Description:

240 BC

THE PAPYRUS OF ANI

THE EGYPTIAN BOOK OF THE DEAD

Translated by E.A. Wallis Budge

 

Part 5

  (From the Paprys of Nebseni, Sheet 3)

  THE CHAPTER OF COMING FORTH BY DAY AND OF OPENING UP A WAY THROUGH

THE AMEHET: Behold, the scribe Nebseni, whose word is truth, saith:-

Homage to you, O ye Lords of Kau, ye who are without sin, and who live

for the endless and infinite aeons of time which make up eternity. I

have opened up a way for myself to you. I have become a spirit in my

forms, I have gotten the mastery over my words of magical power, and I

am adjudged a spirit; therefore deliver ye me from the Crocodile

[which liveth in] this Country of Truth. Grant ye to me my mouth

that I may speak therewith, and cause ye that sepulchral offerings

shall be made unto me in your presence, for I know you, and I know

your names, and I know also the name of the mighty god before whose

face ye set your celestial food. His name is "Tekem." [When] he

openeth up his path on the eastern horizon of heaven, [when] he

alighteth towards the western horizon of heaven, may he carry me along

with him, and may I be safe and sound. Let not the Mesqet make an

end of me, let not the Fiend (Sebau) gain the mastery over me, let

me not be driven away from the doors of the Other World, let not you

doors be shut in my face, for my cakes are in the city of Pe, and my

ale is in the city of Tep. And there, in the celestial mansions of

heaven which my divine father Tem hath stablished, let my hands lay

hold upon the wheat and the barley, which shall be given unto me

therein in abundant measure, and may the son of my own body make ready

for me my food therein. And grant ye unto me when I am there

sepulchral meals, and incense, and unguents, and all the pure and

beautiful things whereon the god liveth, in every deed for ever, in

all the transformations which it pleaseth me [to perform], and grant

unto me the power to float down and to sail up the stream in the Field

of Reeds (Sekhet-Aaru), [and may I reach Sekhet-hetepet (the Field

of Offerings)]. I am the twin Lion-gods (Shu and Tefnut).

  TEXTS RELATING TO THE WEIGHING OF THE HEART OF ANI

  THE NAMES OF THE GODS OF THE GREAT COMPANY:- 1. Ra Harmakhis, the

Great God in his boat. 2. Temu. 3. Shu. 4. Tefnut. 5. Keb. 6. Nut, the

Lady of Heaven. 7. Isis. 8. Nephthys. 9. Horus, the Great God. 10.

Hathor, Lady of Amentet. 11. Hu. 12. Sa.

  THE PRAYER OF ANI:- My heart, my mother; my heart, my mother! My

heart whereby I came into being! May nought stand up to oppose me at

[my] judgment, may there be no opposition to me in the presence of the

Chiefs (Tchatchau); may there be no parting of thee from me in the

presence of him that keepeth the Balance! Thou art my KA, which

dwelleth in my body; the god Khnemu who knitteth together and

strengtheneth my limbs. Mayest thou come forth into the place of

happiness whither we go. May the Sheniu officials, who make the

conditions of the lives of men, not cause my name to stink, and may no

lies be spoken against me in the presence of the God. [Let it be

satisfactory unto us, and let the Listener god be favourable unto

us, and let there be joy of heart (to us) at the weighing of words.

Let not that which is false be uttered against me before the Great

God, the Lord of Amentet. Verily, how great shalt thou be when thou

risest in triumph.]

  THE SPEECH OF THOTH:- Thoth, the judge of right and truth of the

Great Company of the Gods who are in the presence of Osiris, saith:

Hear ye this judgment. The heart of Osiris hath in very truth been

weighed, and his Heart-soul hath borne testimony on his behalf; his

heart hath been found right by the trial in the Great Balance. There

hath not been found any wickedness in him; he hath not wasted the

offerings which have been made in the temples; he hath not committed

any evil act; and he hath not set his mouth in motion with words of

evil whilst he was upon earth.

  SPEECH OF THE DWELLER IN THE EMBALMMENT CHAMBER (ANUBIS):- Pay

good heed, O righteous Judge to the Balance to support [the testimony]

thereof. Variant: Pay good heed to the weighing in the Balance of

the heart of the Osiris, the singing-woman of Amen, Anhai, whose

word is truth, and place thou her heart in the seat of truth in the

presence of the Great God.

  THE SPEECH OF THE GODS:- The Great Company of the Gods say to

Thoth who dwelleth in Khemenu: That which cometh forth from thy

mouth shall be declared true. The Osiris the scribe Ani, whose word is

true, is holy and righteous. He hath not committed any sin, and he

hath done no evil against us. The devourer Am-mit shall not be

permitted to prevail over him. Meat offerings and admittance into

the presence of the god Osiris shall be granted unto him, together

with an abiding habitation in the Field of Offerings (Sekhet-hetepet),

as unto the Followers of Horus.

  THE SPEECH OF HORUS TO OSIRIS IN INTRODUCING ANI TO HIM:- Horus, the

son of Isis, saith: I have come to thee, O Un-Nefer, and I have

brought unto thee the Osiris Ani. His heart is righteous, and it

hath come forth from the Balance; it hath not sinned against any god

or any goddess. Thoth hath weighed it according to the decree

pronounced unto him by the Company of the Gods, and it is most true

and righteous. Grant thou that cakes and ale may be given unto him,

and let him appear in the presence of the god Osiris, and let him be

like unto the Followers of Horus for ever and ever.

  THE SPEECH OF ANI:- And the Osiris Ani saith: Behold, I am in thy

presence, O Lord of Amentet. There is no sin in my body. I have not

spoken that which is not true knowingly, nor have I done anything with

a false heart. Grant thou that I may be like unto those favoured

ones who are in thy following, and that I may be an Osiris greatly

favoured of the beautiful god, and beloved of the Lord of the Two

Lands, I who am a veritable royal scribe who loveth thee, Ani, whose

word is true before the god Osiris.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE BEAST AM-MIT:- Her forepart is like that of a

crocodile, the middle of her body is like that of a lion, her hind

quarters are like those of a hippopotamus.