The Book of the Dead May Not Be What You Think It Is

Summary

This PBS episode explores the Egyptian 'Book of the Dead,' a collection of spells and instructions for the deceased to reach the afterlife. Contrary to popular culture depictions, it wasn't for summoning demons or resurrecting the dead. The script corrects misconceptions, detailing the book's evolution from 'Pyramid Texts' to 'Coffin Texts,' and its significance in ancient Egyptian beliefs. It discusses the 'Book of the Dead's' role in the afterlife's 'Judgment of the Dead' and the 'Weighing of the Heart,' emphasizing its accessibility across social classes, contrary to the idea of a 'democratization' of the afterlife.

Takeaways

• 📜 The 'Egyptian Book of the Dead' is a collection of spells and instructions intended to aid the deceased in their journey to the afterlife, not a means to summon demons or resurrect the dead.
• 🔍 The term 'Book of the Dead' is a modern attribution; ancient Egyptians referred to it as 'Spells for Going Out in Daylight', indicating its true purpose.
• 🌱 The 'Book of the Dead' was not a single, uniform text but varied, with individuals often requesting specific spells they believed would assist them in the afterlife.
• 🏺 The 'Book of the Dead' was part of a broader category of texts known as 'Books of the Netherworld', which included other funerary texts like the 'Amduat'.
• 🔮 The 'Book of the Dead' was not a dramatic shift in Egyptian funerary beliefs but rather a compilation of existing spells and practices that were accessible to many Egyptians.
• 👥 The misconception that the 'Book of the Dead' democratized the afterlife is being challenged by modern scholarship, suggesting that access to funerary rites was not as restricted as previously thought.
• 📜 The 'Papyrus of Ani' is a well-preserved example of the 'Book of the Dead', featuring detailed hieroglyphics and illustrations of Ani's trials in the afterlife.
• ⚖️ The 'Judgment of the Dead', or 'Weighing of the Heart', was a crucial part of the afterlife process where the deceased's heart was weighed against the feather of Maat to determine their fate.
• 🐾 The 'Book of the Dead' and related texts provide a window into the complex and evolving funerary practices of ancient Egypt, reflecting a blend of shared cultural and religious beliefs.
• 🌟 The afterlife, as depicted in the 'Book of the Dead', was not solely about reaching a paradise but also about the transformation of the deceased into a spirit that could join the sun god Ra on his journey.

Q & A

What is the actual purpose of the Egyptian 'Book of the Dead'?

The Egyptian 'Book of the Dead' was a written guidebook for the deceased, intended to help them navigate the afterlife and join the ranks of the gods, rather than to summon demons or bring the dead back to life.

How is the 'Book of the Dead' more accurately translated?

The 'Book of the Dead' can be more accurately translated as 'The Book of Coming Forth by Day' or 'The Book of Emerging Forth into the Light'.

What was the misconception about the 'Book of the Dead' that the script aims to clarify?

The common misconception is that the 'Book of the Dead' was used to summon demons or bring the dead back to life, which is not true. It was actually a guide for the deceased to help them in the afterlife.

What does the script suggest about the accessibility of funerary rites in ancient Egypt?

The script suggests that funerary rites and texts, including those that would later be part of the 'Book of the Dead', were not exclusive to the elite but were accessible to a broader range of Egyptians, contrary to some previous scholarly consensus.

How did the 'Book of the Dead' evolve over time?

The 'Book of the Dead' evolved from earlier funerary texts like the 'Pyramid Texts' and 'Coffin Texts', and it was a collection of spells and instructions that changed over time with additions, corrections, and redactions.

What is the significance of the 'Papyrus of Ani' in the context of the 'Book of the Dead'?

The 'Papyrus of Ani' is a well-preserved example of the 'Book of the Dead' from the 19th dynasty, and it provides a detailed account of the trials and spells that the deceased would undergo in the afterlife.

What is the 'Judgment of the Dead' and how does it relate to the 'Book of the Dead'?

The 'Judgment of the Dead', also known as the 'Weighing of the Heart', is a concept in the 'Book of the Dead' where the deceased's heart is weighed against the feather of Maat to determine their worthiness to enter the afterlife.

How did the social hierarchy affect the Egyptian afterlife beliefs as discussed in the script?

The script indicates that while the Egyptian afterlife was theoretically open to all, a social hierarchy still existed, with the Pharaoh having special access and rights, including the ability to judge who could enter the afterlife.

What is the role of Tefnut in the Egyptian Pantheon as mentioned in the script?

