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Ancient Egyptians - Egyptian Texts and Books |
Egyptian Texts and Books Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Texts and Books Fact Sheet Fact 1 on Egyptian texts: Many of the ancient Egyptian texts gradually evolved over a long period of time and are evident in the inscriptions on the walls of temples, tombs, shrines, obelisks, manuscripts and on sacred objects, fetishes and amulets. Fact 2 on Egyptian texts: The most famous books and text were contained in the Pyramid Texts, the Coffin Texts, the Book of the Dead and the Book of Ani, the Book of Gates, the Book of Caverns, the Book of the Earth, Books of Breathing, Books of the Netherworld and the Amduat. Fact 3 on Egyptian texts: These different text and famous books emerged over many hundreds of years during the periods called the: Old Kingdom (2686 to 2181 B.C.) + First Intermediate period = 630 years Middle Kingdom (2055 to 1650 B.C.) + Second Intermediate period = 505 years New Kingdom(1550 to 1070 B.C.) + Second Intermediate period = 480 years Fact 4 on Egyptian texts: The Pyramid Texts are the oldest collection of religious spells from the Old Kingdom of ancient Egypt. These sacred writings were written exclusively for the pharaohs and were carved on the walls and sarcophagi of the pyramids at Saqqara. Fact 5 on Egyptian texts: The Coffin Texts, also known as the Book of the Two Ways, were funerary texts of the Middle Kingdom (2181–2055 BCE). These consisted of a collection of more than 1,000 spells found on the interior walls of coffins of non-royal Egyptians. They were intended to direct the souls of the dead past the dangers encountered on the journey through the Underworld (Duat). Fact 6 on Egyptian texts: The Book of Two Ways was created in the period of the Middle Kingdom and derives from inscriptions on 22 non-royal coffins. Some of the text was used as for the pharaohs but it also describes dangerous journey and the seven demons who are the gate keepers of the netherworld Fact 7 on Egyptian texts: The Book of the Dead or the "Book of Going Forth by Day" is the name given to collection of funerary texts and spells for ancient Egyptians. There were many versions as each book was personalized for each deceased person. It can be described as an ancient Egyptian 'Guide to the Afterlife'. Fact 8 on Egyptian texts: The "Book of the Opening of the Mouth" was created in the period of the New Kingdom. It described the funerary rituals and ceremonies that consisted of a long list of suitable offerings for the deceased, together with a litany recited by the priests. This text was also painted on the walls of the royal tomb. Fact 9 on Egyptian texts: The Book of Caverns was created in the New Kingdom and describes the journey of the sun god Ra through the six caverns of the underworld The book focuses on rewards in the afterlife and the terrible punishments of the Underworld. Fact 10 on Egyptian texts: The Book of the Earth, also referred to as the "Creation of the Sun Disk" and the "Book of Aker". It serves as a counterpart to the Book of Caverns and describes the journey of Osiris and Ra through the Underworld and details punishments that could be expected by evil people including deaths in pits of fire. Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Texts and Books Fact Sheet Egyptian Texts Egyptian Texts Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Texts and Books Fact Sheet Fact 11 on Egyptian texts: The Amduat or the "Book of what is in the Tuat" was created in the period of the New Kingdom. It was large funeral book in which the priests of the god Amun described the journey of Amun in the realms of the dead. Fact 12 on Egyptian texts: The "Book of Thoth" also referred to as the "Emerald Tablets of Thoth" was kept in his temple at Hermopolis. The " Book of Thoth" contained a series of sacred texts that were believed to reveal the secret of life and provided the key to the secrets of the earth, fire, the sun and the moon. Fact 13 on Egyptian texts: The wisdom and the knowledge of the ancient Egyptians were kept in secret chambers in the temples. The ancient Egyptian temples were not just places of worship. The temple complexes also housed treasuries, offices, schools and palaces and were also centres of government, economy and commerce. Fact 14 on Egyptian texts: Books were written in hieroglyphic, hieratic and demotic text. Fact 15 on Egyptian texts: Hieroglyphic text: The ancient Egyptians called Hieroglyphics "the language of the gods", the Greek word 'Hieroglyphic' means holy writing. Hieroglyphics were a complex form of writing and used mainly by the priests, royalty and civil officials. Fact 16 on Egyptian texts: Hieratic script was used for everyday purposes such as keeping records, accounts and writing letters. Fact 17 on Egyptian texts: Demotic Text: The word derives from Greek 'demoticos' meaning popular. Demotic text was a simplified form of the ancient hieratic script and was used by ordinary people Fact 18 on Egyptian texts: Other types of Egyptian texts fell into the categories of: religion, autobiography, history, medicine, poetry, moral, philosophical and Wisdom literature. Ancient Egypt - Egyptian Texts and Books Fact Sheet Egyptian Texts and Books Egyptian Texts and Books |
