The Egyptian Book of the Dead
Papyrus
of Ani; Egyptian Book of the Dead [Budge]
240 BC
THE PAPYRUS OF ANI
(THE EGYPTIAN BOOK OF THE DEAD)
Translated by E.A. Wallis Budge
HERE
BEGIN THE PRAISES AND GLORIFYINGS OF COMING OUT FROM AND OF
GOING INTO THE GLORIOUS KHERT-NETER, WHICH IS IN THE
BEAUTIFUL AMENTET, OF COMING FORTH BY DAY IN ALL THE FORMS
OF EXISTENCE WHICH IT MAY PLEASE THE DECEASED TO TAKE, OF
PLAYING AT DRAUGHTS, OF SITTING IN THE SEH HALL, AND OF
APPEARING AS A LIVING SOUL:
The Osiris the scribe Ani saith after he hath arrived in
his haven of rest- now it is good for [a man] to recite
[this work whilst he is] upon earth, for then all the words
of Tem come to pass-
"I am the god Tem in rising. I am the Only One. I came into
existence in Nu. I am Ra who rose in the beginning, the
ruler of this [creation]."
Who is this?
"It is Ra, when at the beginning he rose in the city of
Hensu, crowned like a king for his coronation. The Pillars
of the god Shu were not as yet created, when he was upon
the steps of him that dwelleth in Khemenu. "I am the Great
God who created himself, even Nu, who made his names to
become the Company of the Gods as gods."
Who is this?
"It is Ra, the creator of the names of his limbs, which
came into being in the form of the gods who are in the
train of Ra. "I am he who cannot be repulsed among the
gods."
Who is this?
"It is Temu, the dweller in his disk, but others say that
it is Ra when he riseth in the eastern horizon of the sky.
"I am Yesterday, I know To-day."
Who is this?
"Yesterday is Osiris, and To-day is Ra, when he shall
destroy the enemies of Neb-er-tcher (the lord to the
uttermost limit), and when he shall establish as prince and
ruler his son Horus. "Others, however, say that To-day is
Ra, on the day when we commemorate the festival of the
meeting of the dead Osiris with his father Ra, and when the
battle of the gods was fought, in which Osiris, the Lord of
Amentet, was the leader."
What is this?
"It is Amentet, [that is to say] the creation ofthe souls
of the gods when Osiris was leader in Set-Amentet. "Others,
however, say that it is the Amentet which Ra hath given
unto me; when any god cometh he must rise up and fight for
it. "I know the god who dwelleth therein."
Who is this?
"It is Osiris. Others, however, say that his name is Ra,
and that the god who dwelleth in Amentet is the phallus of
Ra, wherewith he had union with himself. "I am the Benu
bird which is in Anu. I am the keeper of the volume of the
book (the Tablet of Destiny) of the things which have been
made, and of the things which shall be made."
Who is this?
"It is Osiris. "Others, however, say that it is the dead
body of Osiris, and yet others say that it is the excrement
of Osiris. The things which have been made, and the things
which shall be made [refer to] the dead body of Osiris.
Others again say that the things which have been made are
Eternity, and the things which shall be made are
Everlastingness, and that Eternity is the Day, and
Everlastingness the Night. "I am the god Menu in his coming
forth; may his two plumes be set on my head for me."
Who is this?
"Menu is Horis, the Advocate of his father [Osiris], and
his coming forth means his birth. The two plumes on his
head are Isis and Nephthys, when these goddesses go forth
and set themselves thereon, and when they act as his
protectors, and when they provide that which his head
lacketh. "Others, however, say that the two plumes are the
two exceedingly large uraei which are upon the head of
their father Tem, and there are yet others who say thatthe
two plumes which are upon the head of Menu are his two
eyes. "The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is true, the
registrar of all the offerings which are made to the gods,
riseth up and cometh into his city."
What is this [city]?
"It is the horizon of his father Tem. "I have made an end
of my shortcomings, and I have put away my faults."
What is this?
"It is the cutting of the navel string of the body of the
Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is true before all the
gods, and all his faults are driven out.
What is this ?
"It is the purification [of Osiris] on the day of his
birth. "I am purified in my great double nest which is in
Hensu on the day of the offerings of the followers of the
Great God who dwelleth therein."
