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The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) · 164 of 357 · tr. E.A. Wallis Budge

Chapter 19 (part 11)

The unclean man who would walk thereover doth fall down among the knives; or (as others say), His name is "Mathes,"[2] and he is the watcher of the door of Amenta; or (as others say), His name is "Heri-sep-f." "Hail, Lord of terror, chief of the lands of the North and South, lord of the red glow, who preparest the slaughter-block, and who dost feed upon the inward parts!" Who then is this? The guardian of the Bight of Amenta. What then is this? It is the heart of Osiris, which is the devourer of all slaughtered things. The urerit crown hath been given unto him with swellings of the heart as lord of Suten-henen. What then is this? He to whom hath been given the urerit crown with swellings of-the heart as lord of Suten-henen is Osiris. He was bidden to rule among the gods on the day of the union of earth with earth in the presence of Neb-er-tcher. What then is this? He that was bidden to rule among the gods is [Horus] the son of Isis, who was appointed to rule in the place of his father Osiris. As to the day of the union of earth with earth, it is the mingling of earth with earth in the coffin of Osiris, the Soul that liveth in Suten-henen, the giver of meat and drink, the destroyer of wrong, and the guide of the everlasting paths. Who then is this? It is Ra himself. "Deliver thou [me] from the great god who carrieth away souls, and who devoureth filth and eateth dirt, the guardian of the darkness [who himself " liveth] in the light. They who are in misery fear him." As concerning the souls within the (113) tchafi [they are those which are] with the god who carrieth away the soul, who eateth hearts, and who feedeth (114) upon offal, the guardian of the darkness who is within the seker boat; they who live in (115) crime fear him. Who then is this? It is Suti, or (as others say), It is Smam-ur,[3] (116) the soul of Seb. "Hail, Khepera in thy boat, the twofold company of the gods is thy body. Deliver thou Osiris (117) Ani, triumphant, from the watchers who give judgment, [1. Reading se en Unt . 2 The one with a knife. 3 I.e. , Great Slayer.] who have been appointed by Neb-er(118)-tcher to protect him and to fasten the fetters on his foes, and who slaughter in the shambles (119); there is no escape from their grasp. May they never stab me with their knives, (120) may I never fall helpless in their chambers of torture. (121) Never have the things which the gods hate been done by me, for I am pure within the Mesqet. (122) Cakes of saffron have been brought unto him in Tanenet." Who then is this? (123) It is Khepera in his boat. It is Ra himself. The watchers (124) who give judgment are the apes Isis and Nephthys. The things which the gods hate (125) are wickedness and falsehood; and he who passeth through the place of purification within the Mesqet is Anubis, who is (126) behind the chest which holdeth the inward parts of Osiris.
Themes
Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

[auto] This passage is from the Book of the Dead and explicitly details the guardians, doors, and dangers of the underworld (Amenta) that the deceased must navigate.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

Esoteric teachings reserved for those ready to receive them; outer meaning conceals an inner liberating truth.

[auto] The catechism style ('What then is this?') reveals secret identities and esoteric knowledge required for the deceased to succeed.

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Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

[auto] The text describes the door of Amenta and the watchers who guard the path the soul must walk through the afterlife.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

The maintenance of a state of cleanliness—physical, moral, or spiritual—required for encounter with the divine.

[auto] The passage warns that an 'unclean man' will fall among knives, indicating that a state of purity is required to traverse the afterlife realms.

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Sacred Namestheology

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

[auto] The text emphasizes knowing the specific names (Mathes, Heri-sep-f) and titles of underworld entities as crucial for identification and safe passage.

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Related passages · 3 parallels
gnosticism|Pistis Sophia|Document THIRDc
Say unto them, Renounce the villainies, and be worthy of the mysteries of the Light, and be delivered from all the [237 ] demons of Ialtabaoth with all his punishments. Say unto them, Renounce the senselessness, and be worthy of the myster…”
Both passages describe a journey through a dangerous afterlife realm filled with judgment and punishment for the unworthy. They also emphasize the importance of moral purity and righteousness to navigate these trials successfully.
gnosticism|Pistis Sophia|Document THIRD
And 166 that man came out of the body before that he repented again and received mystery again in the mysteries, those which (are) within the mysteries which he finished receiving, these which they are wont to receive again for the repentan…”
Both passages describe a journey through the afterlife involving judgment, punishment, and the need for purity or repentance. They share themes of divine guardians, the fate of souls, and the intervention of higher powers to guide or save the deceased.
gnosticism|Pistis Sophia|Document FOURTHd
Added also in the word Jesus, said he, It happened therefore after these (things), came the Father of my Father, namely, Ieou, he took away other three hundred with sixty Rulers among the Rulers also of the Adamas, these who did not believe…”
Both passages describe a mystical journey involving judgment and the fate of souls. They share themes of divine figures overseeing the process, the purification of souls, and the consequences for those who do not adhere to the divine order.