Tefnut, chosen as a Pantheon pick in the script, is a goddess of moisture, dew, and air, and is suggested to provide personal weather bubbles in a utopia, allowing individuals to choose their weather conditions.

What is the relevance of the 'Amduat' in the context of the 'Book of the Dead'?

The 'Amduat' is another 'Book of the Netherworld' that is mentioned as being more doom and gloom compared to the 'Book of the Dead', focusing on the perils and challenges of the afterlife.

How does the script describe the relationship between the 'Book of the Dead' and the democratization of the afterlife?

The script challenges the theory that the 'Book of the Dead' democratized the afterlife by suggesting that funerary rites and texts were already accessible to non-royals and non-elites in the Old Kingdom, indicating no significant shift in access.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Introduction to the Egyptian 'Book of the Dead'

The script begins with a humorous exchange about misconceptions of the 'Book of the Dead,' clarifying that it is unrelated to the 'Evil Dead' franchise. The actual Egyptian 'Book of the Dead' served as a guide for the deceased to reach the afterlife, not to summon demons or resurrect the dead. It was a collection of spells and instructions, not a single, standardized text, and its use was not limited to the elite but varied among individuals. The script also discusses the evolution of funerary practices in Egypt, from the Early Dynastic Period with no inscriptions to the Fifth Dynasty's 'Pyramid Texts,' which later became the 'Coffin Texts' and eventually the 'Book of the Dead.' The text emphasizes that these funerary rights were not a recent innovation but part of a long-standing tradition that was accessible to different social classes.

05:01

🌟 The 'Book of the Dead' and Egyptian Afterlife Beliefs

This paragraph delves deeper into the content and purpose of the 'Book of the Dead,' explaining that it was a guide for the deceased to navigate the afterlife and join the ranks of the gods. It corrects the common misconception that the book was a democratizing force in ancient Egypt, suggesting instead that access to funerary rituals and texts was not a new privilege in the New Kingdom but had been available to non-royals and non-elites in the Old Kingdom. The script also discusses the 'Papyrus of Ani,' a well-preserved example of the 'Book of the Dead,' which provides a detailed account of the trials and journeys one might face in the afterlife, including the 'Judgment of the Dead' and the 'Weighing of the Heart.' The paragraph highlights the complexity and richness of Egyptian funerary practices and the importance of understanding them within their historical and cultural context.

10:01

🌬️ Pantheon Pick: Tefnut, Goddess of Weather

In the final paragraph, the hosts discuss the Egyptian goddess Tefnut as a Pantheon pick for the episode. Tefnut is described as a goddess of moisture, dew, and air, who could potentially provide personalized weather conditions in a utopian setting. The hosts express excitement about the idea of being able to choose one's weather, whether it's a rainy day for reading or dry air for outdoor activities. The conversation is light-hearted and serves to connect the themes of the episode with the broader context of Egyptian mythology and the desire for ideal living conditions.

Keywords

💡Necronomicon

The 'Necronomicon' is a fictional grimoire, or a textbook of magic, often associated with the works of H.P. Lovecraft. In the video, it is humorously mentioned as a 'spell' Dr. McT is reciting, contrasting with the actual focus on the Egyptian 'Book of the Dead.' This sets the stage for the discussion on misconceptions and the true nature of ancient texts.

💡Book of the Dead

The 'Book of the Dead' is an ancient Egyptian funerary text, central to the video's theme. It is a collection of spells, incantations, and instructions intended to assist the deceased in their journey to the afterlife. The video clarifies common misconceptions, such as its portrayal in popular culture, emphasizing its actual purpose as a guide for the deceased.

💡Afterlife

The concept of 'afterlife' is integral to the video's exploration of the 'Book of the Dead.' It refers to the belief in a life or existence beyond death, which the 'Book of the Dead' aimed to facilitate. The video discusses how the text was used to help the deceased navigate trials and achieve a glorious afterlife, potentially joining the ranks of the gods.

💡Spells

Spells in the context of the 'Book of the Dead' are magical utterances or formulas meant to influence supernatural forces. The video explains that these spells were not for summoning demons or resurrecting the dead, as often depicted in fiction, but were practical tools for the deceased to use in their afterlife journey.

💡Pyramid Texts

The 'Pyramid Texts' are the oldest known religious texts in ancient Egypt, mentioned in the video as precursors to the 'Book of the Dead.' They were inscriptions in the burial chambers of pyramids, particularly for the pharaohs, detailing the deceased's journey to the afterlife.

💡Coffin Texts

The 'Coffin Texts' are a collection of spells similar to the 'Pyramid Texts' but were inscribed on coffins rather than pyramid walls. The video notes their significance during the Middle Kingdom Period, indicating a shift in funerary practices and the democratization of afterlife beliefs.

