Journey Through the Afterlife: The Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead

The Book of the Dead describes the collection of spells and chants thought vital by the ancient Egyptians to aiding safe transit on the tricky passage through the underworld to eternal life - opening a window onto the complex belief systems of the Ancient Egyptians.

Though the name may be familiar today, the wealth of magical images and texts is actually much richer than is generally known. Beautifully coloured illustrations graphically show the fields and rivers of the Netherworld, the gods and demons whom the deceased would meet, and the critical ‘weighing of the heart’ ritual the judgement which would determine whether the soul was admitted into the afterlife or condemned to destruction at the hands of the monstrous ‘Devourer’. Although the earliest texts appeared on the mummy shrouds of royal families and high officials, papyrus became the texts’ main medium and remained so for more than 1,000 years.

This major exhibition at the British Museum will examine the Book of the Dead in detail – how it evolved and changed over the centuries – as well as the wider ancient Egyptian concept of leaving goods in the grave in the expectation that they somehow helped the deceased make a safe journey to the afterlife.

The exhibition will include the longest Book of the Dead in the world, the Greenfield Papyrus, which measures 37 metres in length and has never been shown publicly in its entirety before.  Also on display will be the famous paintings from the papyri of Ani and Hunefer, together with selected masterpieces on loan from major international collections.

These treasures will be exhibited alongside a dazzling array of painted coffins, gilded masks, amulets, jewellery, tomb figurines and mummy trappings.

Images

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