← Home
The Egyptian Heaven and Hell · 49 of 96 · tr. E.A. Wallis Budge

Chapter 9 (part 3)

The texts giving these facts are most important, for they prove that in early times the abode of the blessed was believed to be in URNES, and that the making of offerings to the dead was inculcated as a meritorious act, and that it was believed to bring blessings upon him that made the offering even whilst he was upon earth. It may also be noted in passing p. 116 that the heaven URNES was somewhat exclusive, for only the followers of Osiris and RA were admitted. Footnotes 113:1 This is a name given to the serpent which is seen attacking an ass in the XIth Chapter of the Book of the Dead, and which is a form of the god Set; the Ass is probably a form of the sun-god RA. THE EATER OF THE GREAT PHALLUS, i.e., the Ass, was also a power of evil, yet here he is found seated among beneficent gods. 115:1 See within, page 126. The Kingdom of Khenti-Amenti-Osiris According to the Book of Gates
§ Ask Guru about this passage →
Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology

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

[auto] The gods are described with human-like attributes and activities, such as traveling in boats with crews and wearing uraei.

All passages →
Divine Lighttheology

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

AFU-RA shines upon the gods to revivify them, and his light leaving causes lamentation among the deities.

All passages →
Divine Providencetheology

Pronoia — the doctrine that the divine actively orders the unfolding of the cosmos and human affairs toward intelligible ends, against pure chance or blind necessity.

Gods supply seasons, years, herbs, and water to followers, actively ordering the sustenance of the afterlife.

All passages →
Funerary Navigationpraxis

Texts and rituals guiding the soul through death.

[auto] The passage explicitly describes the Book of Am-Tuat and the journey through the Tuat (underworld), which serves as a guide for navigating death and the afterlife.

All passages →
Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

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

Salvation and benefits are contingent upon knowing the names of the gods rather than solely on moral works.

All passages →
Living Godtheology

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

[auto] The deities (AFU-Ra, Osiris) are depicted as active agents moving through regions and directing boats, rather than abstract principles.

All passages →
Logoscosmology

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

Gods are described as having life and performing duties only through the voice or word of power spoken by AFU-RA.

All passages →
Prayerpraxis

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

Words uttered on earth are described as petitions or prayers taken to AFU-RA by his ministers for offerings.

All passages →
Psychopomp Journeycosmology

Guided passage of the soul through afterlife realms.

[auto] The text details a boat journey through the underworld directed by a goddess (Shesat-Maket-Neb-S), representing a guided passage through afterlife realms.

All passages →
Ritual Firepraxis

Fire as medium of divine presence.

Gods light fires specifically to destroy the enemies of Ra as part of their duties in the night realm.

All passages →
Sacred Namestheology

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

[auto] The passage explicitly states that knowing and mentioning the names of gods grants abode in URNES and benefits.

All passages →
Theurgypraxis

Iamblichean ritual practice that engages the gods directly through consecrated material symbols and actions, on the premise that divine power descends into properly prepared matter — distinct from philosophical contemplation alone.

Texts and names are believed to possess special efficacy that allows the faithful to manipulate divine benefits and travel with the god.

All passages →
Related passages · 4 parallels
neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 426
Section 10 10. We have shown the inevitability of certain convictions as to the scheme of things: There exists a Principle which transcends Being; this is The One, whose nature we have sought to establish in so far as such matters lend them…”
Shared concept: Logos — The divine reason, word, or ordering principle through which the universe was created; mediates between the transcendent God and the material world. (derived)
neoplatonism|Iamblichus: On the Mysteries|Chapter XXI
I think, therefore, that all who are lovers of the contemplation of theurgic truth will acknowledge this, that the piety which pertains to divine natures ought not to be exercised towards them partially or imperfectly. Hence, since prior to…”
Shared concept: Theurgy — Iamblichean ritual practice that engages the gods directly through consecrated material symbols and actions, on the premise that divine power descends into properly prepared matter — distinct from philosophical contemplation alone. (derived)
neoplatonism|Iamblichus: On the Mysteries|Chapter VIII-av
It is well observed by Ficinus, in lib. i. Eunead. ii. Plotin. “that the fire which is enkindled by us is more similar to the heavens than other terrestrial substances. Hence it participates of light, which is something incorporeal, i…”
Shared concept: Ritual Fire — Fire as medium of divine presence. (derived)
neoplatonism|Select Works of Plotinus|Select Works, Section 161
Section 5 5. Still more unreasonably: There are men, bound to human bodies and subject to desire, grief, anger, who think so generously of their own faculty that they declare themselves in contact with the Intelligible World, but deny that…”
Shared concept: Divine Providence — Pronoia — the doctrine that the divine actively orders the unfolding of the cosmos and human affairs toward intelligible ends, against pure chance or blind necessity. (derived)