If you’re tired of reading mainstream fiction and are looking for something different for your reading library, you should check out the Egyptian Book of the Dead. It’s an Ancient Egyptian funerary text which has also been translated as the Book of Coming Forth by Day and Book of Emerging Forth into Light. The book consists of a number of magic spells which were written by priests, and are designed to assist a dead person on their journey through the afterlife.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead is often referred to as the Ancient Egyptian Bible, because of how important it was to the culture. Interestingly, the text was never codified, and in the past no two copies of the book were the same. However, the editions which can be bought from bookstores today are pretty much identical in their content. Initially, the books were created for the most important people in Egypt, such as the pharaohs. In those times, people believed that the afterlife was an extension of life on Earth, but for people to succeed in death, there would be a series of challenges and judgment.
Despite being thousands of years old, the book is still popular to this day. There are even games based upon it, such as the Book of the Dead slot at LeoVegas. The game is 5 reels with 243 win methods which, according to the Q&A here, is now an industry standard. It has also inspired movies such as The Mummy series which starred Brendan Fraser in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The book itself is still available to buy online, and is for sale on Amazon. It has many reviews on Goodreads as well, with some rating it highly as a guide for how to progress successfully into the afterlife.
According to the Ancient Egyptians, there was a sequence of events in the afterlife that every spirit would follow. First, the soul would be justified in the Hall of Truth. This would be followed by a passing over the Lily Lake to eventually rest in the Field of Reeds. In the final resting place, the deceased would be able to enjoy all the things they lost in life eternally. However, to get to that point, it was important to know where to go and what to do in each situation. This is where the Book of the Dead came in.
One of the most famous spells in the Book of the Dead is spell 125. This instructs people what do to when their hearts are weighed in the Hall of Truth after the Negative Confession had been made. This is considered to be the most important information required to prepare someone for the afterlife, and those who want to be well equipped should delve into more detail in the text.
Not only does the Book of the Dead pose some interesting theories about the afterlife, it may also provide tips on how to be successful in death. In addition to that, it provides a lot of insight into the culture and beliefs of people who lived thousands of years ago.