the Book of the Dead ( PDF )

Plates V. and VI.
name the Kher-heb says: "His mother beateth her breast and weepeth for him, and those who are in
chains with him also beat their breasts." Another priest, called Am-Khent-Heru, takes up the same
position and says: "Isis goeth unto Horus, who embraceth his father." A priestly official belonging to the
mesenti class then goes behind the deceased, and the Sem, Smer and Kher-heb priests stand in front, and
the Sem priest and the Kher-heb, personifying Horus and Sut, respectively cry: "I am Horus, I am Sut; I
will not let thee illumine the head of my father." The Sem priest then leaves the Ka-chapel and returns,
leading in the Se-mer-f, i.e., "the son who loveth him"; whereupon the Kher-heb says: "O Sem, let the
Se-mer-f come into the tomb in order that he may see the god." The Sem priest holding him by the arm
then leads forward the Se-mer-f, who addresses the deceased: "I have come, I have brought
[1. See Schiaparelli, Il Libro dei Funerali degli Antichi Egiziani; Maspero, Le Rituel du Sacrifice Funéraire (in Revue de
L'Histoire des Religions, 1887, p. 159 ff.).
2. ###. For a complete list of these instruments, see Schiaparelli, Il Libro dei Funerali degli Antichi Egiziani, p.109.]
{p. 268}
unto thee thy son who loveth thee; he shall open for thee thy mouth and thine eyes." (Fig. 8). A
tomb-official, Am-as, then takes up his position behind the deceased, and the Se-mer-f and the Kher-heb
stand in front; the Kher-heb repeating four times: "The Se-mer-f openeth the mouth and the two eyes of
the deceased, first with a needle of iron, then with a rod of smu metal"; the Am-as addressing the
deceased: "Behold the Se-mer-f"; and the Kher-heb saying, in the name of the Se-mer-f: "I have pressed
for thee thy mouth, even as thy father pressed it in the name of Seker. Hail, Horus hath pressed thy
mouth for thee, he hath opened thine eyes for thee; Horus hath opened thy mouth for thee, he hath
opened for thee thine eyes; they are firmly stablished. Thy mouth was closed; I have ordered thy mouth
and thy teeth for thee in their true order. Thou hast [again] opened thy mouth; Horus hath opened thy
mouth. I have stablished thy mouth firmly. Horus hath opened for thee thy mouth, Horus hath opened for
thee thy two eyes." The Kher-heb then speaks on behalf of the Sem priest: "Thy mouth was closed up. I
have ordered aright for thee thy mouth and thy teeth. Thy mouth is firmly stablished. Thy mouth was
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