The Egyptian Heaven and Hell

The frontispiece is described as a scene from the Papyrus of Nekht showing the deceased and his wife worshipping Osiris, their house, vineyard, and garden with a lake. The preface states the work arose from two lectures on the Books of the Tuat delivered at the Royal Institution in spring 1904. It explains that the Books of the Other World served as a "Guide" or "Handbook" for the dead, describing regions their souls must pass and supplying words of power. For two thousand years these consisted of texts only; about B.C. 2500 artists began illustrating them, and by the close of the XIXth Dynasty all principal Tuat books were illustrated, painted on royal tomb walls. It describes primitive local Other Worlds, the popularity of the Osiris cult, its Predynastic magical roots, and the collection PER-EM-HRU. The three principal Books are named: PER-EM-HRU, SHAT ENT AM TUAT, and the Book of Gates. The preface details the Book Am-Tuat, drawn up by priests of Amen-Ra at Thebes to show their god overlord of all Tuats—of Khenti-Amenti, Seker, Osiris, and Temu-Kheper-Ra—and the Book of Gates, where Osiris doctrines prevail, including worship, offerings, and living by maat. The beatified feed on heavenly wheat from Osiris's body; the wicked are hacked apart and consumed by fire, there being no purgatory. It notes pits of fire, serpents, and monsters, and claims modern nations owe Egypt conceptions of hell. The preface outlines the edition's sources—tracings from the tomb of Seti I, Bonomi's sarcophagus, Pleyte's Leyden Papyrus, a Cairo coffin text on family reunion, and Maspero's earlier translation—and is signed E. A. Wallis Budge, London, October 1905. The Contents and List of Illustrations follow.

The text opens by stating that the inhabitants of Dynastic Egypt held definite ideas about the abode of departed spirits and illustrated their descriptions of the Other World copiously. It notes that Egyptian Dynastic History spans nearly five thousand years, that a complete account is impossible, and that texts of the Books of the Dead are older than their later illustrations. The oldest Books of the Dead, inscribed in the pyramids of Unas, Teta, Pepi I, Mer-en-Ra, and Pepi II, lack illustrations. It reports Professor Maspero's finding that the "pyramid texts" contain very early formulae, framed as a compromise under the IVth, Vth, and VIth Dynasties between old native beliefs and the solar theology of the priests of Ra at Annu (Heliopolis). The text traces dynastic succession through the VIIth–Xth Dynasties, the Herakleopolitans, and the rise of the Theban Menthu-heteps. Menthu-hetep II quarried a large stone block; Menthu-hetep III built a pyramid called Khu-ast at Tchesert (Der al-Bahari), whose remains, excavated by Naville and Hall for the Egypt Exploration Fund, are described. It discusses inscribed wooden coffins, notably that of Amamu (acquired 1834) and coffins from Al-Barsha, which bear the oldest known illustrations of Book of the Dead sections, including the "Book of Two Ways" with its magical rubrics. The text then follows the XIIth–XVIIIth Dynasties, the Hyksos, Seqenen-Ra III, Aahmes I, and Amen-hetep I, and the rise of Amen's cult at Karnak. It describes the Theban Recension ("Per em Hru"), contrasts the followers of Osiris with those of Amen-Ra, the Book "Am-Tuat," and the royal tombs at Biban al-Muluk. Finally it records that Thothmes III, Amen-hetep III, and Seti I used Book of the Dead Chapters and the Book of Gates, noting Seti I's reliance on multiple sacred writings.

