the Book of the Dead ( PDF )

Plate XV.
Appendix; In many early papyri the text of Chapter LXI. forms part of a longer composition which M.
Naville calls Chapters LXI.,[4] LX.,[5] and LXII.,[6] and which reads:--
(1) CHAPTER OF DRINKING WATER IN THE UNDERWORLD. [He saith]: "I, even I, am he who
cometh forth from (2) Seb. The flood hath been given unto him,
[1. This chapter is usually accompanied by a vignette. In that in the papyrus of Nebseni the deceased is being weighed
against his own heart; an ape, "Thoth, lord of the Balance," seated on a pedestal, holds the tongue of the balance. In British
Museum Papyrus No. 9964 the deceased is also weighed against his own heart, but at the same time a figure of himself is
also watching the process. In the papyrus of Sutimes a square weight lies in each pan of the scales. Other vignettes have
simply a scarab, or the deceased addressing his heart, which rests on a standard. See Naville, Todtenbuch, Bd. I., Bl. 43.
2. A class of divine beings.
3. The chapter as here given is incomplete; the missing words are: "pleasant for us, pleasant is the hearing, and there is
gladness of heart at the weighing of words. Let not lies be spoken against me near the god, in the presence of the great god,
the lord of Amentet. Verily, how great shalt thou be when thou risest up in triumph!"
4. The vignette represents the deceased on his knees embracing his soul.
5. Vignette: a man kneeling and holding a lotus.
6. Vignettes: the deceased scooping water with his hands out of a tank.]
and he hath gotten power over it as Hapi. I, even I, open the (3) two doors of heaven: and the two doors
of the watery abyss have been opened unto me by Thoth and by Hapi, the divine twin sons of heaven, (4)
who are mighty in splendours. O grant ye that I may gain power over the water, even as Set overcame his
foes on the day(?) (5) when he terrified the world. I have passed by the great ones shoulder against
shoulder, even as they have passed by that great and splendid god who is (6) provided [with all things]
and whose name is unknown. I have passed by the mighty one of the shoulder. (7) The flood of Osiris
hath been passed through by me, and Thoth-Hapi-Tmu, the lord of the horizon, hath opened unto me the
flood in his name, 'Thoth, the cleaver of the earth.' (8) I have gained power over the water, even as Set
gained power over his foes. I have sailed over heaven. I am Ra. I am the Lion-god. I am the young bull
(9). I have devoured the Thigh, I have seized the flesh. I have gone round about the streams in Seket-Aru.
Boundless eternity hath been granted unto me, and, behold, (10) I am the heir of eternity; to me hath been
given everlastingness."
Closely connected with the above chapter are the two following short chapters:--[1]
Vignette: The deceased drinking water from a running stream.
Text [CHAPTER LXIIIA.]: (I) THE CHAPTER OF DRINKING WATER AND OF NOT BEING
BURNED IN THE FIRE. [The deceased] saith: "Hail, Bull of Amenta. I am brought unto thee, I am the
oar of Ra (3) wherewith he ferried over the aged ones; let me not be buried nor consumed. I am Beb,[2]
(4) the first-born son of Osiris, who doth wash every god within his eye in Annu. I am the Heir, (5) the
exalted (?), the mighty one, the Still [of Heart]. I have made my name to flourish, and I have delivered
[it], that I may make myself to live [in remembrance] on this day."
Vignette: The deceased standing near flames of fire.
Text [CHAPTER LXIIIB.]: (I) THE CHAPTER OF NOT BEING SCALDED WITH WATER. [He
saith]: "I am the oar (2) made ready for rowing, wherewith Ra ferried over the Aged godlike ones. (3) I
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