The Egyptian Book of the dead
thy name, I know the name of the god who guardeth thee.” Then follow the
name of the pylon, and that of the god, and after having said them, the
deceased describes the purifications he goes through, the oils with
which he has been anointed, and the text ends with these words: pass on,
thou art pure.
It is curious that both in 145 and 146 there is a change at the pylon
No. 11. In our text, _Lc_, the name of the doorkeeper disappears, and
each time, after the name of the pylon, we find these words:
⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂.
In 145 the name of the doorkeeper is still mentioned, but this sentence
takes the place of the description of the purifications and ointments
which occurred in the previous paragraphs. I should translate these
words: _she will direct or prepare the enwrapping or clothing of the
dead_. I think that the dead is supposed to wear a different garment at
each pylon, which is provided to him by the pylon itself.
A still more detailed version of 145 is found in the Paris papyrus _Pg_,
of which we have only a very short fragment. At each pylon there is a
dialogue between the deceased and doorkeeper, who asks whether the
deceased has been purified, in what water, with what oil he has been
anointed, which garment he wears, which stick he holds in his hand.
Chapters 145 and 146 are among the most incorrect texts of the Book of
the Dead, and until we have new copies of the old versions, there will
always be a large measure of conjecture in any attempt to translate
them.
1. ⁂⁂⁂⁂. Being feminine, the name is that of a woman or a
goddess.
2. ⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂. One of the names of Hathor, the
consort of Thoth at Hermopolis (Mariette, _Dendérah_, II, pl. 27, 15).
3. ⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂. Renouf translates, “words of power.” I
should prefer “magic power.”
4. I read with the Turin text ⁂⁂⁂.
5. ⁂. According to Lepsius, the σχοινιον, 40 cubits.
6. I read with the text of chapter 145 in the royal tomb
⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂.
The vignettes vary considerably, according to the papyri. In _Lc_ all
the pylons are alike, with a god sitting inside; evidently the artist
was free to draw them according to his fancy. The vignettes of the
papyrus of Ani, and, still more, _Pc_, are remarkable for their fine
colours.
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PLATE L.
BOOK OF THE DEAD.
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PLATE LI.
BOOK OF THE DEAD.
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CHAPTER CXLVII.
The first gate. The name of the doorkeeper is: he whose face is
overturned, who has many attributes. The name of its warder is: the
adjuster. The name of the herald is: he with a loud voice.
Said by _N_ when he approaches the first gate.
I am the mighty one, who createth his own light.(1.)
I come to thee, Osiris, and I worship thee.
Pure are thine effluxes, which flow from thee, and which make thy name
in Restau(2.) when it hath passed there.
Hail to thee, Osiris.
Arise, thou art mighty, Osiris, in Abydos.
Thou goest round the sky, thou sailest with Rā, thou surveyest mankind,
thou art alone going round with Rā, for thou art called Osiris.
I am the divine mummy. What I say takes place.
I shall not be driven back from it (the gate); its walls of burning
coals show the way in Restau. I have soothed the pain of Osiris, when he
supports him who balances his pedestal, when he arrives from the great
valley. I have made my way to the light of Osiris.(3.)
The second gate. The name of the doorkeeper is: he who shows his face.
The name of its warder is: he with a revolving face. The name of the
herald is: the consumer.
Said by _N_ when he approaches the second gate. He sitteth and acts in
accordance with the desire of his heart, weighing the words as the
second of Thoth. The attributes of _N_ are those of Thoth. When faint
the Maāt gods, the hidden ones who live on truth, whose years are those
of Osiris, (still) I am mighty in offerings at the appointed time. I
have made my way out of the fire. I march, I have made my way. Grant
that I may pass on freely, that I may see Rā among those who give
offerings.
The third gate. The name of the doorkeeper is: he who eateth his own
filth. The name of its warder is: the watchful. The name of the herald
is: the great one.
Said by _N_ when he approaches the third gate.
I am he whose stream is secret, who judgeth the Rehui. I have come to
remove all evil from Osiris.
I am the girdled(4.) at his appointed time, coming forth with the double
crown.
I secured firmly my suit in Abydos, and I opened my path in Restau. I
have soothed the pain of Osiris who balances his pedestal. I have made
my way when he shines at Restau.
The fourth gate. The name of the doorkeeper is: he who opposes
garrulity. The name of its warder is: the attentive one. The name of the
herald is: he who drives back the crocodile.
Said by _N_ when he approaches the fourth gate.
I am the bull,(5.) the son of the Kite of Osiris. Behold, his father the
Fiery One sat in judgment. I poised the balance for him. Life has been
brought to me. I live for ever. I have made my way. I am the son of
Osiris, I live for ever.
The fifth gate. The name of the doorkeeper is: he who lives on worms.
The name of the warder is: the consuming flame. The name of the herald
is: the bow which strikes the furious (?).
Said by _N_ when he approaches the fifth gate.
I have brought the two jaws of Restau.(6.) I have brought to thee the
books (?) which are in the Annu, and I add up for him his hosts. I have
repulsed Apepi and healed the wounds he made. I made my way through the
midst of you. I am the great one among the gods. I purified Osiris. I
restored him as victor. I joined his bones, and put together his limbs.