What is the "great double nest"?
"The name of one nest is 'Millions of years,' and 'Great
Green [Sea]' is the name of the other, that is to say 'Lake
of Natron' and 'Lake of Salt.' "Others, however, say the
name of the one is 'Guide of Millions of Years,' and that
'Great Green Lake' is name of the other. Yet others say
that 'Begetter of Millions of Years' is the name of one,
and 'Great Green Lake' is the name of the other. Now, as
concerning the Great God who dwelleth therein, it is Ra
himself. "I pass over the way, I know the head of the
Island of Maati."
What is this?
"It is Ra-stau, that is to say, it is the gate to the South
of Nerutef, and it is the Northern Gate of the Domain (Tomb
of the god). "Now, as concerning the Island of Maati, it is
Abtu. "Others, however, say that it is the way by which
Father Tem travelleth when he goeth forth to Sekhet-Aaru,
[the place] which produceth the food and sustenance of the
gods who are [in] their shrines. "Now the Gate Tchesert is
the Gate of the Pillars of Shu, that is to say, the
Northern Gate of the Tuat. "Others, however, say that the
Gate of Tchesert is the two leaves of the door through
which the god Tem passeth when he goeth forth to the
eastern horizon of the sky. "O ye gods who are in the
presence [of Osiris], grant to me your arms, for I am the
god who shall come into being among you."
Who are these gods?
"They are the drops of blood which came forth from the
phallus of Ra when he went forth to perform his own
mutilitation. These drops of blood sprang into being under
the forms of the gods Hu and Sa, who are in the bodyguard
of Ra, and who accompany the god Tem daily and every day.
"I, Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, have filled
for thee the utchat (the Eye of Ra, or of Horus), when it
had suffered extinction on the day of the combat of the Two
Fighters (Horus and Set)."
What was this combat?
It was the combat which took place on the day when Horus
fought with Set, during which Set threw filth in the face
of Horus, and Horus crushed the genitals of Set. The
filling of the utchat Thoth performed with his own fingers.
"I remove the thunder-cloud from the sky when there is a
storm with thunder and lightning therein."
What is this?
"This storm was the raging of Ra at the thunder-cloud which
[Set] sent forth against the Right Eye of Ra (the Sun).
Thoth removed the thunder- cloud from the Eye of Ra, and
brought back the Eye living, healthy, sound, and with no
defect in it to its owner. "Others, however, say that the
thunder-cloud is caused by sickness in the Eye of Ra, which
weepeth for its companion Eye (the Moon); at this time
Thoth cleanseth the Right Eye of Ra. "I behold Ra who was
born yesterday from the thighs of the goddess Mehurt; his
strength is my strength, and my strength is his strength."
Who is this?
"Mehurt is the great Celestial Water, but others say that
Mehurt is the image of the Eye of Ra at dawn at his birth
daily. "[Others, however, say that] Mehurt is the utchat of
Ra. "Now Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, is a
very great one among the gods who are in the following of
Horus; they say that he is the prince who loveth his lord."
Who are the gods who are in the train of Horus?
"[They are] Kesta, Hapi, Taumutef, and Qebhsenuf. "Homage
to you, O ye lords of right and truth, ye sovereign princes
(Tchatcha) who [stand] round about Osiris, who do away
utterly sins and offences, and who are in the following of
the goddess Hetepsekhus, grant ye that I may come unto you.
Destroy ye all the faults which are within me, even as ye
did for the Seven Spirits who are among the followers of
their lord Sepa. Anpu (Anubis) appointed to them their
places on the day [when he said unto them], "Come ye
hither."
Who are the "lords of right and truth"?
"The lords of right and truth are Thoth and Astes, the Lord
of Amentet. "The Tchatcha round about Osiris are Kesta,
Hapi, Tuamutef, and Qebhsenuf, and they are also round
about the Constellation of the Thigh (the Great Bear), in
the northern sky. "Those who do away utterly sins and
offences, and who are in the following of the goddess
Hetepsekhus, are the god Sebek and his associates who dwell
in the water. "The goddess Hetepsekhus is the Eye of Ra.
"Others, however, say that it is the flame which
accompanieth Osiris to burn up the souls of his enemies.
