Book of the Dead: How to survive the ancient Egyptian afterlife

The Book of the Dead contains over 200 spells meant to help the deceased navigate the underworld.

These incantations were believed to protect the soul from demons, snakes and other harmful creatures.

Some of the most important spells ensured that the soul would pass Osiris’s judgment during the Weighing of the Heart ceremony.

If the heart did not balance against the feather, Ammit would consume it.

However, a recitation instructing the heart not to fail and to be found in balance could help the soul pass the test.

So, knowing these spells was vital.

In ancient Egyptian belief, the heart represented the centre of the soul. After death, it would be weighed against a feather to determine the soul’s worthiness.

To ensure a favourable judgment, one had to live a virtuous life, being kind, charitable and fair.

The Book of the Dead encourages its readers to demonstrate these qualities. By having a good heart, the soul stood a better chance of entering the afterlife.

The ancient Egyptians used numerous symbols linked to life after death and each bore a specific meaning.

For example, the scarab beetle symbolized rebirth and often appeared in tombs, while the ankh, which was a cross with a loop, represented eternal life.

The Book of the Dead contains many such symbols that the deceased needed to recognize.

The Egyptians believed that preserving the body was essential for the soul’s journey.

They employed mummification to keep the body intact. The Book of the Dead provides instructions on preserving the heart and keeping it with the body in the afterlife.

Next, protective amulets and charms accompanied the deceased to safeguard the body from harm.

By protecting the physical remains, the soul could use it as a vessel.

The journey through the underworld proved perilous, so one had to follow the correct route.

The Book of the Dead offers symbolic maps and directions for navigating this realm.

It remained essential for the deceased to follow these instructions closely and to avoid straying.

The guide also explained how to address the gods and goddesses encountered along the way.

Seti I reigned from 1290 to 1279 BCE. His tomb in the Valley of the Kings preserves detailed decorations and inscriptions that illustrate scenes from the Book of the Dead, including Spell 125 of the Weighing of the Heart ceremony.

This spell contains the Negative Confessions, in which the deceased declares innocence of various moral wrongs. 

These illustrations offer insight into beliefs and rituals surrounding death in ancient Egypt and reveal the specific incantations used to guide the soul through the underworld.

The tomb also contained funerary furniture, clothing and food offerings meant to assist Seti I in the afterlife.

Such objects shed a rare light on the material culture and beliefs held by the Egyptians toward death. 

Excellent preservation of Seti I’s tomb has allowed researchers and archaeologists to study its contents in detail.

This research deepens our understanding of the religious and cultural practices of his reign.