Ancient Egyptian cemetery holds rare ‘Book of the Dead’ papyrus
The cemetery, at Tuna al-Gebel in central Egypt, dates back to the New Kingdom (circa 1550 to 1070 B.C.) and contains mummies, sarcophagi, amulets and numerous “shabti” (also called ushabti) figurines that were meant to serve the deceased in the afterlife, according to an Arabic statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
The “Book of the Dead” papyrus found in the cemetery is about 43 to 49 feet (13 to 15 meters) long. Archaeologists from the ministry have been excavating the site since 2017 and found the cemetery recently.
The “Book of the Dead” is a modern-day name given to a variety of texts that served a number of purposes, including helping the dead navigate the underworld.
The name the ancient Egyptians gave these texts is sometimes translated as the “Book of Coming Forth by Day.” Copies of “Book of the Dead” excerpts were sometimes buried with the deceased.
The statement contained little information on the newly found copy of the “Book of the Dead.” It is not clear which exact texts it contains or with whom it was buried. No photographs of the “Book of the Dead” papyrus were released, and members of the team that discovered it did not respond to requests for comment.
Scholars who were not involved with the excavation said the find could be important. It is “very rare” to find a copy of the “Book of the Dead” in the grave where it was originally buried, Foy Scalf, an Egyptologist and head of research archives at The University of Chicago, told Live Science in an email. “Without photographs, it is hard to say more, and it is customary to wait for some form of official publication to form solid assessments.”
Lara Weiss, CEO of the Roemer and Pelizaeus Museum in Germany, who has studied the “Book of the Dead” extensively, told Live Science in an email that “if it’s that long and well-preserved [then it’s] certainly a great and interesting find.”
The archaeologists at the newfound cemetery unearthed a number of coffins and mummies, including the daughter of Djehuty, a high priest of the god Amun who lived more than 3,500 years ago, according to the statement.
Another coffin appears to belong to a woman who was a singer in the temple of Amun, a deity associated with the sun and the ancient city of Thebes (modern-day Luxor).
The cemetery also contained many canopic jars that would have held the organs of the deceased, the statement said.
Image:
itiesRemains of stone sarcophagi, which held the wooden coffins of the deceased, were also found.
Excavations and analysis of the remains are ongoing.
See more here livescience.com
Header image:
itiesEditor’s note: Is it just me, or does the middle Canopic Jar look like Miss Piggy?
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Howdy
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If this papyrus is any kind of genuine afterlife material, it will never see the light of day, except for the few. It won’t help them though, they simply don’t have the state of mind to see it is not for Earth bound mortals.
In any case, it could be the ramblings of some crazy old guy on his deathbed, cherished by another. Don’t assume everything found is real information.
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Howdy
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Have a scan yourself.
THE BOOK OF THE DEAD
The Papyrus of Ani
https://sacred-texts.com/egy/ebod/
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cathleen
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It does look like Ms. Piggy!
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Itsme
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oh the middle one in the last image… yeah!
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