By The newspaper
31 Oct 2023, 01:45 AM EDT
Archaeologists in Egypt have made a fascinating discovery at the Tuna el-Gebel necropolis, a resting place for high officials and priests during the New Kingdom.
The find includes an exceptionally long papyrus scroll containing excerpts from the legendary Book of the Dead, shedding light on ancient funerary practices and rituals, according to a statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
The newly unearthed cemetery revealed a wealth of archaeological treasures, including stone and wooden amulets, ornaments and coffins, some of which contained mummified remains.
Among the preserved bodies were individuals with intriguing titles and roles, such as “Jahuti Miss,” the “overseer of the bulls of the Temple of Amun,” and a temple musician known as “Mrs. “Nani.”
An intricately engraved coffin bore the name “Lady Ta-de-Isa,” identified as the daughter of “Eret Haru,” the high priest of the deity Djehuti. Additionally, the coffin contained two wooden boxes that housed canopic jars, which were traditionally used to store the organs of the deceased.
A rare discovery: the Book of the Dead
While the finds at the necropolis were notable in their own right, it was a section of papyrus that stole the show. This well-preserved ancient scroll, which measured between 43 and 49 feet long, contained references to the Book of the Dead, a collection of spells designed to help the souls of the deceased navigate to the afterlife.
The Book of the Dead was not a conventional book, but rather a compilation of spells with no fixed structure or narrative. It could be customized with various combinations of spells and buried next to the deceased.
To date, no tomb has been found containing the complete collection of chapters of this enigmatic text.
These incantations were intended to empower the deceased, providing them with the means to face the challenges posed by the underworld and reach Osiris, the god who would weigh their souls.
The precise spells or chapters contained in this extensive papyrus have not been revealed in the official statement, leaving us wondering about the mysteries it may contain.
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