Book of the Dead of the Priest of Horus, Imhotep (Imuthes), ca. 332–200 B.C. Early Ptolemaic period. From Egypt; Probably from Middle Egypt, Meir. Papyrus, ink; H. 35.2 (13 7/8 in.), W. 1930.4 cm (760 in.) approximately (based on sum of sections); originally a continuous roll about 72 feet long. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Gift of Edward S. Harkness, 1935 (35.9.20a–w)
«Are you as fascinated as I am by the fact that approximately 2,400 years ago, the ancient Egyptians had manuscripts now known as Books of the Dead? Ever since I was old enough to read, ancient Egypt has captivated me. From the pyramids and the Great Sphinx of Giza, to the hieroglyphs and sarcophagi of the pharaohs, there are so many ancient Egyptian secrets and mysteries! Is it possible that aliens actually helped build the legendary pyramids? What do the drawings on the walls of their tombs represent? What is a Book of the Dead?»
Books of the Dead are manuscripts filled with spells, prayers, and incantations that are written on papyrus with black and red ink made from organic material. These books were believed to guide the dead into the afterlife and help them fight off demons and other monsters. Some Books of the Dead are very long (the one pictured above is seventy-two feet long) and read from right to left, but what really makes these ancient artifacts stand out in my mind are the tales surrounding them.
A replica of The Book of the Dead featured in The Mummy (1999). Image courtesy of Stelter Creative Woodworks
A Book of the Dead was used in the movie The Mummy (1999) to bring the dead back to life. Just imagine if a book actually had that kind of power in real life! What if the book they used really can bring back the deceased? Imagine thousand-year-old mummies covered in linen cloth brought back to life. It would be like a scene in Night at the Museum, but instead everything in the Metropolitan Museum comes to life with the use of the incantations from the book.
The possibilities are endless, and just imagining them is enough to send shivers down my spine. Though there is no evidence to prove that a book could have such powers, what's wrong with imagining?