The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) · 169 of 357 · tr. E.A. Wallis Budge
Chapter 20 (part 4)
, "He liveth upon worms." 2.
Var.
###.
3.
For what follows of this speech Naville gives no equivalent.
4.
Var.
Seket-tau-keha-kheru.
5.
Ates-sen.
6 Var.
Aa-kheru.] unto thee, O Osiris, who art cleansed of [thine] impurities.
Thou goest round about heaven, thou seest Ra, thou seest the beings who have knowledge.
Hail (7) Only One!
behold, thou art in the sektet boat,[1] He goeth round the horizon of heaven.
I speak what I will unto his[2] body; (8) it waxeth strong and it cometh to life, as he spake.
Thou turnest back his face.
Prosper thou for -me all the ways [which lead] unto thee!" Vignette I.: Ani and his wife Thuthu, with hands raised in adoration, approaching the first Sebkhet or Pylon, which is guarded by a bird-headed deity wearing a disk on his head, and sitting in a shrine the cornice of which is decorated with khakeru ornaments.
Text: [CHAPTER CXLVI.] THE FIRST PYLON.
WORDS TO BE SPOKEN WHEN [ANI] COMETH UNTO THE FIRST PYLON.
Saith Osiris Ani, triumphant: "Lo, the lady of terrors, with lofty walls, the sovereign lady, the mistress of destruction, who uttereth the words which drive back the destroyers, who delivereth from destruction him that travelleth along the way.
The name of the doorkeeper is Neruit." Vignette II.: The second Pylon, which is guarded by a lion-headed deity seated in a shrine, upon the top of which is a serpent.
Text: WORDS TO BE SPOKEN WHEN [ANI] COMETH UNTO THE SECOND PYLON.
Saith Osiris, the scribe Ani, triumphant: "Lo, the lady of heaven, the mistress of the world, who devoureth with fire, the lady of mortals; how much greater is she than all men!
The name of the doorkeeper is Mes-Ptah." Vignette III.: The third Pylon, which is guarded by a man-headed deity seated in a shrine, the upper part of which is ornamented with the two utchats and the emblems of the orbit of the sun and of water.
Text: WORDS TO BE SPOKEN WHEN [ANI] COMETH UNTO THE THIRD PYLON OF THE HOUSE OF OSIRIS.
Saith the scribe Ani, triumphant: "Lo, the lady of the [1.
Var.
"Thou invokest Ra in the sektet boat of heaven." 2 Reading with Naville ###.] altar, the mighty one to whom offerings are made, the beloved[1] (?) of every god, who saileth up to Abtu.
The name of the doorkeeper is Sebaq." Vignette IV.: The fourth Pylon, which is guarded by a cow-headed deity seated in a shrine, the cornice of which is ornamented with uræi wearing disks.
Text: WORDS TO BE SPOKEN WHEN [ANI] COMETH UNTO THE FOURTH PYLON.
Saith Osiris, the scribe Ani, [triumphant]: "Lo, she who prevaileth with knives, mistress of the world, destroyer of the foes of the Still-Heart, she who decreeth the escape of the needy from evil hap.
Themes
◆Return To Sourcesoteriology
The soul's journey back to its divine origin, reversing the fall into matter through stages of purification or illumination.
The deceased seeks to join Osiris and Ra, returning to the divine presence.
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.
The deceased speaks as 'Osiris Ani,' indicating a transformation into or identification with the divine nature.
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 employs ritual words and knowledge to engage and compel divine powers for safe passage.