💡Amduat

The 'Amduat' is another ancient Egyptian funerary text, mentioned as being more grim and focused on doom, monsters, and torture compared to the 'Book of the Dead.' It illustrates the variety of afterlife beliefs and the complexity of Egyptian funerary literature.

💡Judgment of the Dead

The 'Judgment of the Dead,' also known as the 'Weighing of the Heart,' is a concept from the 'Book of the Dead' where the deceased's heart is weighed against the feather of Maat to determine their worthiness for the afterlife. This is a key part of the video's narrative, showcasing the moral criteria for entering the afterlife.

💡Social Hierarchy

The video discusses the 'social hierarchy' in the context of the Egyptian afterlife, indicating that while the 'Book of the Dead' made funerary rites more accessible, a social structure still existed. This concept is important for understanding the accessibility of afterlife rites across different social classes.

💡Papyrus of Ani

The 'Papyrus of Ani' is a well-preserved example of the 'Book of the Dead,' mentioned in the video as a significant artifact. It provides a detailed account of the trials and rituals associated with the afterlife journey, offering a window into ancient Egyptian beliefs and practices.

Highlights

The Egyptian 'Book of the Dead' was a guidebook for the deceased to help them reach the afterlife.

The 'Book of the Dead' was not intended to summon demons or resurrect the dead.

The book was a collection of spells and instructions for the deceased to gain entry into the afterlife.

The 'Book of the Dead' was used from the beginning of the New Kingdom.

The book aimed to help the deceased join the ranks of the gods in the afterlife.

The 'Book of the Dead' was not a single book but a collection of texts and inscriptions.

Different versions of the 'Book of the Dead' existed, with specific inclusions requested by individuals.

In the Early Dynastic Period, funerary sites had no inscriptions, indicating an oral tradition.

The 'Pyramid Texts' and 'Coffin Texts' were early versions of funerary writings.

The 'Book of the Dead' was not a pivotal shift but a collection of existing funerary spells and practices.

The 'Book of the Dead' was part of a larger group of 'Books of the Netherworld'.

The 'Book of the Dead' included spells that were ever-changing with corrections and new additions.

The 'Book of the Dead' was accessible to more than just the wealthy or powerful.

The 'Book of the Dead' was not responsible for democratizing the afterlife in ancient Egypt.

The 'Papyrus of Ani' is a well-preserved example of the 'Book of the Dead'.

The 'Judgment of the Dead' or 'Weighing of the Heart' was a crucial part of the afterlife journey.

The 'Book of the Dead' reflects a continuously evolving set of funerary traditions.

The misconception about the 'Book of the Dead' highlights the importance of open interpretation of historical artifacts.

Transcripts

(host) Thank you to Surfshark with Incogni for supporting PBS.

Klaatu barada nickels?

Klaatu barada nebuli!

-Uh, hey, Dr. McT. -Hey, Dr. Z.

What ya doin'?

I'm reciting a spell from the "Necronomicon."

You know, the ""Book of the Dead"" from "Evil Dead:

Army of Darkness."

Yeah, I see, but you're a little off there.

This episode is actually about

the Egyptian "Book of the Dead."

And the "Evil Dead" franchise

actually borrows from H.P. Lovecraft,

and "The Day the Earth Stood Still."

It has nothing to do with the Egyptian "Book of the Dead."

But what you've heard about that one...

Uh, like the "Mummy" movies?

Yeah, maybe if you could just give it to me,

I can bring my gerbil chocolate chip back to life.

Yeah, I'm sorry, that's still not quite right.

That's a common misconception

about the Egyptian "Book of the Dead."

It was never supposed to summon demons

or bring the dead back to life.

It was actually a written guidebook for the deceased

to help them get to the afterlife.

I see, but I'm not happy about it.

You can't judge a book or graveside by its cover.

[whimsical mysterious music]

The "Book of the Dead" can be more accurately translated

as "The Book of Coming Forth by Day,"

or "The Book of Emerging Forth into the Light,"

and was used from the beginning of the New Kingdom.

It was a collection of spells, incantations,

and instructions intended to be used by the deceased

to gain entry into a glorious afterlife.

And not just heaven as we commonly see it rendered today,

but in fact to join the ranks of the mighty Gods themselves.

Also, the "Book of the Dead" wasn't really a book,

but we'll get to that later.

And that's what this epic piece

of Egyptian history really is:

a handbook for the recently deceased.

Sans the be-striped bio-exorcist, of course.

