The papyrus scrolls known as Books of the Dead were collections of magic spells placed in the tombs of wealthy individuals to ensure their safe passage into the afterlife and their continued wellbeing in the next world. This Book of the Dead, made for a high-ranking official named Ani, shows every stage of this journey in great detail. The funeral scene provides a good starting point for exploring several different aspects of ancient Egyptian belief about the afterlife.
Tomb of Ani, Thebes
about 1275 BC
Egypt, 19th Dynasty
papyrus
length: 61 cm
width: 42.3 cm
British Museum
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