeral . His faithful subjects in the entire kingdom offers dirges , A Funeral Hymn , Twice daily . They fast refraining from Wine , Animal Flesh , Wheat And Sacrifices .

All The Temples are closed , There are no sacrifices made nor celebration festivals given . Mud is placed on their heads weeping . No one bathes or applies any kind of oils , lotions , Unguents Etc . All clothing is rent ( Taken Off ) and girdled below the breast in a knot and all refraiend from sexual intercourse . The Engyptians used were various Embalmining Processes . One Process of Embalming was used only by Kings , Nobles and those who could afford it . The first step in this process is a an incision was made in the left side above the groin , From which the Lungs , Stomach , Intestines , And Liver are removed . These organs are washed in Palm Wine and then stuffed and placed in Canopic Jars made from Albaster . The heart is left inside the body to be weighed against The Ostrich Feather of Truth worn by The Egyptian Netert Maat , Goddes Of Truth and justice , The Daughter Of Ra .

The Jars that the organs were put into have the four sons of Har ( Horus ) on it . They are 1 . Hapi ( Guardian Of The Intestines , Represented By A Baboon's Head , And Is Under The Protection Of The Netert Nebthet , Nephthys ) . Mestha , The Lungs Of The Deceased Is Placed Inside With The Netert Aset ( Isis ) Protecting It , 2 . Qebhsennuf , ( Protector Of The Liver Represented By The Falcon Head ) Under The Protection Of The Netert Serqet , 3 . Duamautef ( Tuamautef ) Guardian Of The Stomach Represented By A Jackals Head A Protector ) Under The Protection Of The Netert Neit Who Also Represent The Four Cardinal Point , And 4 . Imset .

The Brain was removed through The Nostril by an Iron Rod Curved at one end and set aside to be dried and is Buried with the body . As each step is done , A Formula or Prayer from The Book Of The Dead is recited over the body of The Deceased . Once all perishable parts have been removed from The Body , The Body of The Pharaoh would be soaked in a Solution Of Natron For 70 Days ; And longer than that would be Unlawful . The Body Had Natron Crystal Packed Around The Body For 40 Days After Which The Decaying Process Would Stop And The Body Would Be Ready For Wrapping . After This 70 Day Period The Body Is Washed And Dried Carefully . The Natron Turns The Color Of Thin To A Greenish - Grey .

The Hair And Nails Stay Intact ; Yet The Flesh Shrinks . The Fleshy Area , Such As The Finger Tips And Thighs And Back Of The Legs , Are Stuffed With A Mixture Of Sweet Spices And Natron Through Small Vertical Incision Which Are Sewn Up Afterwards . The Nails Vertical Incision Which Are Sewn Up Afterwards . The Nails Are Also Stained With Henna . The Cavity Of The Skull Is Filed With A Mixture Of Spices And Powdered Plaster And Natron . Then Nostril Through Which The Brain Was Removed , Is Plugged With Linen Pledgets That Have Been Dipped In An Astringent .

The Breast And Stomach Are Stuffed Through The Small Slit On The Side With Bitumen And Large Quantities Of Gums , Spices And Natron . After This The Body Is Ready To Be Wrapped . A Small Scrab Ring Is Placed On The Pinky Finger Which Is Suppose To Confer Power On The Deceased . The Body Is Covered With Ungents , And One Side Of The Three Inch Linen Strips Were Covered With A Gum . Many Of These Stripes Are Dipped In Water . The Hands And Feet Are Wrapped Separately Before The Body Is Bandage . Once Completed , The Body Is Wrapped , Starting From The Feet Going Upward Towards The Head , And Jewelry And Amulets Are Placed In Between The Layers .

The Bandages Themselves Are Held Together By Smaller Strips , Wound At The Body At Intervals Of Six And Eight Inches That Are Tied In A Double Knot . Thick Pads Of Linen Are Laid Under The Feet Of The Mummy To Protect It From Injury When It Id Made To Stand Up . The Arms Are Then Folded Across The Stomach , And The Embalming Process Is Completed . There Were Many Other Artifacts Found In The Tombs Such As Personal Things Used By The Deceased , And Things They Would Need Once They Reached The Other Side Such As Various Types Of Food , Jewelry , Tools For Their Profession Such As A Scribe Like Ani Would Have Tablets And A Stylus .

In The Case Of A Pharaoh , He May Have A Chair And His Royal Bark Or Boat Used To Sail The Nile During His Reign , Sealed Inside The Burial Along With Him , And Whatever Other Materials Needed To Prepare The Deceased To Enter A New Physical Life . As The Body Is Being Dried For The Forty To Seventy Day Period , The Coffin Makers Finished A Covering That Is Slightly Vaulted And With A Human Face And Beard On It And A Beautifully Painted Collar To Be Layed Directly Over The Mummy And Two Beautiful Coffins . This Type Of Burial Was Given To The Royal Scribe Ani After His Passing. His Near Friends Had Expected His Departure Due To His Illness And Visted Him Frequently For Long Periods Of Time Alternating . One Night His Illness Took Turn For The Worse And Had Passed A Little After Day Break . The Funeral Priest Was Sent For Who Was Familiar With Royal Funerals . Ani , The Royal Scribe , Had Already Had A Tomb Under Construction , Many Years Before His Wife , Tutu's Passing . She Was Already Layed In The Before His Wife , Tutu's Passing . She Was Already Layed In The Incomplete Tomb , And He Would Join Her Body In The Infinished Tomb .