"As concerning all the faults which are in Osiris, the
registrar of the offerings which are made unto all the
gods, Ani, whose word is truth, [these are all the offences
which he hath committed against the Lords of Eternity]
since he came forth from his mother's womb. "As concerning
the Seven Spirits who are Kesta, Hapi, Tuamutef, Qebhsenuf,
Maa-atef, Kheribeqef and Heru-khenti-en-ariti, these did
Anubis appoint to be protectors of the dead body of Osiris.
"Others, however, say that he set them round about the holy
place of Osiris. "Others say that the Seven Spirits [which
were appointed by Anubis] were Netcheh-netcheh, Aatqetqet,
Nertanef-besef-khenti-hehf, Aq-her-ami- unnut-f,
Tesher-ariti-ami-Het-anes, Ubes-her-per-em-khetkhet, and
Maaem-kerh-annef-em-hru. "The chief of the Tchatcha
(sovereign princes) who is in Naarutef is Horus, the
Advocate of his father. "As concerning the day wherein
[Anubis said to the Seven Spirits], 'Come ye hither,' [the
allusion here] is to the words 'Come ye hither,' which Ra
spake unto Osiris."
Verily may these same words be said unto me in Amentet.
"I am the Divine Soul which dwelleth in the Divine
Twin-gods."
Who is this Divine Soul?
"It is Osiris. [When] he goeth into Tetu, and findeth there
the Soul of Ra, the one god embraceth the other, and two
Divine Souls spring into being within the Divine
Twin-gods."
APPENDIX
(From
the Papyrus of Nebseni, Brit. Mus. No. 9900, Sheet 14, ll.
16ff.)
"As concerning the Divine Twin-gods they are
Heru-netch-her-tefef and Heru-khent-en-Ariti (Horus the
Advocate of his father [Osiris], and Horus the sightless).
"Others say that the double Divine Soul which dwelleth in
the Divine Twin-gods is the Soul of Ra and the Soul of
Osiris, and yet others say that it is the Soul which
dwelleth in Shu, and the Sould which dwelleth in Tefnut,
and that these two Souls form the double Divine Soul which
dwelleth in Tetu. "I am the Cat which fought near the
Persea Tree in Anu on the night when the foes of
Neb-er-tcher were destroyed."
Who is this Cat?
"This male Cat is Ra himself, and he was called 'Mau'
because of the speech of the god Sa, who said concerning
him: 'He is like (mau) unto that which he hath made';
therefore, did the name of Ra become 'Mau.'
"Others, however, say that the male Cat is the god Shu, who
made over the possessions of Keb to Osiris. "As concerning
the fight which took place near the Persea Tree in Anu
[these words have reference to the slaughter] of the
children of rebellion, when righteous retribution was meted
out to them for [the evil] which they had done. "As
concerning the 'night of the battle,' [these words refer
to] the invasion of the eastern portion of the heaven by
the children of rebellion, whereupon a great battle arose
in heaven and in all the earth. "O thou who art in thine
egg (Ra,) who showest from thy Disk, who risest on thy
horizon, and dost shine with golden beams in the height of
heaven, like unto whom there is none among the gods, who
sailest above the Pillars of Shu, who sendest forth blasts
of fire from thy mouth, [who illuminest the Two Lands with
thy splendour, deliver] thou Nebseni, the lord of fealty
[to Osiris], from the god whose form is hidden, and whose
eyebrows are like unto the two arms of the Balance on the
night when the sentences of doom are promulgated."
Who is this invisible god?
"It is An-a-f (he who bringeth his arm.). "As concerning
'the night when the sentences of doom are promulgated,' it
is the night of the burning of the damned, and of the
overthrow of the wicked at the Block, and of the slaughter
of souls."
Who is this [slaughterer of souls]?
"It is Shesmu, the headsman of Osiris. "[Concerning the
invisible god] some say that he is Aapep when he riseth up
with a head bearing upon it [the feather of] Maat (Truth).
