11.2 Key Spells and Their Functions

The Book of the Dead contains crucial spells for ancient Egyptians' journey to the afterlife. These spells serve various purposes, from protecting the deceased's heart to enabling transformation into divine beings. Understanding these spells reveals the complexities of Egyptian beliefs about death and rebirth.

Key spells include the Weighing of the Heart, which determines worthiness for the afterlife, and spells for protection against underworld dangers. Symbolism in these spells, like the feather of Maat and the scarab beetle, reflects deep-rooted Egyptian concepts of cosmic order and transformation.

Key Spells in the Book of the Dead

Purpose of key Book of the Dead spells

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• Spell 125: The Weighing of the Heart
  • Ensures the deceased's heart is lighter than the feather of Maat representing truth and justice
  • Enables the deceased to enter the afterlife if their heart is pure and free from sin (Negative Confession)
• Spell 17: Identification with the Sun God Ra
  • Allows the deceased to identify with the sun god Ra and his daily journey across the sky (solar barque)
  • Grants the deceased the ability to be reborn each day like the sun rising in the east
• Spell 30B: The Heart Amulet
  • Protects the heart of the deceased from being separated from the body during mummification
  • Ensures the heart can testify favorably during the weighing of the heart ceremony (Spell 125)
• Spell 64: Leaving the Tomb by Day
  • Grants the deceased the ability to leave their tomb and move freely in the afterlife (Field of Reeds)
  • Allows the deceased to participate in offerings and rituals performed by the living (mortuary cults)

Spells for afterlife protection and guidance

• Protection from dangers and obstacles
  • Spells provide magical protection against demons, monsters, and other threats in the underworld (Apep)
  • Spell 31 protects the deceased from crocodiles and other aquatic dangers while crossing the Nile
  • Spell 7 guards against snakes and scorpions that may harm the deceased on their journey
• Guidance and navigation
  • Spells offer instructions and knowledge to help the deceased navigate the complex landscape of the afterlife
  • Spell 99 provides a map of the underworld and the locations of important deities (Osiris, Anubis)
  • Spell 109 gives directions to reach the Field of Reeds, the ideal afterlife destination
• Transformation and empowerment
  • Spells enable the deceased to transform into various divine beings granting them special abilities and powers
  • Spell 76 allows the deceased to transform into a lotus flower, a symbol of rebirth and regeneration
  • Spell 24 permits the deceased to assume the form of a swallow, allowing them to fly freely

Symbolism in Book of the Dead spells

• The feather of Maat
  • Represents truth, justice, and cosmic order maintained by the goddess Maat
  • Used in the weighing of the heart ceremony to determine the deceased's worthiness for the afterlife
• The sun disk (Aten)
  • Symbolizes the sun god Ra and his daily journey across the sky in his solar barque
  • Represents the cycle of life, death, and rebirth as the sun rises and sets each day
• The scarab beetle (Khepri)
  • Embodies the concept of creation and transformation as it rolls balls of dung
  • Often depicted on heart scarabs and amulets to ensure the heart's protection and renewal
• The ankh
  • Represents eternal life and the key to the afterlife bestowed by the gods
  • Often held by deities or the deceased in Book of the Dead illustrations (vignettes)

Significance of heart weighing ceremony

• Judgment of the deceased
  1. The ceremony determines the deceased's worthiness to enter the afterlife based on their actions during life
  2. The heart is weighed against the feather of Maat, symbolizing truth and justice
  3. If the heart is lighter, the deceased is declared "true of voice" and granted entry
• Spell 30B: The Heart Amulet
  • Ensures the heart remains in the body and does not testify against the deceased during the ceremony
  • Placed on the mummy's chest during wrapping to protect the heart and guarantee a favorable outcome
• Spell 125: The Negative Confession
  • The deceased recites a list of 42 sins they have not committed, demonstrating their purity and righteousness
  • Helps the deceased pass the judgment of the 42 assessor gods and enter the afterlife as a justified individual (maa kheru)
• Consequences of the ceremony
  • If the heart is lighter than the feather, the deceased is granted entry into the Field of Reeds
  • If the heart is heavier than the feather, it is devoured by the monster Ammit resulting in the "second death" and the end of existence