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The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) · 30 of 357 · tr. E.A. Wallis Budge

Chapter 4 (part 27)

For the variant vignettes see Naville, Todtenbuch , Bd. L, Bl. 8o. 2. One of the two variant vignettes shows the deceased in the act of adoring Ra, and in the other the deceased kneels before Ra, Thoth, and Osiris; see Naville, Todtenbuch , Bd. I., B1. 83.] {p. xxxviii} Theban version: list of chapters. Vignette: The deceased standing before the door of a tomb. Chapter LXXVI. The Chapter of [a man] changing into whatsoever form he pleaseth. This Chapter has no vignette. Chapter LXXVII. The Chapter of changing into a golden hawk. Vignette: A golden hawk Chapter LXXVIII. The Chapter of changing into a divine hawk. Vignette: A hawk. Chapter LXXIX. The Chapter of being among the company of the gods, and of becoming a prince among the divine powers. Vignette: The deceased adoring three gods. Chapter LXXX. The Chapter of changing into a god, and of sending forth light into darkness. Vignette: A god. Chapter LXXXI A . The Chapter of changing into a lily. Vignette: A lily. Chapter LXXXI B . The Chapter of changing into a lily. Vignette: The head of the deceased rising out of a lily. Chapter LXXXII. The Chapter of changing into Ptah, of eating cakes, of drinking ale, of unloosing the body, and of living in Annu (On). Vignette: The God Ptah in a shrine. Chapter LXXXIII. The Chapter of changing into a phœnix. Vignette: A phoenix. Chapter LXXXIV. The Chapter of changing into a heron. Vignette: A heron. Chapter LXXXV. The Chapter of changing into a soul, of not going into the place of punishment: whosoever knoweth it will never perish. This Chapter has no vignette. Chapter LXXXVI. The Chapter of changing into a swallow. Vignette: A swallow. Chapter LXXXVII. The Chapter of changing into the serpent Sa-ta. Vignette: A serpent. Chapter LXXXVIII. The Chapter of changing into a crocodile. Vignette: A crocodile. Chapter LXXXIX. The Chapter of making the soul to be united to its body. Vignette: The soul visiting the body, which lies on a bier. {p. xxxix} Theban version: list of chapters. Chapter XC. The Chapter of giving memory to a man. Vignette: A jackal. Chapter XCI. 'The Chapter of not allowing the soul of a man to be shut in. Vignette: A soul standing on a pedestal. Chapter XCII. The Chapter of opening the tomb to the soul and shadow of a man, so that he may come forth and may gain power over his legs. Vignette: The soul of the deceased flying through the door of the tomb. Chapter XCIII. The Chapter of not sailing to the east in the underworld. Vignette: The hands of a buckle grasping the deceased by his left arm. Chapter XCIV. The Chapter of praying for an ink jar and palette. Vignette: The deceased sitting before a stand, upon which are an ink jar and palette. Chapter XCV. The Chapter of being near Thoth. Vignette: The deceased standing before Thoth. Chapters XCVI., XCVII. The Chapter of being near Thoth, and of giving . . . . . . . Vignette: The deceased standing near Thoth. Chapter XCVIII. [The title of this chapter is incomplete.] Chapter XCIX.
Themes
Theosis Deificationsoteriology

The doctrine — central to Eastern Orthodox and Maximian theology — that the human person is progressively transformed into a partaker of the divine nature by grace, not merely justified or united in passing ecstasy.

Multiple chapters explicitly describe the deceased changing into gods or divine forms like Ptah.

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Divine Lighttheology

The uncreated luminous quality of the divine, sometimes experienced directly in mystical states; illumination as revelation.

[auto] Chapter LXXX explicitly mentions the transformed deceased sending forth light into darkness as a divine capability.

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Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

[auto] The passage lists chapters and vignettes from the Book of the Dead specifically designed to guide the deceased through the afterlife.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

The merging of the individual soul or self with the divine, transcending personal identity.

[auto] Multiple chapters describe the deceased changing into gods or becoming a prince among divine powers, indicating a merging with the divine.

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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 the deceased's progression toward becoming a prince among divine powers and assuming divine forms.

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