The text turns from the funerary "Guides" to conceptions of the departed's abode in the XVIIIth–XIXth Dynasty Recensions. Reconstructing the Predynastic form is called impossible; Early Empire documents supply the deceased with meat, drink, wives, concubines, and a place in Sekhet-Aaru, a division of Sekhet-hetepet. The earliest pictures are on the Al-Barsha coffins. From PER-EM-HRU (the Papyrus of Nu) it lists the Seven Arits, each door guarded by a gatekeeper, watcher, and herald, giving their names. It then lists the twenty-one Secret Gates of the House of Osiris, naming each Gate and its gatekeeper through No. X (Chapter CXLVI). A note states the gate-names functioned as magical formulae; knowledge, not virtue, admitted the deceased. It lists fourteen Aats, or Regions, each with its god and features (fire, roaring waters, the serpent Rerek, spirits living on the inert and feeble, the Destroyer of Souls). The list is said to run south to north. From the Papyrus of Nebseni it describes rectangular Sekhet-hetep with canals, pools, and a serpent-headed boat, the deceased offering incense and addressing a bearded figure. The Papyrus of Ani differs; its third division is named Sekhet-Aanru. Nebseni's text has the deceased sailing the Lake of Hetep, praying to the god Hetep, and naming pools he wishes to visit. A note observes no mention of Osiris. In the Papyrus of Ani, Ani's heart is weighed against righteousness; Anubis guards the Balance, Thoth records and announces the true result; the gods spare Ani from Amemet and grant offerings. Horus, son of Isis, leads Ani before Osiris. The text discusses works versus repentance, then compares pictures from the coffins of Kua-Tep, Sen, and the Papyri of Anhai and Auf-ankh.

The text opens by noting that, having described Sekhet-hetep and the Halls and Gates of the Other World from the Book of Coming Forth by Day, it now considers whether souls could recognize and rejoin relatives. It cites the Papyrus of Ani (Ani with his wife), the Papyrus of Anhai (Anhai bowing before her mummied father and mother, seated with her husband), and the Papyrus of Nebseni, which places the meeting on the island Qenqentet. Passages from Chapters LII, CLXXXIX, and LXVIII are quoted, showing the deceased managing fields, receiving ancestors as door-guardians, and mastering waters, canals, and workers. The word rendered "ancestors" (abtu) is discussed, with reference to Lacau's published text from two XIth-Dynasty coffins at Al-Barsha, now at Cairo. The annotator then presents this Chapter, headed "The Gathering Together of the Ancestors of a Man to Him in Neter Kher." It hails Ra, Tem, Seb, and Nut to grant Sepa passage to meet his ancestors, family, friends, workers, and concubine. Qema-ur is asked to reunite Sepa with them. A conditional follows: if reunion is hindered, offerings cease and Ra's heart is removed; if achieved, offerings are made and the Boat of Ra journeys, rowed by the Akhemu-seku and Akhemu-urtchu. Hathor protects Sepa and Seb equips him; the guardian of the wood of the Great Field promises food and winds, and the ancestors come armed with staves and tools to deliver him. A Rubric lists those to be rejoined and property, ending "rope of Maat, millions of times." The annotator observes the Chapter reflects primitive beliefs, never mentions Osiris, and became a magical formula by B.C. 2600. It closes describing how the Egyptian gained admission through words of power and offerings, then announces the Book Am-Tuat and Book of Gates.

The text defines "Am-Tuat" (Shat Am-Tuat), the funeral book in which the priests of Amen describe the Other World and Amen-Ra's passage through the night. Its aims are stated: to assert Amen's supremacy over the dead, and to serve as a guide to the Underworld. Because a full copy was lengthy, a "Summary of Am-Tuat" was compiled, omitting speeches, answers, and pictures. Oldest copies are noted in the tombs of Thothmes III, Amen-hetep II, and Amen-hetep III; the fullest, in the tomb of Seti I, was published by Lefébure and others and translated by Maspero. The next fullest is in the tomb of Rameses VI. The work's transmission onto walls, sarcophagi, and papyri is traced, listing Rameses III's sarcophagus and others (Horus, Tchet-hra, Qem-Hap, Nekht-neb-f), and noting which divisions appear on each medium. Jéquier's authorities and the Leyden Papyrus T.71 (fac-simile by Pleyte and Boeser, 1894) are cited. The text then introduces the "Book of Gates," distinct in doctrine, compiled to affirm Osiris as overlord of the Underworld, its fullest copy on Seti I's alabaster sarcophagus. It discusses the region "Tuat"—its name, situation, circular shape (Osiris bent round), darkness, and river—and rejects Lanzone's view. It describes souls entering the Tuat, Osiris's kingdom Sekhet-Hetepet, Ra's passage, and the words of power Osiris learned via Horus, Isis, and Thoth. The Tuat's twelve divisions ("Hours") and the boats Matet, Sektet, and the Boat of Millions of Years are explained. Full lists follow: Am-Tuat's divisions with names, warders, and hour-goddesses (I–XII), then the Book of Gates' divisions with serpents and gates. It concludes that Am-Tuat omits gates while the Book of Gates centers them.