There was no singular version that everyone used,

and different people would often request specific inclusions

that they felt would best get them through the trials--

like Madlibs, but for your soul.

In the Early Dynastic Period,

most funerary sites in Egypt had no inscriptions at all,

which likely indicates oral tradition

dictated any ritual or funerary practice.

What evidence does suggest is that, universally,

the body was ritually treated post-mortem

and buried with artifacts,

suggesting a belief in an afterlife.

The images depicted on temples dedicated to the Gods

often show the Pharaoh

performing daily ritual offerings.

These seem very similar to those described

in later centuries funerary texts

in relation to passage to the afterlife,

which means we can't be totally sure

what even indicated funerary concepts to begin with

when we are relying on illustrations alone.

Decorated burial chambers and tombs

became symbols of social, religious, and political power.

In the Third Dynasty, we see written inscriptions pop up.

Having a cool tomb might be a status symbol

that could help preserve your legacy.

It also ensured your name was still spoken,

an important concept to ancient Egyptians,

but it wasn't required.

Only in the Fifth Dynasty do we see inscriptions

that spoke of the deceased's life after death.

Called the "Pyramid Texts" today,

the text in the Pyramid of Unas told of how the king

could journey successfully into the afterlife.

By the First Intermediate Period,

many of the original "Pyramid Texts,"

along with new spells and illustrations,

were now painted or inscribed on the interior of coffins,

rather than inside the Grand Tombs.

These are known as the "Coffin Texts."

They would become favored by the members

of the upper echelon of Egyptian society,

but only in the Middle Kingdom Period.

Funerary rights existed long before

they were recorded in the Old Kingdom.

While we might refer to them as the "Pyramid Texts,"

"Coffin Texts, or even the "Book of the Dead" today,

those are modern attributions.

Some of these rites would need to be performed, others not.

Just knowing they existed was sometimes enough,

which is why having a scroll

or illustration of the spells with you upon burial

was helpful, but not necessary.

And I cannot stress this enough,

rituals and spells in this context are different.

You needed to know the spell, but you had to do the ritual.

This means that you didn't have to physically

have some copy of the spell on your body or burial items.

Someone could do the ritual for you.

And if you knew about the spell in life, presumably,

that counted in death.

What mattered is that it was written down somewhere,

and you knew about it.

By the New Kingdom Period of the 18th and 20th dynasties,

descriptions of what the afterlife

was supposed to be like

were present in funerary texts and tombs.

Fun fact: a lot of the spells in the "Book of the Dead"

likely had nothing to do with funeral rights at first.

That's not even the right name.

Ancient Egyptians called the written collection,

"Spells for Going Out in Daylight,"

AKA, "How to Get to the Afterlife."

These spells were ever changing with corrections,

redactions, and new additions.

They could be on papyrus scrolls, linens, walls,

and other burial objects.

And it wasn't just the ultra wealthy or powerful

that knew about them.

Heck, even they cut corners.

While some protective amulet spells

outlined in the "Book of the Dead"

were supposed to be in solid gold,

only a handful of these have been found at grave sites,

likely because of the expense.

More commonly, the mummies we found bore amulets

of less expensive material like glazed ceramic,

or just some gold gilding.

Even the famous King Tut's amulets weren't all solid gold.

Think of all the elaborate tombs,

chockfull of everything someone could want

in the afterlife as the bonus stuff.

It helped show wealth and status, and it couldn't hurt,

but it wasn't required for entry.

It was also during this period

that more written funerary texts as a whole emerged.

The whole lot was referred to as "Books of the Netherworld,"

despite the fact that there weren't any books.

Some of these weren't as positive as others.

The "Book of the Dead" is in general, not that grim.

The "Amduat," though?

That one is all doom and gloom, and monsters and torture.

You may have heard that the "Book of the Dead"

dramatically changed the way ancient Egyptians

viewed the afterlife.

That it suggested all people of any social strata

could make it all the way to the best parts.

Some even refer to it as

the democratization of the afterlife.

This theory dates back

to the early 20th century scholarship,

and was the consensus among Egyptologists

and other scholars until very recently.

The conventional wisdom for a long time

was that the "Book of the Dead" dramatically changed

Egyptian perspectives of the afterlife.

But that's not exactly true.

There's actually a much longer history

that indicates the "Book of the Dead"

wasn't some pivotal shift,

but more like a collection of funerary spells and practices

most Egyptians had access to already.

Some scholars now argue that in the Old Kingdom,

non-royals and non-elites also had access

to equivalent funerary rituals and texts.

There was really no democratization

of the afterlife,

because there never needed to be.

