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The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) · 200 of 357 · tr. E.A. Wallis Budge

Chapter 30 (part 1)

PLATE XXII. "Osiris Ani, triumphant, hath not revealed what he hath seen,(17) he hath not, he hath not told again what he hath heard in the house which is hidden. Hail, there are shouts of joy to Osiris Ani, triumphant, (18) for he is a god and the flesh of Ra, he is in the boat of Nu, and his ka is well pleased according to the will of the god. (19) Osiris Ani, triumphant, is in peace, he is triumphant like unto Horus, and he is mighty because he hath divers forms." Vignette: Ra seated in a boat, sailing across the sky towards the starstudded heaven. Rubric: These words shall be recited over a boat (20) seven cubits in length, and painted green for the godlike rulers. Then shalt thou make a heaven of stars (21) washed and purified with natron and incense. Behold, thou shalt make an image (22) of Ra upon a table of stone painted yellow (?), and it shall be placed in the fore-part of the boat. (23) Behold, thou shalt make an image of the dead man whom thou wilt make perfect in strength (24) in the boat; and thou shalt make it to travel in the divine boat of Ra, (25) and Ra himself will look upon it therein. Thou shalt show it to no man but thyself, (26) or to thy father or to thy son; let them watch with their faces, and he shall be seen in the underworld as a messenger of Ra. Vignette: Ra, hawk-headed, with a disk upon his head, seated in a boat; before him is a large disk. Text [CHAPTER CXXXIV.]: (I) A HYMN OF PRAISE TO RA ON THE DAY OF THE MONTH WHEREON HE SAILETH IN THE BOAT. [Osiris, the scribe Ani, saith]: "Homage to thee, O thou who art in thy boat! Thou risest, thou risest, (2) thou shinest with thy rays, and thou hast made mankind to rejoice for millions of years according to thy will. Thou showest thy face unto the beings whom thou hast created, O Khepera, (3) in thy boat. Thou hast overthrown Apepi. O ye children of Seb, overthrow ye the foes of Osiris (4) Ani, triumphant, destroy ye the adversaries of righteousness from the boat of Ra. Horus shall cut off your (5) heads in heaven in the likeness of ducks; ye shall fall down upon the earth and become beasts, and into the water in the likeness of fishes. [Osiris, the scribe Ani,] destroyeth every hostile fiend, male (6) and female, whether he passeth through heaven, [or] appeareth (7) upon earth, or cometh forth upon the water, or passeth along before the starry deities; and Thoth strengtheneth them . . . . . . (8) coming forth from Anreti. Osiris, the scribe Ani, is silent, and becometh the second of Ra. Behold thou the god, the great slaughterer, (9) greatly to be feared, he washeth in your blood, he batheth in your gore; Osiris, (10) the scribe Ani, destroyeth them from the boat of his father Ra-Horus. The mother Isis giveth birth unto Osiris, the scribe (11) Ani, triumphant, whose heart liveth, and Nephthys nurseth him (12); even as they did for Horus, who drove back the fiends of Sut.
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Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology

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

[auto] The deity Ra is described with human physical attributes such as joints, jaw-bones, face, and the ability to breathe and speak.

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Asha Cosmic Ordercosmology

Truth as the fundamental structure of reality.

[auto] The text references 'right and truth' (Ma'at) as a fundamental principle that Ra scents and upholds in his dwelling.

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Divine Hiddennesstheology

The supreme God's radical concealment beyond ordinary knowledge or perception; the Hidden Father.

Ra is described as appearing from his 'secret place,' indicating a divine concealment prior to manifestation.

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Divine Lighttheology

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

[auto] Ra is depicted rising in the horizon and showing strength, representing the sun god as a source of luminous divine power.

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Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

[auto] The text is explicitly from the Book of the Dead and functions as a spell to guide the deceased (Osiris Ani) through the afterlife realms towards Amenta.

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Living Godtheology

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

[auto] Ra is portrayed as an active, dynamic entity who breathes, moves, speaks, and commands the gods.

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Logoscosmology

The divine reason, word, or ordering principle through which the universe was created; mediates between the transcendent God and the material world.

Ra appears 'at the word of the goddess Nut,' suggesting a creative or ordering power inherent in divine speech.

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Maat Cosmic Ordercosmology

The Egyptian principle of truth, balance, and right order underlying both the cosmos and human conduct; the parallel to Zoroastrian asha and Greek dike.

The text repeatedly emphasizes 'right and truth' as the condition for renewal and the standard by which the deceased is judged or strengthened.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

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

Osiris Ani speaks in the voice of Ra, indicating a ritual identification or merging of the deceased's identity with the divine.

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Prayerpraxis

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

[auto] The passage is structured as a liturgical formula 'TO BE SAID' by Osiris Ani, directly addressing the divine and petitioning for strength and renewal.

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Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

[auto] The passage describes the journey of Ra and the gods following him to Amenta, guiding the soul's passage through the afterlife.

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Return To Sourcesoteriology

The soul's journey back to its divine origin, reversing the fall into matter through stages of purification or illumination.

The text mentions coming 'renewed' and gathering members, suggesting a restoration or return to a complete state.

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Sacred Namestheology

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

The invocation relies on the power of names such as Osiris Ani, Ra, and Nut to effect the ritual outcome.

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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 details the rising of Ra from the horizon and the movement towards the beautiful Amenta, implying an upward or progressive journey.

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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 Ani petitions to become 'like unto Ra', to be known by the crown, and to wax strong in his body, seeking a state of divine power.

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Related passages · 9 parallels
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Shared concept: Maat Cosmic Order — The Egyptian principle of truth, balance, and right order underlying both the cosmos and human conduct; the parallel to Zoroastrian asha and Greek dike. (derived)
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Shared concept: Divine Light — The uncreated luminous quality of the divine, sometimes experienced directly in mystical states; illumination as revelation. (derived)
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Shared concept: Spiritual Ascent — A staged journey of the soul upward through heavenly realms or levels of being toward the divine source. (derived)
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Shared concept: Anthropomorphism — Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery. (derived)