the Book of the Dead ( PDF )

The Versions Of The Book Of The Dead.
perpendicular rows between rules, and hieratic texts in horizontal lines; both the hieroglyphics and the
hieratic characters lack the boldness of the writing of the Theban period, and exhibit the characteristics of
a conventional hand. The titles of the chapters, catchwords, the words ### which introduce a variant
reading, etc., are sometimes written in red. The vignettes are usually traced in black outline, and form a
kind of continuous border above the text. In good papyri, however, the scene forming the XVIth Chapter,
the scene of the Fields of Peace (Chapter CX.), the judgment scene (Chapter CXXV.), the vignette of
Chapter CXLVIII., the scene forming Chapter CLI. (the sepulchral chamber), and the vignette of Chapter
CLXI., fill the whole width of the inscribed portion of the papyrus, and are painted in somewhat crude
colours. In some papyri the disk on the head of the hawk of Horus is covered with gold leaf, instead of
being painted red as is usual in older papyri. In the Græco-Roman period both texts and vignettes are
very carelessly executed, and it is evident that they were written and drawn by ignorant workmen in the
quickest and most careless way possible. In this period also certain passages of the text were copied in
hieratic and Demotic upon small pieces of papyri which were buried with portions of the bodies of the
dead, and upon narrow bandages of coarse linen in which they were swathed.
{p. xlviii}
Next: The Legend Of Osiris.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/egy/ebod/ebod03.htm (36 of 36) [8/10/2001 11:22:57 AM]