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The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) · 176 of 357 · tr. E.A. Wallis Budge

Chapter 21 (part 2)

Vignette: The gods Horus, Isis, Mestha and Hapi. Text: (1) The great divine rulers who are in Pe and Tep are Horus, Isis, Mestha, and Hapi. Now setting up the columns (2) of Horus [signifieth] the command given by Set unto his followers: "Set up columns upon it." "Hail, Thoth, who madest Osiris victorious over his enemies (3), make thou the Osiris-Ani triumphant over his enemies in the presence of the great godlike [1. The papyrus of Nebseni reads "Now the setting up of the double Tat signifieth the two shoulders and arms of Horus, lord of Sekhem; and they stand behind Osiris even as the swathings which clothe him." 2 See Brugsch, Dict. Géog. , p. 213.] it rulers in . . . . Rekhit, on the (4) night when Isis lay down to keep watch in It order to make lamentation for her brother Osiris." §E. Vignette: (1) The gods Isis, Horus, Anubis,[1] Mesthi, and Thoth. Text: (1) The great godlike rulers who are in. . . . Rekhit are Isis, Horus, and Mestha. "Hail, Thoth, who madest Osiris victorious (2) over his enemies, make thou the Osiris, the scribe Ani (triumphant in peace!), to be victorious over his enemies in the presence of the great godlike ones (3) who are in Abtu, on the night of the god Naker, at the separation of the wicked dead, at the judgment of spirits made just, (4) and at the arising of joy in Tenu."[2]
Themes
◆Cosmic Dualismtheology

Ontological opposition between two primal principles (light/darkness, truth/lie, spirit/matter) as the fundamental structure of reality.

The text references the conflict between Osiris/Horus and their enemies (Set), reflecting a mythological opposition of forces.

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◇Anthropomorphismtheology

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

[auto] The gods are depicted with human-like roles and emotions, such as Isis keeping watch to make lamentation.

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◇Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

[auto] The passage is a spell from the Book of the Dead explicitly designed to guide the deceased Ani through the afterlife and ensure victory over enemies.

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◇Living Godtheology

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

[auto] The deities are addressed as active, personal agents capable of granting triumph and responding to the petitioner's call.

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◇Mystical Unionsoteriology

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

[auto] The deceased Ani is identified with Osiris ('make thou the Osiris Ani'), signifying a transformative union with the divine state.

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◇Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

[auto] Divine figures such as Thoth and Horus are invoked to assist the soul in navigating specific afterlife realms and judgments.

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◇Sacred Namestheology

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

[auto] The text relies on the invocation of specific divine names like Thoth and Osiris to enact magical power and protection.

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Related passages · 7 parallels
◆jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter LXII
“LXII. Judgement of the Kings and the Mighty: Blessedness of the Righteous . CHAPTER LXII. 1. And thus the Lord commanded the kings and the mighty and the exalted, and those who dwell on the earth, and said: 'Open your eyes and lift up your…”
Both passages describe a divine judgment scene where the righteous are vindicated and the unrighteous are punished. They share a common theme of divine justice and the triumph of the righteous, though they come from different mystical traditions.
◆jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter LXXXI
“LXXXI. The Heavenly Tablets and the Mission of Enoch . CHAPTER LXXXI. 1. And he said unto me: 'Observe, Enoch, these heavenly tablets, And read what is written thereon, And mark every individual fact.' p. 108 2 And I observed the heavenly t…”
Both passages involve divine beings (gods or angels) interacting with a human figure (Ani or Enoch) to ensure victory or righteousness. They share themes of divine judgment, protection, and the recording of deeds, but are rooted in different cultural and religious contexts.
◆mesopotamian|Enuma Elish: The Epic of Creation|1b
“let us wage war!" ... the gods in the midst of... ... for the gods did she create. They banded themselves together and at the side of Tiamat they advanced; They were furious; they devised mischief without resting night and day. They pr…”
Both passages describe a conflict among divine beings and the establishment of order. In the Enuma Elish, Tiamat creates monsters to wage war against the gods, while in the Egyptian text, Set and other gods are involved in a conflict that Thoth helps resolve. Both texts involve divine intervention and the restoration of order.
◆mesopotamian|Enuma Elish: The Epic of Creation|1g
“When the gods, his fathers, beheld the fulfillment of his word, They rejoiced, and they did homage unto him, saying, " Marduk is king!" They bestowed upon him the scepter, and the throne, and the ring, They give him an invincible weapony wh…”
Both passages describe a divine figure (Thoth in Passage A and Marduk in Passage B) who is called upon to triumph over enemies or chaotic forces. They share themes of divine victory, the establishment of order, and the intervention of gods in human or cosmic affairs.
◆mesopotamian|Enuma Elish: The Epic of Creation|1i
“He opened great gates on both sides, He made strong the bolt on the left and on the right. In the midst thereof he fixed the zenith; The Moon-god he caused to shine forth, the night he entrusted to him. He appointed him, a being of the ni…”
Both passages describe divine beings setting up cosmic order and establishing triumph over enemies or chaos. They share themes of divine intervention, cosmic structure, and the establishment of order, though they come from different cultural and religious contexts.
◆mesopotamian|Enuma Elish: The Epic of Creation|1j
“Tutu [Marduk] is "He who created them anew"; Should their wants be pure, then are they satisfied; Should he make an incantation, then are the gods appeased; Should they attack him in anger, he withstandeth their onslaught! Let him therefor…”
Both passages invoke divine figures (Thoth in Passage A and Marduk in Passage B) to intercede and provide victory or protection. They share a theme of divine intervention and the establishment of order, though they come from different cultural and religious contexts.
◆mesopotamian|Enuma Elish: The Epic of Creation|1k
“May he hold the Beginning and the Future, may they pay homage unto him, Saying, "He who forced his way through the midst of Tiamat without resting, Let his name be Nibiru, 'the Seizer of the Midst'! For the stars of heaven he upheld the pa…”
Both passages describe a divine figure (Thoth in Passage A and Marduk in Passage B) who is victorious over enemies or chaotic forces (Set's followers and Tiamat, respectively). They also emphasize the establishment of order and the triumph of the divine figure in the presence of other deities.