The Egyptian Book of the Dead 10 Commandments

This quote is a funerary spell that is given to be spoken by the living in order to help the dead win over their enemies:

“To be spoken over a falcon standing with the White Crown on his head; Shu, Atum, and Tefnut; Geb and Nut; Osiris and Isis; Seth and Nepthys being drawn in ochre on a new bowl placed in the sacred barque, together with an image of this spirit (ba) whom you wish to be made worthy, it being anointed with oil. Offer them incense on the fire and roasted ducks, and worship Ra.

It means that he for whom this is done will voyage and be with Ra every day in every place he desires to travel, and it means that the enemies of Ra will be driven off in very good very good deed. A matter a million times true.” Egyptian Book of the Dead Ten Commandments, spell 134

The following quote gave the dead the ability to breathe:

O you sycomore of the sky, may there be given to me the air that is in it, for I am he who sought out that throne in the midst of Wenu [Hermopolis]. I have guarded this egg for the Great Cackler. If it grows, I grow; if it lives, I live; and live; and if it breathes air, I breathe air. Air. The Egyptian Book of the Dead Ten Commandments.

This spell protected the dead from being slaughtered by Osiris’s servants.

My hair is Nu; my face is Ra; my muscles are the Lords of Kheraha; my chest is he who is greatly majestic; my eyes are Hathor; my ears are Wepwawet; my nose is She who presides over her lotus leaf.

my lips are Anubis; my molars are Selkis; my incisors are Isis the goddess; my arms are the Ram, the Lord of Mendes; my breast is Neith, Lady of Sais; my back is Seth; my phallus is Osiris; my belly and my spine are Sekhmet; my buttocks are the Eye of Horus; my thighs and my calves are Nut; my feet are Ptah; my toes are living falcons; there is no member of mine devoid of a god, and Thoth is the protection of all my flesh. The Egyptian Book of the Dead Ten Commandments, spell 42

The Oxford Handbook of the Egyptian of the Dead

Among the wide spectrum of ancient Egyptian religious literature, The Egyptian Book of the Dead Ten Commandments is the most representative of the mortuary religion and of the” agical and ritual practices belonging to it. Moreover, its rich corpus of texts and images supplies unique information on the mortuary traditions ، scribal practices, myths, and priestly rituals in ancient Egypt from the second millennium BCE to the Roman Era.

The Egyptian Book of the Dead Ten Commandments is the conventional name given by Egyptologists to a collection of magical compositions called the ancient Egyptian “Book for Coming Forth by Day.” This title refers to the main wish of the dead, who will be able to leave their tomb and move freely between this world and the next.

Each of the Egyptian Book of the Dead Ten Commandments is unique, although we recognize the existence of workshops where the papyri were bought; therefore, a few popular stylistic features can be known according to different regional traditions of writing and manufacture.

The spells also present many and different parallels with other magical and ceremonial texts attested in temples and on magical objects and amulets, showing that the death chamber literature had in fact a strong link with the daily religious life and beliefs of the ancient Egyptians. This handbook is the first guide to all the aspects and topics of research in relation both to the Book of the Dead itself and to broader research on ancient Egyptian magic and religion.

The Ten Commandments of the Egyptian Book of the Dead

The Egyptian Book of the Dead Ten Commandments

The Spells of Going Forth by Day (or Coming Forth by Day), generally known as the Egyptian Book of the Dead or simply The Egyptian Book of the Dead Ten Commandments, are ancient Egyptian funerary texts derived partly from the earlier Pyramid Texts and Coffin Texts, which were themselves used in making the later Books of Breathing. One of the better-known examples of these works is the Papyrus of Ani.

The Egyptian Book of the Ten Commandments Is the modern name given to the group of texts the ancient Egyptians recorded to help the dead and guide them, meanwhile, the Tuat? This collection consists of hymns, incantations, formulas, magical words, and prayers. The Egyptian Book of the Dead Ten Commandments is not a work from a single era of ancient Egypt; it is a compilation of writings from throughout Egypt’s history.

Egyptian Afterlife Ethics

Egyptian Mythology: Afterlife and Judgment Story

The ancient Egyptians trusted in the continuity of life and its consequences. One of the ancient Egyptians major ideologies was the afterlife, as they believed that the soul was immortal and the earth was only the peace of a larger plan and journey.

They trusted that the soul consists of nine- parts that were part of one earthly existence, and at death, the Akh “transformed self, as recorded in the Egyptian book of the Dead Ten Commandments, would be reunited by the god of death, Anubis, who guides the dead to their final resting place, the underworld, rather than to the hall of fact, and wait their turn for judgment by the hand of the dynasty of the underworld, Osiris.

And when the right time came, Anubis would take the souls to stand before the writer of Thoth and Osiris in front of the golden scales, where the Goddess of Harmony and Equinox Maat would be present, surrounded by the forty-two judges who would confer with the gods to set every soul’s destiny. The operation of judgment was the reason behind mummification, as the Egyptians chose to preserve their bodies using the embalmment process if the soul selected to return to the body and head to the afterlife.