The sixth gate. The name of the doorkeeper is: he who makes the loaves,
with a thundering voice. The name of its warder is: he who shows his
face. The name of the herald is: the stolen knife which belongs to the
sky.
Said by _N_ when he approaches the sixth gate.
I come every day, I go. I who was created by Anubis, I am the lord of
the diadem. I ignore the magic words (however). I avenge Maāt, I avenge
his eye. I gave his eye to Osiris himself. I have made my way. _N_ goes
along with you.
The seventh gate. The name of the doorkeeper is: he who takes possession
of their knives. The name of its warder is: he with a high voice. The
name of the herald: he who drives back the enemies.
Said by _N_ when he approaches the seventh gate.
I have come to thee, Osiris,(7.) pure are thine effluxes. Thou goest
round and thou seest the sky with Rā. Thou seest mankind, thou the only
one. Thou addressest Rā in the Sektit boat of the sky, when he goes
round the horizon. I say what I wish, my mummy is mighty. What I say
takes place like what he says. I shall not be driven back from thee. I
have made my way.
Said near the seven gates.(8.) When the deceased arrives at the pylons,
he is not driven back, nor repulsed from Osiris. It is given him to be
among the glorious ones, the most excellent of them, so that he may have
dominion over the first followers of Osiris.
Every deceased to whom this chapter is read is like the lord of
eternity, he is of one substance with Osiris, and in no place has he to
encounter a great fight.
NOTES.
Chapter 147 is very like 144, in fact, it is the same more developed. It
refers also to the seven gates; and whenever the deceased approaches one
of the gates, he has to say the name of the doorkeeper, which, as we saw
before, is that of the gate itself; and also the name of the warder and
that of the herald. Besides the deceased has to address the gate,
probably in order to open it so that he may pass through. The words he
utters are found in chapters 117, 119 and 136B. The two first have
nearly the same title, _the arrival at Restau_, near Abydos. If, as is
most probable, the various parts of the Book of the Dead did not
originate in the same place, we may safely assert that these chapters,
as well as those of the gates and the pylons, come from Abydos.
On the whole the Papyrus of Ani is more complete for chapter 147 than
the Leyden text _Lc_ which is published in my edition. Therefore this
chapter has been translated from Ani, using _Lc_ whenever Ani is too
corrupt.
1. Chapter 119, _vide_ p. 206, “Chapter whereby one entereth and goeth
forth from Restau.”
2. I should translate: _which give to Restau its name_. This is an
instance of those wonderful etymologies often met with in religious
texts. From the word ⁂⁂⁂⁂ _to flow_, is derived the name
⁂⁂⁂.
3. The Osiris of the first gate whom the deceased addresses seems to be
the moon. The word ⁂⁂ is often used in speaking of the pale and
silvery light of the moon (Naville, _Litanie du soleil_, p. 54).
The last sentences are found in chapter 117, line 3.
4. Chapter 117.
5. Chapter 136B, line 14.
6. Chapter 136B, line 18. I repeat Renouf’s translation, though I differ
from him in various points. For instance, I should translate: _I have
closed the doors in Restau_ (_cf._ Inscr. of Piankhi, line 104).
7. An abridged version of chapter 119.
8. The rubric is taken from the Paris papyrus _Pc_.
There also the vignettes vary considerably according to the fancy of the
artist. In _Lc_ the gates and the gods are all alike. In _Pc_ the god is
always represented in human form with a ram’s head. In the Papyrus of
Ani, where there are three figures for each gate, these figures are all
different.
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CHAPTER CXLVIII.
_Giving sustenance_(1.) _to the deceased in the Netherworld, and
delivering him from all evil things._(2.)
Hail to thee who shinest as living soul, and who appearest on the
horizon, _N._ who is in the boat knows thee; he knows thy name, he knows
the names of the seven cows and of their bull; they give bread and drink
to the glorified soul. You who give sustenance to the inhabitants of the
West, give bread and drink to the soul of _N._, grant that he may be
your follower, and be between your thighs(3.).
(Then follow the names of the seven cows.)
The house of the ka, of the inviolate god,
The storm of the sky, which raises the gods,
The hidden one in her dwelling,
Chebt the mummified form of the god,
The greatly beloved, with red hair,
The abundant in life, the veiled one,
She who is powerful in her works, or on her pedestal,
The bull ... of the Netherworld.
(Then the deceased calls on the four rudders of the sky, the four
cardinal points.)
Hail! divine form, the good one, the good rudder of the Northern sky.
Hail! thou who goest round and pilotest the double earth, the good
rudder of the Western sky.
Hail! the shining one, who dwellest in the house of the devouring
monsters, the good rudder of the Eastern sky.
Hail! the inner one who dwelleth in the house of the red ones, the good
rudder of the Southern sky.
Give bread and drink, oxen, geese, all things good and pure to _N._ Give
him sustenance, give him joy, may he rest on the earth, and may he be
victorious on the horizon of Annu, in the Tuat, in the sky, and on the
earth, eternally.
Ye fathers and mothers, gods of the sky, and of the Netherworld, deliver