But others say that he is Horus when he riseth up with two
heads, whereon one beareth [the feather of] Maat, and the
other [the symbol of] wickedness. He bestoweth wickedness
on him that worketh wickedness, and right and truth upon
him that followeth righteousness and truth. "Others say
that he is Heru-ur (the Old Horus), who dwelleth in Sekhem;
others say that he is Thoth; others say that he is
Nefer-Tem; and others say that he is Sept who doth bring to
nought the acts of the foes of Nebertcher. "Deliver thou
the scribe Nebseni, whose word is truth, from the Watchers,
who carry murderous knives, who possess cruel fingers, and
who would slay those who are in the following of Osiris."
May these Watchers never gain the mastery over me, and may
I never fall under their knives!
Who are these Watchers?
"They are Anubis and Horus, [the latter being] in the form
of Horus the sightless. Others, however, say that they are
the Tchatcha (sovereign princes of Osiris), who bring to
nought the operations of their knives; and others say that
they are the chiefs of the Sheniu chamber. "May their
knives never gain the mastery over me. May I never fall
under the knives wherewith they inflict cruel tortures. For
I know their names, and I know the being, Matchet, who is
among them in the House of Osiris. He shooteth forth rays
of light from his eye, being himself invisible, and he
goeth round about heaven robed in the flames which come
from his mouth, commanding Hapi, but remaining invisible
himself. May I be strong on earth before Ra, may I arrive
safely in the presence of Osiris. O ye who preside over
your altars, let not your offerings to me be wanting, for I
am one of those who follow after Nebertcher, according to
the writings of Khepera. Let me fly like a hawk, let me
cackle like a goose, let me lay always like the
serpent-goddess Neheb- ka."
Who are those who preside over their altars?
"Those who preside over their altars are the similitude of
the Eye of Ra, and the similitude of the Eye of Horus. "O
Ra-Tem, thou Lord of the Great House [in Anu], thou
Sovereign (life, strentgh, health [be to thee]) of all the
gods, deliver thou the scribe Nebseni, whose word is truth,
from the god whose face is like unto that of a greyhound,
whose brows are like those of a man, who feedeth upon the
dead, who watcheth at the Bend of the Lake of Fire, who
devoureth the bodies of the dead, and swalloweth hearts,
and who voideth filth, but who himself remaineth unseen."
Who is this greyhound-faced god?
"His name is 'Everlasting Devourer,' and he liveth in the
Domain [of Fire] (the Lake of Unt). "As concerning the
Domain of Fire, it is that Aat which is in Naarutef, and is
near the Sheniu chamber. The sinner who walketh over this
place falleth down among the knives [of the Watchers].
"Others, however, say that the name of this god is 'Mates,'
and that he keepeth watch over the door of Amentet; others
say that his name is 'Beba,' and that he keepeth watch over
the Bend [of the stream] of Amentet, and yet others say
that his name is 'Herisepef.' "Hail, Lord of Terror, Chief
of the Lands of the South and North, thou Lord of the
Desert, who dost keep prepared the block of slaughter, and
who dost feed on the intestines [of men]!"
Who is this Lord of Terror?
"It is the Keeper of the Bend [of the stream] of Amentet."
Who is this Keeper?
"It is the Heart of Osiris, which is the devourer of all
slaughtered things. "The Urrt Crown hath been given unto
him, with gladness of heart, as Lord of Hensu."
Who is this?
"He to whom the Urrt Crown hath been given with gladness of
heart as Lord of Hensu is Osiris. He was bidden to rule
among the gods on the day of the union of earth [with
earth] in the presence of Nebertcher."
Who is this?
"He who was bidden to rule among the gods is the son of
Isis (Horus), who was appointed to rule in the room of his
father Osiris. "As concerning [the words] 'day of the union
of earth with earth,' they have reference to the union of
earth with earth in the coffin of Osiris, the Soul that
liveth in Hensu, the giver of meat and drink, the destroyer
of wrong, and the guide to the everlasting paths."
Who is this?
"It is Ra himself."
"[Deliver thou the Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is
truth] from the great god who carrrieth away souls, who
eateth hearts, who feedeth upon offal, who keepeth watch in
the darkness, who dwelleth in the Seker Boat; those who
live in sin fear him."
Who is this?