Tutu Was From One Of The Oldest Honorable Families In Thebes And A Member Of The Choir Of Ladies Who Carried The Sistrum And The Tamborine For Amun Ra And A Member Of The College Of Singers . The Scribe Ani Was Loved By Few But Respected By All For His Integrity And Love And Received All The Lamentation , And Praise Of A Pharaoh , And A Lavish Burial He Was Thought To Be With Constant Communion With The Neteru ( Deities ) And His Relatives Made Sure He Would Be Mummified The Best Way Possible . He Was A Very Learnt Man Of Al Kham ( Egypt ) And Was A Tried Servant Of The Pharaoh King Who Loved Him Well . But Loved Amun Ra More . All His Ancestors Were Worshippers In The Temple Of Apts .

People Who Were Either Of Middle Or Lower Class Received A Less Elaborate Ceremony And Embalming . In Some Cases The Poor Person's Organs Were Removed And Stuffed Yet He Was Soaked For A Shorter Period Of Time Than The 70 Days Or Only His Outer Skin Was Rubbed With Natron And Bitumen . He / She Is Then Wrapped In A Shroud Only Without The Bandages And Place In A Cave , A Hole Or Buried In A Shallow Grave Of Open Desert . In Some Cases If The Person Was Indebt , The Deceased Was Buried In Their Former House . A Portrait Mask Was Placed Over The Head By The Chief Embalmer , Who Wore A Jackal Mask To Represent Anubis , The Patron Deity Of Embalment . ... Anubu ( Anubis ) Deity Of The Dead ....

There Are Various Translations From The Hieroglyphics Which Have Existed In Revised Edition That Have Been In Use Amongst The Egyptians From About 4500 B.C. To The Early Centuries Of The Christian Era . The History Of The Great Body Of Compositions Which Form The Ancient Book Of The Dead Of The Ancient Egyptians May Conveniently Be Divided Into Four Periods , Which Are Paresented By Four Versions Of Which Can Be Found In ''Todtenbouch Naville '' , Page 39 .

1 . The Helioplitan Version Was Edited By The Priest Of The College Of Annu . ( The City Name Translates From Greek As Heliopolis Meaning City Of The Sun , And Was The Capotal Of The 13th None Of Lower Egypt ) . The Name Annu Or Anu Is The Cuneiform , Also The Akkadian And Babylonian Name For The Heavenly Father Who To The Ancient Egyptians , Was A Physical Being With Wives And Children , And Whose Other Name Was An , Or En . The Arabs Call Him '' El Ali '' - arabic , The 36th Attribute , Meaning '' The Most High , However . When You Put These Two Words Together '' Ali ' - '' En '' You Get '' Alien '' . This Heliopolitan Version Was Based Upon A Series Of Texts Now Lost , And Based On Hieroglyphic Test Done On Monument Of The 11th , 12th And 13th Dynasty There Is Evidence To Prove That It Had Passed Through A Series Of Revisions Or Editions As Early As The Period Of The Vth Dynasty . This Version Was Known To Be Written In Hieroglyphics . The Heliopolitan Version Is Known From Five Copies Which Are Inscribed Upon The Walls Of The Chambers And Passages In The Pyramids Of Kings Of The 5th And 6th Dynasties Of Sakkara ; Section Of It Are Found Inscribed Upon Tombs , Sarcophagis , Coffins , Stelae And Papyri From The 11th Dynasty To About 200 A.D.

2 . The Theban ( A Poisonous Alkaloid ) Version Was Commonly Written On Papyri In Hieroglyphics And Was Divided Into Sections Or Chapters , Each Of Which Had Its Distinct Title But No Definite Place In The Series . This Version Was Much Used From The 18th To The 20th Dynasty .

3 . A Version Closely Allied To The Preceding Version , Which Is Found Written Of Papyri In The Hieratic ( Designating Or Of The Abridged Form Of Cursive Hieroglyphic Writing Once Used By Egyptians Priest ) Character And Also In Hieroglyphics . In This Version , Which Came Into Use About The 20th Dynasty To The 26th Dynasty ( 1200 - 550 B.C. ) , The Chapters Have No Fixed Order . They Are Written In Lines In The Hieratic Character ; The Rubics , Catchwords , And Certain Names Like That Of Aapep , Apophis , Apep ( A Word Used To Describe The Serpent [ A Human Reptilian ] Ibis Or Nakhash Devil Or Satan ) Are In Red . The Names And Tiles Of The Deceased Are Written In Perpendicular Rows Of Hieroglyphics . The Character Of The Handwriting Changes In Different Periods . Within A Hundred Years , Apparently , The Fine Fllowing Style Disappears And The Writing Becomes Much Smaller And Is Somewhat Cramped . The Process Of Reduction In Size Continues Until The 26th Dynasty , About 550 B.C. When The Small And Coarsely Written Characters Are Frequently Difficult To Decipher .

4 . The Saite And Ptolemaic ( Warlike ) Version . In This Version , At Some Period Preceding The 26th Dynasty , The Chapters Have A Fixed And Definite Order . It Seems That A Careful Revision Of The Whole Work Was Carried Out , And That Several Alterations Of An Important Nature We Made In It . A Number Of Chapters Which Are Not Found In The Older Papyri Appear During This Period ; But These Are Not Necessrily New Inventions . It Is Quite Possible That Many Or Most Of The Additional Chapters Are Nothing More Than New Edition Of Extracts From Older Works . Many Copies Of This Version Were Written By Scribes And Even Whole Passages Are Very Common . And These Are Only A Very Few Of The Many Versions Or Revised Copies Of The Book Of The Dead That Were Revised , Edited And Changed In Each Period . The Book Of The Dead Written In The Hieroglyphic And Hieratic Characters Which Belong To The Period Of The Rule Of The Priest - Kings Of The Brotherhood Of Amun Form A Class By Themselves , And Have Relatively Little In Common With The Older Versions .

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When An Elder Passes On To Higher Life , Its Like One Of The Library Have Shut Down