Social access might have changed

as politics and religious beliefs shifted,

and there were certainly some who displayed

their social status more extravagantly.

Of course, the King had special access and rights,

including the ability to judge

who could enter the afterlife.

But since they were seen as part divine,

that's not unexpected.

The Egyptian afterlife was open to all,

but a social hierarchy still existed.

One of the reasons a lot more people

know about the "Book of the Dead,"

is because of one specimen in particular

that was found mostly intact and well-preserved:

the "Papyrus of Ani."

Who was Ani in the "Papyrus of Ani," you ask?

He was a scribe.

It was created sometime around 1250 BCE,

or more specifically, the 19th dynasty of the New Kingdom.

Not only is the text dense with hieroglyphics,

it also features various vignettes of Ani himself,

as he undertakes his various trials.

Each version of the "Book of the Dead" varies slightly

in how it depicted the trials,

but there are general similarities.

There's the Sun God "Re," or "Ra,"

whose daily journey illuminated the underworld,

while the mortal world entered night,

joining up with Osiris for some R&R.

There were all manner of ferocious beasts

lurking in the dark waters,

like the massive snake beast, Apep,

who was always trying to stop Re's return.

The afterlife only really gets good

if you pass through a bunch of labyrinths,

and get to the "Judgment of the Dead,"

also commonly known as the "Weighing of the Heart."

This involves correctly identifying

the 42 assessors of Maat,

while also listing all the sins that you did not commit,

attesting to a purity of heart.

-Halt. -Excuse me,

I'm trying to get to the afterlife.

Whoa! Okay, I love that for you.

But first, you need to attest to the purity of your heart.

So please, tell me which sins you haven't committed.

Spill the tea, sis.

I haven't committed witchcraft against the King.

Emphasis noted, but go off, Queen.

I've never been angry without just cause.

And trust me, I always have a just cause.

-Mm! -I am not a man of deceit.

Dang, that's a loophole. We need to update that.

-All right, next! -Thanks.

(Dr. Z) If you pass this test,

your heart would be weighed by Anubis,

the jackal-headed God who placed the heart on a scale

opposite of feather of Maat.

If their heart weighed the same as the feather,

you were in luck.

Thoth, the Ibis or baboon-headed scribe God

of knowledge, magic, and judgment,

would pen the result and pass the deceased onto Osiris,

the God of the underworld.

He would let them continue on their journey

to the Field of Reeds or Field of Offerings.

Here, the worthy deceased could live as mortals

in an idealized paradise.

But this was only a resting stop before the true goal,

transformation into a spirit

that could cross the boundary of the netherworld,

and join Ra on his journey across the sky--

to be his entourage, if you will.

Oh, and if you didn't pass,

having your soul devoured by the goddess demon Ammit,

or torture, were among the other options.

All things considered, it was fairly egalitarian

compared to other world religions at the time.

Respect the Gods, remember the bad stuff

you decided not to do,

know the funerary spells, and hope for the best.

The "Book of the Dead"

and the other so-called "Books of the Netherworld"

gave us a collected written account

of the many varied funerary practices

of the ancient Egyptians.

This includes some really cool art and intriguing concepts.

But they represent

a continuously evolving set of traditions

that were exchanged between social classes,

some of which may have even come from a shared source.

The common misconception that the "Book of the Dead"

dramatically reorganized ancient Egyptian religion

is a helpful reminder that us modern folks

need to remain open in our interpretation

of artifacts from the past.

Egyptian mythology is complicated.

Their burial practices are complicated.

But hey, so is life and death.

Okay, Dr. McT,

I'm so excited to know your Pantheon pick for this episode,

'cause I'm a big fan of Egyptian mythology,

so don't hold out on me.

Okay. I know, so I didn't want to disappoint.

I think weather is really important in a utopia,

and so I chose from the Egyptian Pantheon, Tefnut.

[Dr. Z gasps]

-Yes. -Yes!

-Yes! -Yes, okay.

So, Tefnut is a goddess of moisture and dew and air,

and I think that she might be able to provide

little personal weather bubbles for people.

I love that, so you get to pick and choose

your weather conditions.

Like if I want a nice rainy day

to read in paradise, I got that.

Yeah, but if you want some dry air to go out

and do some calisthenics, it's yours.

(Dr. Z) Excellent pick.

-Thank you. -[Dr. Z chuckles]

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Gaherble.

-Like a gherkin? -[Dr. McTier laughs]

That doesn't have an H in it, does it?

Gherkin.

I love a good gherkin.

[Dr. McTier chuckles]

(Producer) All right.