"It is Suti, but others say that it is Smamur, the soul of
Keb. "Hail, Khepera in thy boat, the two Companies of the
Gods are in thy body. Deliver thou the Osiris the scribe
Ani, whose word is truth, from the Watchers who pass
sentences of doom, who have been appointed by the god
Nebertcher to protect him, and to fasten the fetters on his
foes, and who slaughter in the torture chambers; there is
no escape from their fingers. May they never stab me with
their knives, may I never fall helpless into their chambers
of torture. I have never done the things which the gods
hate. I am he who is pure in the Mesqet chamber. And
saffron cakes have been brought unto him in Tannt."
Who is this?
"It is Khepera in his boat; it is Ra himself. "As
concerning the Watchers who pass sentences of doom, they
are the Apes Isis and Nephthys. "As concerning the things
which the gods hate, they are acts of deceit and lying. He
who passeth through the place of purification within the
Mesqet chamber is Anpu (Anubis), who is hard by the coffer
which containeth the inward parts of Osiris. He to whom
saffron cakes have been brought in Tannt is Osiris.
"Others, however, say that the saffron cakes in Tannt
represent heaven and earth, and others say that they
represent Shu, the strengthener of the Two Lands in Hensu;
and others say that they represent the Eye of Horus, and
that Tannt is the burial-place of Osiris. "Tem hath builded
thy house, and the double Lion-god hath laid the
foundations of thy habitation. Lo! medicaments have been
brought. Horus purifieth Set and Set strengtheneth, and Set
purifieth and Horus strengtheneth. "The Osiris the scribe
Ani, whose word is truth before Osiris, hath come into this
land, and he hath taken possession thereof with his two
feet. He is Tem, and he is in the city. "Turn thou back, O
Rehu, whose mouth shineth, whose head moveth, turn thou
back before his strength." Another reading is, 'Turn thou
back from him who keepeth watch, and is himself unseen.'
Let the Osiris Ani be safely guarded. He is Isis, and he is
found with her hair spread over him; it is shaken out over
his brow. He was conceived by Isis, and engendered by
Nephthys, and they have cut away from him the things which
should be cut from him. "Fear followeth after thee, terror
is about thine arms. Thou hast been embraced for millions
of years by arms; mortals go round about thee. Thou smitest
down the mediators of thy foes, and thou seizest the arms
of the power of darkness. Thy two sisters (Isis and
Nephthys) are given to thee for thy delight. Thou hast
created that which is in Kher-aha, and that which is Anu.
Every god feareth thee, for thou art exceedingly great and
terrible; thou [avengest] every god on the man who curseth
him, and thou shootest arrows at him. Thou livest according
to thy will. Thou art Uatchet, the Lady of Flame, evil
befalleth those who set themselves up against thee."
What is this?
"'Hidden in form, given of Menhu,' is the name of the
"tomb. 'He who seeth what is on his hand' is the name of
Qerau, or, as others say, it is the name of the Block.
"Now, he whose mouth shineth and whose head moveth is the
phallus of Osiris, but others say it is [the phallus] of
Ra. 'Thou spreadest thy hair, and I shake it out over his
brow" is said concerning Isis, who hideth in her hair, and
draweth it round about her. "Uatchet, the Lady of Flames,
is the Eye of Ra."
THE
SEVEN ARITS
The
First Arit.
The name of the Doorkeeper is Sekhet-her-asht-aru. The name
of the Watcher is Smetti. The name of the Herald is
Hakheru. The Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, shall say
when he cometh unto the First Arit: "I am the mighty one
who createth his own light. I have come unto thee, O
Osiris, and, purified from that which defileth thee, I
adore thee. Lead on. Name not the name of Ra-stau to me.
Homage to thee, O Osiris, in thy might and in thy strength
in Ra-stau. Rise up and conquer, O Osiris, in Abtu. Thou
goest round about heaven, thou sailest in the presence of
Ra, thou lookest upon all the beings who have knowledge.
Hail, Ra, thou who goest round about in the sky, I say, O
Osiris in truth, that I am the Sahu (Spirit-body) of the
god, and I beseech thee not to let me be driven away, nor
to be cast upon the wall of blazing fire. Let the way be
opened in Ra-stau, let the pain of the Osiris be relieved,
embrace that which the Balance hath weighed, let a path be
made for the Osiris in the Great Valley, and let the Osiris
have light to guide him on his way."
The
Second Arit.
