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The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) · 28 of 357 · tr. E.A. Wallis Budge

Chapter 4 (part 25)

Vignette: The deceased being weighed against his heart in the balance in the presence of Osiris, "the great god, the prince of eternity." Chapter XXXI. The Chapter of repulsing the crocodile which cometh to carry the magical words ### from a man in the underworld. Vignette: The deceased spearing a crocodile. Chapter XXXII. [The Chapter of] coming to carry the magical words from a man in the underworld. This Chapter has no vignette. Chapter XXXIII. The Chapter of repulsing reptiles of all kinds. Vignette: The deceased attacking four snakes with a knife in each hand. Chapter XXXIV. The Chapter of a man not being bitten by a serpent in the hall of the tomb.[3] This Chapter has no vignette. Chapter XXXV. The Chapter of not being eaten by worms in the underworld. [1. Two variants (Naville, Todtenbuch , Bd. I., Bl. 38) show the deceased sitting before his heart, and the deceased presenting his heart to a triad of gods. 2. Or the deceased adoring his heart; see also Naville, Todtenbuch , Bd. I., Bl. 42. 3 ### amihat .] {p. xxxv} Theban version: list of chapters. Vignette: Three serpents. Chapter XXXVI. The Chapter of repulsing the tortoise. ( apsai ). Vignette: The deceased spearing a beetle.[1] Chapter XXXVII. The Chapter of repulsing the two merti . Vignette: Two uræi, which represent the two eyes of Ra. Chapter XXXVIII A . The Chapter of living upon the air which is in the underworld. Vignette: The deceased holding a sail, emblematic of air. Chapter XXXVIII B . The Chapter of living upon air and of repulsing the two merti . Vignette: The deceased attacking three serpents, a knife in his right hand and a sail in his left. Chapter XXXIX. The Chapter of repulsing the serpent in the underworld. Vignette: The deceased spearing a serpent. Chapter XL. The Chapter of repulsing the eater of the ass. Vignette: The deceased spearing a serpent which is biting the neck of all ass. Chapter XLI. The Chapter of doing away with the wounding of the eyes in the underworld. Vignette: The deceased holding a knife in the right hand and a roll in the left. Chapter XLII. [The Chapter] of doing away with slaughter in Suten-henen. Vignette: A man holding a serpent.[2] Chapter XLIII. The Chapter of not allowing the head of a man to be cut off from him in the underworld. This Chapter has no vignette. Chapter XLIV. The Chapter of not dying a second time. This Chapter has no vignette. Chapter XLV. The Chapter of not seeing corruption. This Chapter has no vignette. Chapter XLVI. The Chapter of not decaying, and of living in the underworld. This Chapter has no vignette. Chapter XLVII. The Chapter of not carrying off the place (or seat) of the throne from a man in the underworld. [1. Or the deceased holding a knife and staff and standing before ###. 2. For the variant vignettes see Naville, Todtenbuch , Bd. I., III. 57.] {p. xxxvi} Theban version: list of chapters. This Chapter has no vignette. Chapter XLVIII. [The Chapter of a man coming against] his enemies. This Chapter has no vignette. Chapter XLIX.* The Chapter of a man coming forth against his enemies in the underworld. Vignette: A man standing with a staff in his hand. Chapter L.
Themes
◆Maat Cosmic Ordercosmology

The Egyptian principle of truth, balance, and right order underlying both the cosmos and human conduct; the parallel to Zoroastrian asha and Greek dike.

The weighing of the heart against Maat (implied by Osiris and judgment context) reflects the Egyptian principle of truth and balance underlying the afterlife.

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◆Theurgypraxis

Iamblichean ritual practice that engages the gods directly through consecrated material symbols and actions, on the premise that divine power descends into properly prepared matter — distinct from philosophical contemplation alone.

The text prescribes ritual spells and vignettes intended to engage divine power directly for protection and survival in the underworld.

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◇Anthropomorphismtheology

Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery.

[auto] The vignettes depict the deceased and gods interacting in human-like forms, such as spearing crocodiles or sitting before a triad.

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◇Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

[auto] The text explicitly lists chapters and vignettes designed to guide the deceased through the dangers of the underworld after death.

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◇Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

[auto] Osiris is described as an active deity ('prince of eternity') who presides over the judgment and presence in the underworld.

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◇Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

[auto] The passage describes the deceased's movement through the underworld in the presence of Osiris, navigating specific hazards to reach eternity.

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◇Sacred Namestheology

Divine names or formulas that carry ontological power, used in prayer, liturgy, or magical practice.

[auto] The chapters rely on 'magical words' which function as formulas with power to repel dangers and ensure safe passage.

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◇Spiritual Ascentpraxis

A staged journey of the soul upward through heavenly realms or levels of being toward the divine source.

[auto] The text outlines a progression through chapters that facilitate the soul's journey toward eternity and the divine realm.

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Related passages · 2 parallels
◆christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 12 (part 8)
“2 "It is erroneous to suppose that the soul of Christ had left the body and had travelled down to hell, and that it had there, in divine power, attacked the devils and bound them with chains, and thus destroyed hell. It is rather to be und…”
Both passages deal with the theme of overcoming death and the underworld. The Egyptian Book of the Dead describes various chapters and vignettes where the deceased repels threats and ensures a safe passage through the underworld. Similarly, the Christian mystical passage describes how Christ's soul enters death and the wrath of God, reconciling it with love and breaking the power of death and hell.
◆christian_mysticism|The Life and Doctrines of Jacob Boehme|Chapter 14 (part 7)
“This light moderates the action of the fiery will still active in them, the blessings of their good deeds surround them, the hope for still greater glorification is their life, and from the trouble and persecution which they have suffered t…”
Both passages deal with the afterlife and the fate of the soul, emphasizing the importance of deeds and the avoidance of harm or corruption. The Egyptian Book of the Dead focuses on rituals and chapters to protect the deceased from various dangers in the underworld, while the Christian mystical text describes the blessed souls being surrounded by the light and power of God, protected from sin and persecution.