The process of judgment begins with the heart of the dead, which includes the soul; then it is handed to Osiris, who places it on a great golden scale stable against the white feather of Ma’at, “the feather of truth.”

If the soul was found to be lighter than the feather, then the soul was justified, and when the gods and the forty-two judges agreed, the soul would be pliable to move on to heavens named the Field of Reeds by boarding the ship of Ra through the dark underworld, but if the heart was heavier than the feather, then it would be thrown on the profound place in existence, where it will be eaten by the monster god Ammut, who has the face of a crocodile and the back of a rhinoceros famous as “the gobbler,” who guzzles the person’s soul that ceases to exist.”

Commandment 1: Respect the Goods and Uphold Maat

Maat Goddess of the Truth

Ma’at was the goddess of justice, balance, truth, and, most importantly, order. In paintings, she was depicted as a woman who was either standing or sitting with an ostrich feather on her head, and, in some cases, she was depicted with wings. According to the creation legend, Ma’at was created when Ra arose from the waters of Nun. Ma’at was often counted as the daughter of Ra and was wed to Thoth, the god of wisdom.

But Ma’at was more than merely goddess to the ancient Egyptians. She symbolizes the crucial concept of how the universe is maintained. The ancient Egyptians believed the world had an order to it, and it was Ma’at who protected everything in balance.

This helped the ancient Egyptians promote a strong sense of justice and morality. Ma’at was very important in obtaining the afterlife. According to ancient Egyptian mythology, after the demise of the body, everyone had to pass through the Hall of Judges, where a person’s heart was weighed on a scale against Maat’s feather of truth. If the dead heart balanced with Maat’s feather, they could persist in their journey to the afterlife. If not, their journey is over. This affected the daily actions of the ancient Egyptians.

Commandment 2: Honor Your Parents and Elders

Ancient Egyptians values

The family is the main unit of any society or culture. The structure, concept, and function of the family unit vary considerably across cultures; however, its role continues to be mandatory to the development of individuals and their psychological make-up.

All societies have a notion of ‘family’, its relative structure, importance, and functions; however, this is different according to the particular culture. In Arabic culture, as well as other collectivistic cultures, the expanded family is often regarded as the basic identity. The family is the foundational and basic social unit that enhances the stability, well-being, and sustainability of society. The fineness of family relationships shapes and influences the psychological, social, and biological development and functioning of its members.

This may be especially relevant to individuals with rational health problems. The people of ancient Egypt valued family life highly, and this is the issue even now. They treasured their children and considered them a great blessing. If a couple had no children, they would pray to the goddesses and gods for help. They would also put letters at the tombs of dead relatives, asking them to use their powers with the gods. The importance of family has not varied dramatically, even though the structures are starting to. In this paper, we highlight modifications in family set-up and the state of family treatment in Egypt.

Commandment 3: Do Not Steal or Lie

The Egyptian Moral Code Against Theft

Discover the complex legal systems of ancient Egypt, rooted in religious virtues, morality, and the concept of Maat. Unveil the judicial structures, severe punishments for crimes, societal impact, and the enduring influence of Maat in shaping this ancient civilization’s heritage.

“Ethical Foundation: Ancient Egyptian society was deeply rooted in religious virtues and moral principles guided by the concept of “Maat,” representing justice and truth as the cornerstones of societal order.

Judicial System: The judicial structure involved civil courts and religious courts and was overseen by the vizier. Courts operated at national and local levels, with varying bodies like Seru Kenbet and Djadjat responsible for judgment. During different eras, the system evolved from priestly consultations to more logical, evidence-based proceedings.

Types of Crimes: Crimes were divided into community-based (adultery, murder, theft) and state-based (treason, bribery). Punishments were severe, often reflecting the moral fabric of society and the sanctity of life.

Crime and Punishment Examples: Each crime had specific penalties: death for murder, severe punishment for adultery, fines and public displays for theft, degradation and dismissal for bribery, and execution for treason.

Grave Robbing and Religious Crimes: Crimes against religious institutions and grave robbing were considered heinous, resulting in severe punishments, including death or mutilation.

The Notion of Maat: Maat stood for the essence of balance, justice, and truth in ancient Egyptian society. It guided their philosophy, beliefs, and actions, contributing to the civilization’s longevity.

The ancient Egyptian society was built on principles of religious virtue and morality, which influenced the dynamics related to the felony and punishment of ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptian society was law-abiding, but sometimes ethics and rules were broken, and justice had to take its course in order to achieve balance and harmony.

Their moral ethics were based on different social experiences and traditions throughout their history, when religion in ancient Egypt was notable in every aspect of their lives. Along with customary, moral, and religious factors, everything was based on the concept of “Maat,” which revolves around justice and truth and is mainly viewed as a philosophical embodiment of the living human conscience. The whole process of punishment was one of the essential elements of the lives of Egyptians during ancient times.”