Two fragments of the Book of the Dead

Two fragments of the Book of the Dead

Above the stone stelae the classical Egyptian Book of the Dead is exhibited. This refers to two, around two metres long strips that evidently belong to the same manuscript of the Book of the Dead created at the time of the New Kingdom (16th to 11th century B.C.), though they could also be perceived as two books written by the hand of the same author.

The papyri are beautifully painted with coloured vignettes and with hieroglyphics in italics. The vignettes represent the scene of the weighing of the heart of the dead performed by Anubis, the god with a jackal’s head.