The Book Of The Dead Explained

The Book of the Dead is an ancient Egyptian funerary text, detailing the journey of the deceased’s soul through the afterlife. It includes magical spells, charms, and incantations meant to protect the soul on its journey, and provide guidance on how best to interact with the gods and other spirits. The origins of the Book of the Dead can be traced back to the Pyramid Texts of the Old Kingdom, texts written in spells and offering instructions for the afterlife, which have been found in tombs as early as the 24th century BC.


By the New Kingdom period, the book had evolved into a set of lengthy and complex spells, adhering to a set structure that could be customized for individual tombs and their owners. These personalized texts, illustrated with intricate drawings and decorations, were often inscribed on tomb walls or papyri. The Book of the Dead was not only found in tombs, but also in temples, palaces, and private houses.

The Book of the Dead not only described the journey of the soul through the afterlife, and how to navigate it, but also spelled out expectations of the individual in life as well. According to ancient Egyptians, judgement awaited the deceased in the afterlife and it was important that they led a righteous life while they were living. This included respecting the gods and other spirits, honoring ancestors, and performing maat-righteousness.


The Book of the Dead consists of 42 “Negative Confessions”, in which the deceased recites a list of misdeeds and wrongdoings that he or she has not committed. This attests to the importance of upholding justice and truth in life as well as in death. One of the most important sections of the Book of the Dead was the “Weighing of the Heart” ceremony, in which the heart of the deceased was weighed against the feather of the goddess Maat to determine if the deceased’s soul was worthy of entering the afterlife.

The Book of the Dead has served as a source of both religious and cultural inspiration for countless generations of Egyptians. It continues to bring us insight into ancient Egyptian beliefs and values, providing us with a glimpse of how the individual interacted with the divine in life and in death.

Blogger: Maroc Wallace @maroc_