The Book of the Dead, by Evelyn Rossiter (British Museum, 1979), showcases colour reprints of the famous papyri funeral texts from Ani, Hunefer, and Anhaï.
In this book all the vignettes from the Papyri of Ani, Hunefer and Anhai are reproduced, for the first time, in full color photographs. These three papyri rank among the most superb specimens of a collection of Egyptian funerary texts which, for the past 130 years, has been known by the title Book of the Dead.
The Papyrus of Ani, at slightly more than 78 feet, is the longest papyrus of the Book of the Dead from the Theban period; the Papyrus of Hunefer measures 18 feet 1 inch, and that of Anhai 14 feet 6 inches.
In the 17th century BC it became customary for well-to-do Egyptians to leave such collections of invocations and magic spells in their tombs. They were intended as a means of enabling the deceased to triumph over the dangers of the next life, mainly by making it possible for them to turn into any of the powerful creatures which dwelled in the world of the dead and by teaching them certain indispensable passwords which would open for them, one by one, the doors of the Underworld.
– Evelyn Rossiter, The Book of the Dead – Famous Egyptian papyri Papyri of Ani, Hunefer, Anhaï (British Museum, 1979), book description
The text is in English. The book is richly illustrated with colour images.
Our copy is in good condition. The pages are clean; no markings except an old price sticker on the first flyleaf. The edges of the pages show some toning. The binding is fine. The dust jacket is toned and shows some edge wear and other small signs of shelf wear and use.
