David Lorton Knihy

Ancient Egyptians held a rich and complex vision of the afterlife and codified their beliefs in books that were to be discovered more than two millennia later in royal tombs. Erik Hornung, the world's leading authority on these religious texts, surveys what is known about them today. The contents of the texts range from the collection of spells in the Book of the Dead, which was intended to offer practical assistance on the journey to the afterlife, to the detailed accounts of the hereafter provided in the Books of the Netherworld. Hornung looks closely at these latter works, while summarizing the contents of the Book of the Dead and other widely studied examples of the genre. For each composition, he discusses the history of its ancient transmission and its decipherment in modern times, supplying bibliographic information for any text editions. He also seeks to determine whether this literature as a whole presents a monolithic conception of the afterlife. The volume features many drawings from the books themselves--drawings that illustrate the nocturnal course of the sun god through the realm of the dead. Originally published in German and now available in a fluid English translation, this volume offers an accessible and enlightening introduction to a central element of ancient Egyptian religion.

Ancient Egyptian sources resonate with modern thought, as Andreas Schweizer invites readers on a nocturnal voyage with the solar barque, exploring the depths of the netherworld alongside the sun's 'Great Soul.' The Amduat reveals hidden threats within our souls through vivid imagery, addressing the darker aspects of divinity. This underworld, foundational to our existence, houses intense creative energies, where only death can lead to true life and regeneration. The Amduat narrates the journey of Re, the Egyptian Sungod, through the netherworld from sunset to sunrise, highlighting a mystical union with Osiris, the god of the dead. This union symbolizes the renewal of life and the restoration of wholeness. In Egyptian belief, pharaohs and later all blessed souls undertook this "night-sea journey," merging with Re to achieve eternal life. Dating back to around 1500 B.C.E., the vision of the afterlife in the Amduat has profoundly influenced Egyptian literature and beyond, shaping concepts that persisted into gnostic, alchemical texts, and early Christian depictions of the afterlife. In his exploration, Schweizer offers a psychological interpretation of the Amduat's textual and iconographic elements, drawing on Jungian archetypes that resonate across cultures—depicting themes of sleep as death, resurrection as rebirth, and salvation from annihilation.