The name of the Doorkeeper is Unhat. The name of the
Watcher is Seqt- her. The name of the Herald is Ust. The
Osiris Ani, whose word is truth, shall say [when he cometh
to this Arit]: "He sitteth to carry out his heart's desire,
and he weigheth words as the Second of Thoth. The strength
which protecteth Thoth humbleth the hidden Maati gods, who
feed upon Maat during the years of their lives. I offer up
my offerings [to him] at the moment when he maketh his way.
I advance, and I enter on the path. O grant thou that I may
continue to advance, and that I may attain to the sight of
Ra, and of those who offer up [their] offerings."
The
Third Arit.
The name of the Doorkeeper is Unem-hauatu-ent-pehui. The
name of the Watcher is Seres-her. The name of the Herald is
Aa. The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is truth, shall
say [when he cometh to this Arit]: "I am he who is hidden
in the great deep. I am the Judge of the Rehui, I have come
and I have done away the offensive thing which was upon
Osiris. I tie firmly the place on which he standeth, coming
forth from the Urt. I have stablished things in Abtu, I
have opened up a way through Ra-stau, and I have relieved
the pain which was in Osiris. I have balanced the place
whereon he standeth, and I have made a path for him; he
shineth brilliantly in Ra-stau."
The
Fourth Arit.
The name of the Doorkeeper is Khesef-her-asht-kheru. The
name of the Watcher is Seres-tepu. The name of the Herald
is Khesef-at. The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is
truth, shall say [when he cometh to this Arit]: "I am the
Bull, the son of the ancestress of Osiris. O grant ye that
his father, the Lord of his god-like companions, may bear
witness on his behalf. I have weighed the guilty in
judgment. I have brought unto his nostrils the life which
is ever lasting. I am the son of Osiris, I have
accomplished the journey, I have advanced in Khert-Neter."
The
Fifth Arit.
The name of the Doorkeeper is Ankhf-em-fent. The name of
the Watcher is Shabu. The name of the Herald is
Teb-her-kha-kheft. The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is
truth, shall say [when he cometh to this Arit]: "I have
brought unto thee the jawbone in Ra-stau. I have brought
unto thee thy backbone in Anu. I have gathered together his
manifold members therein. I have driven back Aapep for
thee. I have spit upon the wounds [in his body]. I have
made myself a path among you. I am the Aged One among the
gods. I have made offerings to Osiris. I have defended him
with the word of truth. I have gathered together his bones,
and have collected all his members."
The
Sixth Arit.
The name of the Doorkeeper is Atek-tau-kehaq-kheru. The
name of the Watcher is An-her. The name of the Herald is
Ates-her-[ari]-she. The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word
is truth, shall say [when he cometh to this Arit]: "I have
come daily, I have come daily. I have made myself a way. I
have advanced over that which was created by Anpu (Anubis).
I am the Lord of the Urrt Crown. I am the possessor [of the
knowledge of] the words of magical power, I am the Avenger
according to law, I have avenged [the injury to] his Eye. I
have defended Osiris. I have accomplished my journey. The
Osiris Ani advanceth with you with the word which is
truth."
The
Seventh Arit:
The name of the Doorkeeper is Sekhmet-em-tsu-sen. The name
of the Watcher is Aa-maa-kheru. The name of the Herald is
Khesef-khemi. The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is
truth, shall say [when he cometh to this Arit]: "I have
come unto thee, O Osiris, being purified from foul
emissions. Thou goest round about heaven, thou seest Ra,
thou seest the beings who have knowledge. [Hail], thou,
ONE! Behold, thou art in the Sektet Boat which traverseth
the heavens. I speak what I will to his Sahu (Spirit-body).
He is strong, and cometh into being even [as] he spake.
Thou meetest him face to face. Prepare thou for me all the
ways which are good [and which lead] to thee."
RUBRIC:
If
[these] words be recited by the spirit when he shall come
to the Seven Arits, and as he entereth the doors, he shall
neither be turned back nor repulsed before Osiris, and he
shall be made to have his being among the blessed spirits,
and to have dominion among the ancestral followers of
Osiris. If these things be done for any spirit he shall
have his being in that place like a lord of eternity in one
body with Osiris, and at no place shall any being contend
against him.