The Egyptian Book of the Dead

Deliver me from the Watchers who bear slaughtering knives, and who have cruel fingers.

This paperback edition presents The Egyptian Book of the Dead, an ancient collection of spells, prayers and incantations designed to guide the departed through the perils of the underworld. Written as part of funeral rites to ensure eternal life, these scrolls were often left in the sarcophagus of the deceased and now offer fascinating insight into Egyptian culture.

The version of Egyptian funerary scrolls used in this edition is that of the famous and well-preserved Papyrus of Ani, written around 1500BC. Ani was the Royal Scribe of Thebes, Overseer of the Granaries of the Lords of Abydos, and Scribe of the Offerings of the Lords of Thebes. The hieroglyphic text has been translated by acclaimed Egyptologist E.A. Wallis Budge, and includes spells addressed to ferryman, gods and kings to aid Ani on his way to the afterlife.

The Arcturus Classics series brings together high-quality paperback editions of classics works, presented with contemporary graphic cover designs. Together they make a wonderful collection which is perfect for any home library.

About the Author

Sir Ernest Alfred Thompson Wallis Budge (1857–1934) was a renowned Egyptologist who worked at the British Museum in London and made significant contributions to the Museum's collections of cuneiform tablets and papyri as a result of his many trips to the Near East. He was a prolific author who contributed much to the study of hieroglyphics.

Dimensions: 12.9 x 1.1 x 19.8 cm