The text compares the contents of the Book Am-Tuat and the Book of Gates, inviting the spirit to imagine standing at the First Division awaiting the Boat of the Sun-God after funeral rites. Spirits gather west of the mountain MANU; some are well-equipped, others remain behind and eventually die. The dead in the Tuat are revivified daily by the Sun-god's light and wail when the Gate closes. At evening the Sun-god arrives in the SEKTET BOAT, flooding the First Division, called NET-RA. Ra appears as a ram-headed man, AFU or AFU-RA, having taken the form of Osiris, with a crew of seven gods and one goddess, including KA-SHU, HERU-HEKENU, SA, and HU. A smaller boat depicts Osiris's coming into being. AFU-RA moves northwards; apes, gods, goddesses, and serpents line the banks. AFU-RA calls upon the gods for light and passage; the serpent goddesses sing hymns. The dead are left behind. The annotator identifies the First Division's dead with those entering through the "GAP" behind Abydos, domain of KHENTI-AMENTI. In the Book of Gates the First Division shows the god as a beetle in a disk; only SA and HEKA accompany him. In the Second Division, URNES, AFU-RA is directed by SHESAT-MAKET-NEB-S. He addresses the BAIU-TUATIU; they welcome him and beg him to slay HAU and NEHA-HRA. Gods on both banks belong to Osiris's company. AFU-RA revivifies them by his word. Offerings to these gods bring benefits on earth. In the Book of Gates version, the Boat passes the serpent SAA-SET; AFU-RA weighs words and deeds in AMENT, judging the dead. The HETEPTIU and MAATIU stand on the right; the fettered STAU on the left, condemned by TEMU for blaspheming Ra.

The Boat of AFU-RA enters the abode of the BAIU-SHETAIU; the goddess TENT-BAIU takes charge, a hawk-headed god steers, and the crew reduces to four. The region NET-NEB-UA-KHEPER-AUT continues the domains of Osiris. AFU-RA cries to Osiris, who creates secret boats to bring him. The PERTIU on both banks receive lands from Afu-Ra and defend Osiris. On the right, twenty-six gods under KHETRA hew souls and burn the doomed; a note explains these are the dead of olden time who perished for want of offerings. On the left stand deities who sang praises and later weep; they take vengeance on SEBA, make Nu, and cause HAPI to flow. In the Book of Gates account, AFU-RA passes the Gate SEPTET-UAUAU with its serpent AQEBI at SA's word. The FAIU-NETERU bear the "Boat of the Earth"; AFU-RA declares the one within holy, and ENNURKHA-TA praise the BA. Twelve holy gods in shrines are revived at his word. Twelve gods sit in the Lake of Boiling Water, likened to Asphaltitis Lacus; they entreat AFU-RA, who decrees their food. On the left, TEMU commands nine men (TCHATCHA) and nine gods (NEBU-KHERT); the serpent APEP is cut open by the TCHATCHA and destroyed by TEMU; the NEBU-KHERT repulse SEBA and AF. AFU-RA then enters the kingdom of SEKER, a dark, sandy desert of monster serpents. Lacking a river, he passes through corridors called RE-STAU with doors MATES-SMA-TA, MATES-MAU-AT, and MATES-EN-NEHEH. He travels in a two-headed serpent-boat under ANPU's control; THOTH and HORUS bear the Eye, and the serpent MENMENUT carries fourteen heads to fill it.

