11.3 The Amduat and Other New Kingdom Funerary Texts

The Amduat and other New Kingdom funerary texts describe the sun god's nightly journey through the underworld. These texts served as guides for pharaohs, helping them navigate dangers and achieve rebirth in the afterlife.

These texts were often inscribed on royal tomb walls, reflecting the increased focus on the afterlife in New Kingdom beliefs. They symbolized the cyclical nature of life and death, emphasizing the pharaoh's role in maintaining cosmic order.

The Amduat and New Kingdom Funerary Texts

Content and purpose of Amduat

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• Describes the journey of the sun god Ra through the underworld during the 12 hours of the night, with each hour represented by a section or division
• Serves as a guide for the deceased pharaoh to navigate the underworld, overcome dangers and challenges, and ensure successful rebirth
• Reflects the increased emphasis on the afterlife and the pharaoh's divine status in New Kingdom funerary beliefs
• Often inscribed on the walls of royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings to ensure the pharaoh's successful journey and rebirth

Amduat vs Book of Gates

• Both describe the sun god's journey through the underworld, but with variations in the challenges faced and the focus of the text
• Book of Gates emphasizes the gates the sun god must pass through, the role of Osiris as ruler of the underworld, and the sun god overcoming guardians and demons at each gate
• Amduat is more comprehensive and widely used in royal tombs, while the Book of Gates provides additional details and variations on the journey

Solar journey in funerary texts

• Central theme representing the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, mirroring the journey of the deceased pharaoh
• Symbolizes the maintenance of cosmic order and the triumph of light over darkness, with the sun god's victory over chaos essential for the continuation of life on earth
• Pharaoh plays a crucial role in assisting the sun god and maintaining order, reflecting their divine status
• Inclusion in royal tombs reflects the importance of the concept in New Kingdom funerary beliefs, contributing to the goal of achieving eternal life and maintaining cosmic order

Relationship of texts to tombs

• Often inscribed on the walls of royal tombs in specific locations (burial chamber, sarcophagus) to provide protection and guidance for the deceased pharaoh
• Tomb layout and decoration designed to reflect the journey described in the texts, with chambers corresponding to the hours of the night (Tomb of Seti I in the Valley of the Kings)
• Integration of texts into tomb architecture and decoration creates a powerful symbolic space facilitating the pharaoh's journey through the underworld
• Reflects the importance of the afterlife and the central role of the pharaoh in New Kingdom Egyptian religion, with texts and tombs as essential components of the journey to eternal life and divine status