The Coffins of Pa-debehu-Aset - Memorial Art Gallery - University of ...

T H I S I S T H EH I E R O G L Y P HFORdjed–pillar©This sign of Osirissignifies stabilityand representshis backbone.T H I S I S T H EH I E R O G L Y P HFORlifeåIt is called anankh sign andcan be foundmany times onboth coffins.Journey to theAfterli feAfter the body was mummified, it was placed in acoffin—or like Pa-debehu-Aset's mummy—a set ofnesting coffins. A funeral procession was held thatincluded friends and family members of the deceased,as well as musicians and dancers. The coffins werethen placed in a tomb with gifts such as food, furniture,jewelry and many other items that would make lifecomfortable for the deceased in the next world.This is a funeralprocession inancient Egypt.On the far left isthe god Anubis,shown as ajackal. In front of him, a group of male mourners followthe anthropoid coffin of the deceased. The wife of thedeceased kneels in front of her husband's coffin. Thisimage is from the Book of the Dead, a collection ofhymns, prayers and spells that were written onpapyrus and placed inside the coffins or on themummy itself.The ancient Egyptians enjoyed their life on earth, andthey believed in an afterlife that lasted for eternity.According to ancient Egyptian beliefs, after Pa-debehu-Asetwas mummified and buried in a tomb, his soulbegan a journey into the next world. This journey wasdifficult and risky, but the sacredsymbols and hieroglyphs on his twocoffins offered his spirit assistanceand protection.Egyptologists have deciphered thehieroglyphs on Pa-debehu-Aset'scoffins. One prayer from the top ofthe shrine coffin appears at left...8