In the Fifth Division (Book Am-Tuat), called Ament, the Boat of AFU-RA is towed by seven gods and seven goddesses, preceded by gods led by Isis, AFU-RA continuing by the help of KHEPERA. The Land of Seker, an ellipse walled with sand, rests on two man-headed sphinxes called AF. Seker appears as a hawk-headed man between wings on a two-headed serpent. The Beetle of KHEPERA leaves the goddess of the pyramid's apex, revivifies AFU-RA, who reaches RE-STAU's end and the Morning Star. The serpent TEPAN presents offerings; ANKHAAPAU guards. The lake NETU boils beings in AMMAHET. To the left, eight gods (HETEP-NETERU) and the goddess QETET-TENT destroy and consume the dead. In the Fourth Division (Book of Gates), four gods tow AFU-RA past the serpent TCHETBI. Nine sepulchres hold mummied gods; the serpent HERERET spawns twelve serpents consumed by twelve Hour-goddesses. AFU-RA visits ARES's habitations. HERU-UR addresses the shrined KHENTI-AMENTI; AFU-RA calls on Horus to cast enemies into four fiery pits. In the Fifth Division (Book of Gates), the serpent TEKA-HRA opens the gate; AFU-RA orders ENNUTCHI destroyed and the righteous seated in peace. The four nations RETH, NEHESU, THEMEHU, AAMU appear; the TCHATCHAU write edicts. In the Sixth Division (Book Am-Tuat), Kingdom of Osiris, AFU-RA paddles past forms of Osiris and four classes (SUTENIU, BATIU, HETEPTIU, KHU), entreating them to hack APEP. The five-headed serpent ASHT-HRAU bears the dead Sun-god drawing the Beetle. On the right: gods, goddesses, sceptres, a lion, the two Eyes of Horus, three deities, and three sepulchres with fire-belching serpents. On the left: eight gods and four goddesses escort the Boat; the serpent AM-KHU, from whose back spring the heads of the Four Children of Horus, coming into being when they hear the voice of AFU-RA; four Osiris forms and nine knife-armed serpents.

The Seventh Division of the Tuat, named THEPHET-SHETAT, is described. AFU-RA travels the secret path with his crew now including Isis and SER; the god's boat reaches sandbanks blocked by the serpent NEHA-HRA, whose head and tail SERQET and HER-TESU-F fetter with six knives. Four goddesses slay APEP. AFU-RA passes four tombs holding the Forms of TEM, KHEPERA, RA, and OSIRIS. Horus and twelve hour-gods, then twelve hour-goddesses, appear; the crocodile ABSHE-AM-TUAT lies over Osiris's tomb, and AFU-RA addresses Osiris. The serpent MEHEN, AFU-ASAR, the LYNX-GODDESS, ANKU, and AFU-TEM are noted. The Eighth Division, TEBAT-NETERU-S, holds the Four Forms of TATHENEN. Isis and SER are absent; the boat is towed past nine SHEMSU and Four Rams. Circles on right and left are named, their gods responding with various sounds. The Ninth Division, BEST-ARU-ANKHET-KHEPERU, has twelve sailor-gods scattering water, HETEP-NETERU-TUAT providing offerings, twelve fire-pouring uraei, nine field-labourers under HERU-HER-SHE-TUAT, and the TCHATCHA chiefs with twelve goddesses. Chapter XI treats the Sixth Division by the Book of Gates. AFU-RA reaches Osiris's kingdom through the Gate NEBT-AHA, guarded by SET-EM-MAAT-F, where the Judgment Hall stands. The scene is described: Osiris enthroned, THOTH as balance, ANUBIS addressing THOTH, a pig AM-A beaten by an ape. The boat enters the abode of the blessed, past SEB's sceptres, MAATI and HETEPTIU gods, and reapers tending wheat that is Osiris's members. NEB-AUT-AB (RA) decrees the wheat's growth. The Seventh Division (Book of Gates), entered by Gate PESTIT guarded by AKHA-EN-MAAT, shows twenty-four gods, KHERU-METAUH, the serpent SEBA, star-gods binding QAN, and TUATI rousing sleeping mummies on NEHEP.

