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The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) · 188 of 357 · tr. E.A. Wallis Budge

Chapter 24 (part 4)

I.e. , Hermopolis. 2. For an account of the manner in which altars and other objects were represented on Egyptian monuments, see Borchardt, Die Darstellung innen verzierter Schalen aus Aegyptischen Denkmätern (in Aeg. Zeitschrift , Bd. XXXI., 1893, p. 1). 3. For a kherp sceptre in bronze, see No. 22,842 in the 2nd Egyptian Room. 4. Chapters CLXXV. and CLXXVI. bear the same title. For Chapter CLXXV. see Plate XXIX. Chapter CLXXVI. (Naville, Todtenbuch, Bd. I., Pl. cc.) reads:-- "What I hate is the land of Abydos. May I never enter into the den, and may there never be done unto me any of those things which the gods hate, for I am . . . . pure within the Mesqet. May Neb-er-tcher give unto me his splendours on the day of the funeral in the presence of the Lord of Things." "If this chapter be known [he] shall be in the condition of one who is acquitted in the underworld."] limbs are without motion like unto [those of] Osiris! Let not thy limbs be (3) without motion, let them not corrupt, let them not pass away, let them not decay; let it be (4) done unto me even as if I were the god Osiris." Rubric: If this chapter be known by the Osiris Ani, he shall not corrupt in the underworld. Vignette: A doorway. By one post stands the soul of Ani in the form of a human-headed hawk and by the other the bird. Text: [CHAPTER XLVI.] (I) THE CHAPTER OF NOT PERISHING AND OF BECOMING ALIVE IN THE UNDERWORLD. Saith Osiris Ani: "Hail, (2) children of:' Shu! Hail, children of Shu, [children of] the place of the dawn, who as the children of light have gained possession of his crown. May I rise up and may I fare forth like Osiris." Vignette: Ani the scribe standing with his back to a block and knife Text: [CHAPTER XL.] (I) THE CHAPTER OF NOT ENTERING IN UNTO THE BLOCK. Saith Osiris Ani: "The four bones[1] of my neck and of my back are joined together for me in heaven by Ra, the guardian of the earth. (2) This was granted on the day when my rising up out of weakness upon my two feet was ordered, on the day (3) when the hair was cut off. The bones of my neck and of my back have been joined together by Set and by the company of the gods, even as they were (4) in the time that is past; may nothing happen to break them apart. Make ye [me] strong against my father's murderer. I have gotten power over the two earths. Nut hath joined together my bones, and [I] behold [them] as they were in the time that is past [and I] see [them] even in the same order as they were [when] the gods had not come into being (6) in visible forms.[2] I am Penti, I, Osiris the scribe Ani, triumphant, am the heir of the great gods."
Themes
Hidden Sayingssoteriology

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

The efficacy of the text depends on it being 'known,' suggesting esoteric knowledge reserved for those who possess it.

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Living Godtheology

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

Osiris is addressed directly as an active entity ('O thou who art...'), portraying the divine as present and responsive.

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Prayerpraxis

Direct address to the divine, whether petitionary, contemplative, or liturgical; speech and silence offered upward.

The passage consists of direct invocations and petitions addressed to deities like Osiris, Shu, and Ra.

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Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

The context involves navigation and acquittal within the underworld realms after death.

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Sacred Namestheology

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

The passage invokes specific divine names such as Osiris and Neb-er-tcher to effect change or protection.

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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.

The deceased prays to be treated 'even as if I were the god Osiris,' seeking transformation into a divine state.

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Anthropomorphismtheology

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

[auto] Osiris is described as having 'limbs' and motion, attributing human physical characteristics to the deity.

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Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

[auto] The passage is from the Book of the Dead and explicitly discusses being acquitted in the underworld through knowledge of the chapter.

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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 text declares the speaker is 'pure within the Mesqet,' indicating a state of spiritual cleanliness required for divine encounter.

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