← Home
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) · 268 of 357 · tr. E.A. Wallis Budge

Chapter 43 (part 29)

The Chapter of bringing a boat in the underworld. Vignette: A boat. Chapter C. The Chapter of making perfect the khu , and of making it to enter into the boat of Ra, together with his divine followers. Vignette: A boat containing a company of gods. Chapter CL.* The Chapter of protecting the boat of Ra. Vignette: The deceased in the boat with Ra. Chapter CII. The Chapter of going into the boat of Ra. Vignette: The deceased in the boat with Ra. Chapter CIII. The Chapter of being in the following of Hathor. Vignette: The deceased standing behind Hathor. Chapter CIV. The Chapter of sitting among the great gods. Vignette: The deceased seated between two gods. Chapter CV. The Chapter of satisfying the ka . Vignette: The deceased burning incense before his ka . Chapter CVI. The Chapter of causing joy each day to a man in Het-ka-Ptah (Memphis). Vignette: An altar with meat and drink offerings. Chapter CVII.* The Chapter of going into, and of coming forth from, the {p. xl} Theban version: list of chapters. gate of the gods of the west among the followers of the god, and of knowing the souls of Amentet. Vignette: Three deities: Ra, Sebek, and Hathor. Chapter CVIII. The Chapter of knowing the souls of the West. Vignette: Three deities: Tmu, Sebek, and Hathor. Chapter CIX. The Chapter of knowing the souls of the East. Vignette: The deceased making adoration before Ra-Heru-khuti. Chapter CX. The beginning of the Chapters of the Fields of Peace, and of the Chapters of coming forth by day, and of going into, and of coming forth from, the underworld, and of attaining unto the Fields of Reeds, and of being in the Fields of Peace. Vignette: The Fields of Peace. Chapter CXI. (This Chapter is now known as Chapter CVIII.) Chapter CXII. The Chapter of knowing the souls of Pe. Vignette: Horus, Mesthi, and Ha-pi. Chapter CXIII. The Chapter of knowing the souls of Nekhen. Vignette: Horus, Tuamautef, and Qebhsennuf. Chapter CXIV. The Chapter of knowing the souls of Khemennu (Hermopolis). Vignette: Three ibis-headed gods. Chapter CXV.* The Chapter of coming forth to heaven, of passing through the hall of the tomb, and of knowing the souls of Annu. Vignette: The deceased adoring Thoth, Sau and Tmu. Chapter CXVI. [The Chapter of] knowing the souls of Annu. Vignette: The deceased adoring three ibis-headed gods. Chapter CXVII. The Chapter of taking a way in Re-stau. Vignette: The deceased, holding a staff in his hand, ascending the western hills. Chapter CXVIII. The Chapter of coming forth from Re-stau. Vignette: The deceased holding a staff in his left hand. Chapter CXIX. The Chapter of knowing the name of Osiris, and of going into, and of coming forth from, Re-stau. Vignette: The deceased adoring Osiris. Chapter CXX. (This Chapter is now known as Chapter XII.) Chapter CXXI. (This Chapter is now known as Chapter XIII.) Chapter CXXII.* The Chapter of the deceased going in after coming forth from the underworld. {p. xli} Theban version: list of chapters. Vignette: The deceased bowing before his tomb, which is on a hill. Chapter CXXIII.
Themes
◆Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

Salvation through direct experiential knowledge of the divine nature, not through faith, ritual, or moral works alone.

Chapter LXXXV states that whosoever knoweth the chapter will never perish, linking salvation directly to knowledge.

All passages →
◆Prayerpraxis

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

Vignettes and titles describe the deceased adoring Ra and praying for items like an ink jar and palette.

All passages →
◇Anthropomorphismtheology

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

[auto] Vignettes depict gods like Ra, Thoth, and Osiris in recognizable forms alongside the deceased.

All passages →
◇Divine Lighttheology

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

[auto] Chapter LXXX explicitly mentions the function of 'sending forth light into darkness'.

All passages →
◇Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

[auto] The passage is an index of chapters from the Book of the Dead, which are explicitly designed to guide the deceased through the afterlife.

All passages →
◇Mystical Unionsoteriology

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

[auto] Chapters describe the deceased changing into a god or becoming a prince among divine powers, implying union with the divine.

All passages →
◇Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

[auto] Vignettes describe the deceased standing before tomb doors and adoring gods, indicating a guided passage through afterlife realms.

All passages →
◇Spiritual Ascentpraxis

A staged journey of the soul upward through heavenly realms or levels of being toward the divine source.

[auto] The text outlines progression to becoming a prince among divine powers and changing into a god.

All passages →
Related passages · 2 parallels
◆jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter XXII (part 1)
“XXII. Sheol, or the Underworld . CHAPTER XXII. 1. And thence I went to another place, and he showed me in the west ⌈ another ⌉ great and high mountain [ and ] of hard rock. E 2 And there was in it †four† hollow places, deep and wide an…”
Both passages describe the afterlife and the journey of the soul in the underworld, detailing specific locations and rituals. They share a common theme of the soul's transition and judgment, though they come from different mystical traditions.
◆platonism|Plato: Phaedrus|Section 1o
“Zeus, the mighty lord, holding the reins of a winged chariot, leads the way in heaven, ordering all and taking care of all; and there follows him the array of gods and demigods, marshalled in eleven bands; Hestia alone abides at home in the…”
Both passages describe a journey through the afterlife or celestial realms, involving deities and the soul's progression. They share themes of divine accompaniment, the soul's ascent, and the experience of higher realities.