"My heart, my mother... do not stand against me as a witness! Do not oppose me in the tribunal!" – Spell 30B.
To the Ancient Egyptians, death was the beginning of a dangerous journey. To survive the demons, gates, and trials of the Duat (underworld), the deceased needed a weapon: knowledge. This knowledge was compiled in the Book of the Dead.
Known to the Egyptians as Pert Em Heru (meaning "Coming Forth by Day"), this was not a "book" in the modern sense, but a customizable collection of nearly 200 magical spells, prayers, and incantations written on papyrus scrolls and placed in the tomb.
A User's Guide to Eternity
The Book of the Dead was the ultimate survival guide. It provided the deceased with the passwords to pass the guardians of the underworld gates, the knowledge to transform into powerful animals (like a falcon or a swallow) to escape traps, and the words to appease the gods.
Unlike the earlier Pyramid Texts (reserved for kings), the Book of the Dead was available to anyone who could afford a scribe. This marked the "democratization of the afterlife"—heaven was now open to all who were righteous and prepared.
The Most Crucial Spells
Spell 125: The Weighing of the Heart
The climax of the journey. The deceased stands before Osiris and 42 judges in the Hall of Two Truths. They must recite the "Negative Confession" (declaring "I have not stolen," "I have not killed," etc.). Then, their heart is weighed against the Feather of Ma'at (Truth). If balanced, they enter paradise; if heavy with sin, they are devoured by Ammit.
Spell 6: The Shabti Spell
This spell activated the Shabti figurines buried with the deceased. It commanded them to do any manual labor (farming, carrying sand) required in the afterlife, allowing the deceased to rest.
Spell 17: The Theology
One of the longest and most obscure spells, it explains the nature of the creator god Atum and the origins of the universe, proving the deceased's knowledge of divine secrets.
Customization and Cost
A Book of the Dead was expensive—costing roughly half a year's wages for a laborer. They were often mass-produced with blank spaces left for the buyer's name. A wealthy person, like the Royal Scribe Ani, would commission a fully custom scroll (The Papyrus of Ani) with vibrant, full-color vignettes (illustrations) that are considered masterpieces of Egyptian art.