The Boat of AFU-RA passes through the Gate of Bekhkhi, guarded by the serpent SET-HRA, and is towed over the Eighth Division. At one end of a Lake stands the god "who dwelleth in Nu"; in the water are Bathers, Floaters, Swimmers, and Divers. The towing gods call the dwellers to praise Ra's soul and body. The god in Nu promises the immersed beings breath and offerings. On the left, twelve TCHATCHA and nine Souls adore a god; the TCHATCHA distribute fixed food rations. On the right, HORUS THE AGED, leaning on a staff, addresses twelve enemies of Osiris, before whom the serpent KHETI belches fire; they are doomed to be hacked, burned, and annihilated. In the Tenth Division (Book Am-Tuat), the Boat, neither towed nor rowed, meets the serpent THES-HRAU bearing HERU-KHENTI, then ANKH-TA and twelve armed gods. Twelve lakes lie to the right, where Horus addresses beings swimming, promising their flesh shall not decay. Four goddesses shed light; P-ANKHI and KHEPER-ANKH appear on the left, with serpents Menenui and goddesses NETHETH and KENAT. A procession of deities, including the Ape-god AF-ERMEN-MAAT-F holding the Eye of Horus, assists AFU-RA. In the Eleventh Division, the Boat is towed by twelve gods using the serpent MEHEN; four forms of NEITH lead. Figures include APER-HRA-NEB-TCHETTA, TEMU, and SHETU. On the left, Horus with SET-HEH directs destruction of enemies in five pits of fire tended by goddesses. A note discusses the Tuat's structure and Osiris judging souls at midnight. In the Ninth Division (Book of Gates), the Gate AAT-SHEFSHEFT, guarded by AB-TA, is entered; the serpents APEP and SESHSESH/SESSI block the way. Men with harpoons, apes (SAIU), and goddesses (SAIT) work nets and spells over AAI, slaying the monsters. The serpent KHEPRI, HORUS OF THE TUAT, HERU-AM-UAA bearing HORUS-SET, and serpents SHEMTI, BATA, and TEPI appear.

In the Tenth Division of the Tuat, according to the Book of Gates, AFU-RA passes through the Gate TCHESERIT, guarded by the serpent SETHU, and his reconstitution takes place. UNTI lights the upper heaven; four flame deities give light; three star-gods draw a boat with a face for ATEN; the winged serpent SEMI guides; BESI collects fire; ANKHI decrees the new Sun's life; four goddesses cry "Enter in, O Ra!"; and the MEHEN serpent bearing HORUS-SET leads him east. On the right stand the twelve AKHEMU-SEKU gods and twelve towing goddesses. On the left the serpent APEP lies chained, held by the SETEFIU and TCHATIU gods, the hand AMEN-KHAT, and five serpents, with SERQ nearby, attacked by the ANTIU and HENATIU gods. In the Eleventh Division, gate SHETAT-BESU guarded by AM-NETU-F, APEP lies fettered while servants attack him. Four apes hold up the Disk; the goddesses AMENTET and HERIT and the god SEBEKHTI appear. Gods establish crowns, name Ra, and drive away Set; MATI guards them. Ministers command the Gate of AKERT; twelve sceptred gods and eight star-goddesses attend. The text notes this Kingdom of TEMU-KHEPERA-RA contains no place for punishment. In the Twelfth Division (Book Am-Tuat), gate THEN-NETERU, AFU-RA is drawn through the serpent ANKH-NETERU, transforming into Khepera; twelve goddesses tow him to SHU, who places him as a disk. His mummied form is cast aside. Goddesses drive away APEP, gods sing, and SENMEKHEF burns Ra's enemies. AFU-RA bids farewell to Osiris. In the Book of Gates version, gate TESERT-BAIU with doors guarded by SEBI and RERI, uraei of Nephthys and Isis; Nu lifts the Boat, NUT receives the disk, and dawn breaks. A note describes the fate of beings left in the Tuat.