Imhotep's Book of the Dead is
inscribed in a cursive script known as hieratic, arranged in horizontal lines
of text divided into columns. Included are more than 250 individual texts and
vignettes taken from a corpus of spells, prayers, and incantations known
collectively as the Book of Coming Forth by Day. The coffin was
found in 1913 at the Meir cemetery. Its creation was to assist Imhotep’s transition
to eternal life and to ensure his safety in the realm of the dead. The Book of
the Dead is meant to be viewed from right to left and was made during the Ptolemaic
Period (332 – 200 B.C.). The text and images do not follow any narrative sequence,
instead they represent a compilation of spells and substitution spells. The
dimensions are Length (71 ft. 10 3/16in), Height (1 ft. 13/4 in.) and Length
(63 ft.).
Although elaborate, the Book of the Dead serves as a final will and testament to Imhotep. With its numerous spells, prayers, and incantations, maybe Imhotep feared the uncertainty of life after death. He sought for some means of reassurance that his passing and transition to the afterlife was safe. Imhotep wanted to know that his ascension to “heaven” was guaranteed, and this book would help the journey. There are substitution spells just in case some do not work, there was preparations for everything. While we may not fear the act of dying, the unknown of what happens next is what most fear. Wanting to make it to heaven is a major part of every religion and it seems even ancient Egyptians felt the same.
References:
Kamrin, J. (2016, July 16). Scrolling through Imhotep's Book of the Dead. Metmuseum.org. Retrieved January 29, 2022, from https://www.metmuseum.org/blogs/now-at-the-met/2016/book-of-the-dead
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