大英博物馆：《埃及死者之书》珍贵图片集

古埃及《亡灵书》（或死者之书、死亡之书）

《亡灵书》（或死者之书、死亡之书）是古埃及所流传下来最著名的文献。这是一些用来帮助死者在来

世渡过难关、得到永生的咒语。通常这些咒语会写在纸草上，放入棺木中。在放入棺木之前，咒语也可

以先由祭司读过。

整个亡灵书中最著名的一段咒语，内容大意是说人死后要在阴间之神欧西里斯之前接受审判，他必须谨

慎地否认一切可能犯的罪行，并且一一说出阴间的42位判官神的名字。这样就可以被判无罪而进入永生

之境。由死者的否认中，我们可以看到古代埃及社会中一般的社会规范和道德标准，因此死亡之书不但

是一份宗教文献，也是有关社会和思想的重要材料。

The Book of the Dead is a collection of 200 magic spells and incantations which were believed to protect the dead person from evil and to guide him on his passage through a kingdom of the dead.Each spell was intended to be used in a specific situation the dead person might encounter on the tortuous path to eternal bliss.

ABOVE: Devourer, detail from the Book of the Dead of Ani

Thoth, the god of wisdom with the head of an ibis, stands recording the result of the weighing of souls.If the dead Egyptian's soul was heavier than a feather, then they would be devoured by Ammut, who was one-third crocodile, one-third lion, and one third-hippopotamus.

Picture: The Trustees of the British Museum

Spell 87, Papyrus of Ani, 1275 BC

A spell to assume the form of a horned snake: 'I am a horned snake, long of years, / Lying down, born every day.I am a horned snake in the limits of the earth./ I lie down; I am born; I am renewed; I bloom every day.'

Nodjmet, sunrise scene

The Egyptians associated the sun with the god Ra, who created all forms of life, and ensured that the sun was reborn every morning after his nightly journey through the realm of Osiris.

Picture: The Trustees of the British Museum

Opening the Mouth ritual, detail from the Book of the Dead of Hunefer

Anubis, the god who protected the dead, supports the mummy of Hunefer, as the dead man's wife and daughter mourn.Three priests perform a ritual to ensure Hunefer could breathe and speak in the afterlife.Scholars have noted connections between the ceremony and Psalm 51 – 'O Lord, open thou my lips'.

Picture: The Trustees of the British Museum

Weighing of the heart, details from the Book of the Dead of Ani, 1275 BC

Here an Egyptian is judged by Osiris, the god of the afterlife.

Picture: The Trustees of the British Museum

His heart is weighed against a feather belonging to Maát, goddess of truth, goddess of truth.If his heart is lighter, he will be rewarded with eternal life; if not, he will be devoured by Ammut.

Picture: The Trustees of the British Museum

King Herihor and Queen Nodjmet adore Osiris, detail from the Book of the Dead of Nodjmet

King Herihor and Queen Nodjmet depicted as they adore Osiris, the god of the afterlife, the underworld and the dead.Before any Egyptian could enter his kingdom after his death, they would be judged before him.
Picture: The Trustees of the British Museum