Thomas J. Creatore

World Civilization 101

IDEAL Program/Fall 2007

Dr. Daniel Davies

September 9, 2007

THE EGYPTIAN BOOK OF THE DEAD

Primary Source Reflection Paper #1

The religion of the people of Egypt is truly the pinnacle of their lives. Religion played an essential role in everyday life. Egyptians credited everything from personal illness, low food supply, love, family and even the Nile River flooding. Having admiration or hate for the gods and goddesses, could play a vital role in the Egyptians lives. From Osiris, Isis, Horus and Ra, and a mystical book of mortuary spells written on sheets of papyrus covered with magical texts and illustrations (vignettes).  I am speaking of “The Egyptian Book of the Dead.”

Starting off with Egypt’s most popular sect devoted to Osiris, the fertility god of the Nile. His death represents a garden; planting, nurturing and sprouting a brand new flower. The myth, according to the high priests, was that Osiris was murdered by his brother, Seth. His brother cut up Osiris’ body into numerous pieces and scattered them around of Egypt. Osiris’ wife, Isis, collected all the pieces of his body and wrapped them in linen. He was restored to life to father Horus, help vegetation and have the Nile flood. Osiris was then branded as the ruler of the dead in the underworld. It was said that every mummified Egyptian could become another Osiris, capable of resurrection from the dead and a blessed eternal life. (Civilization Past & Present, pg. 23)

Having an Egyptian god as powerful as Osiris, bringing fertility to the land, had to have come as a dependence on the people of Egypt. He was the one who allowed you to and eat and drink, basically to live. He was essential in the everyday lives of the Egyptians. When his own brother, Seth, murdered him (could that have been out of jealousy?), Osiers was “replanted” and grew into a powerful god of the underworld. Without this horrible action done by Seth, mummification would never have come to be. Wrapping the body in linen to preserve the body became a must for the dead. They were protected under the linen, waiting for their time to arise. There was one specification to this, the dead’s soul must be free of sin and wrong doings. Only then would they be allowed to “live forever.” A ceremony, leads by Osiris, looked into the souls of the dead to see what was actually inside, good or evil. If accepted by Osiris, a process of writings of magical prayers, drawings, charms and spells were all put together in a book, The Book of the Dead. This was placed in coffin and tombs to help the dead pass through the dangers of the underworld and attain afterlife of bliss.         

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Reflecting on this topic is one of a personal nature. The gods Ra and Horus have come to be an inspiration in my life. In a dark period of my life, I looked for something to believe in. My relationship with God was not strong, but I came upon “Horus” and “Ra”. The explanation of these two Egyptian gods somehow connected with my soul. I believed in the sun and moon’s protection, that they would never let anything happen to me. To this day I still have a strong belief in these Egyptian gods, they are always watching over me ...

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