Book of the Dead Chapter 17
Chapter 17, one of the longest individual compositions in the Book of the Dead, ranks as one of the most remarkable examples of writing from ancient Egypt, with its unparalleled structure of internal commentary. It identifies the deceased individual with the creator-god, and every few lines inserts the words 'what does it mean?' followed not much by an explanation as by a redescription in religious terms. For example in section 3 the phrase 'Mine is yesterday, I know tomorrow' is followed by the gloss or 'explanation' 'yesterday is Osiris, tomorrow is Ra'. Most passages are given more than one gloss or 'explanation'.
From the Ramesside Period to the Ptolemaic Period this chapter is written beneath a series of vignettes illustrating themes in the title and contents. In the Petrie Museum collection, a damaged example may be seen in the Nineteenth Dynasty papyrus of Tjaymesu from Sedment (UC 71002).
The composition exists in
the Middle Kingdom, numbered by de Buck as Coffin Text 335. In both Coffin Texts
and Book of the Dead it is one of the most frequently found formulae.
The version below gives the Book of the Dead version as compiled from various sources by Naville in his standard edition of the New Kingdom and Third Intermediate Period papyri. The section numbering follows the edition by Allen 1974.
Title
Allen Part a,
ptr
rf sw
ptr
rf sw
ky Dd
What
does it mean?
What
does it mean?
Another
version:
Allen Part a,
ptr
rf sw
ky Dd
Another
version:
Allen Part a,
ptr
rf sw
ky Dd
ptr
rf sw
ky Dd
What
does it mean?
Another
version:
It is the west
What
does it mean?
Another
version:
His name is acclamation of Ra
His name is the soul of Ra with which he copulates himself
Allen Part a,
ptr
rf sw
ky Dd
What
does it mean?
Another
version:
Allen Part a, Section 6
ptr
rf sw
ky Dd
ky Dd
What
does it mean?
Another
version:
Another
version:
Allen Part a, Section 7
ptr
rf sw
What
does it mean?
Allen Part a, Section 8
ptr
rf sw
ptr
rf sw
ptr
rf sw
ky Dd
What
does it mean?
What
does it mean?
What
does it mean?
Another
version:
ptr
rf sw
ky Dd
ptr
rf sw
ky Dd
What
does it mean?
Another
version:
What
does it mean?
Another
version:
when he journeys to when he
journeys to the eastern horizon of the sky
ptr
rf sw
What
does it mean?
iw
mH.n wsir N wDAt m-xt hb.s hrw pwy n aHA rHwy
ptr
rf sw
hrw pfy n aHA Hr Hna stX m wd.f stAw n Hr m iT.n Hr Xrwy n stH
ir gr DHwty ir nn m Dbaw.f Ds.f
iw Ts.n wsir N Sn.f m wDAt m tr n Sn
ptr
rf sw
ky Dd
wn.in irt.f
What
does it mean?
That day of the fight of Horus with Seth when he inflicted injury on
Horus and when Horus seized the testicles of Seth
Now it was Thoth who did this with his own fingers
The Osiris N has bound his hair with the wedjat-eye in the time of rage
What
does it mean?
Another
version:
It means, when his eye was ill from being in tears for the second,
Allen Part a, Section 12
iw
mAA.n wsir ra pw ms m sf r xpdw n mH-wr
wDA wsir N wDA.f Ts-pXr
ptr
rf sw
nw pw nwy nt
ky Dd
twt pw n irt ra dwA ms.tw.f ra nb
ir gr mH-wr wDAt pw n ra
Hr-ntt wa m nn nTrw imyw-xt Hr mdw.f Hry-tp mry nb.f
ptr
rf sw
imst Hpy dwA-mwt.f qbH-snw.f
the Osiris N is well, he is well, and vice versa
What
does it mean?
It means these waters of the sky-flood
Another
version:
It means an image of the eye of Ra at dawn when he is born every day
As for Mehweret, it means the wedjat-eye of Ra
because (I am) one of those gods of the following of Horus, one who speaks as
master, beloved of his lord
What
does it mean?
Imset, Hapy, Duamutef, Qebehsenuf
i.nD
Hr.tn nbw mAaty DADAt HA wsir
dd Sad m isftyw imyw-xt Htp.s-xw.s
mtn wi ii.kwi xr.tn nn Dw nb iry
mi nn ir.tn n Axw sfx ipw imyw Sms nb.sn sip
irt.n inpw st.sn nrw pfy n mi-r.k-n.n
ptr
rf sw
ir nn nTrw nbw mAaty
DHwty pw Hna isds nb imntt
ir DADAt HA wsir
imst Hpy dwA-mwt.f qbH-snw.f
ky Dd
nsrt pw imyw-xt wsir Hr sAw bAw nw xftyw.f
ir grt Dw nb iry
irt.f m-m nbw HH Dr hA.f m Xt nt mwt.f
ir grt Axw sfx ipw
imst Hpy dwA-mwt.f qbH-snw.f
rdi.n.sn inpw m sAw n qrs nt wsir
ky Dd
ky Dd
ir Axw sfx ipw
nDnD-qdqd kA-nn-rdi-n.f-nbit xntt-hh.f
aq-Hr-imy-wnwt.f dSr-irty-imy-xt-Hwt-ins
Asb-Hr-pr-m-xtxt mAA-m-grH-inn.f-m-hrw
ir DADAt nt nArf wr.f n it.f ra
ir hrw pfy n mi-r.k-n.n
Dd in wsir pw n ra mi-r.k mAA wi
xsf sw ra m imnt
who spread slaughter among the evil, who are in the following of Hetepeskhus
See I am come before you, with no evil attaching,
as you do to those 7 spirits who are in the retinue of their lord of control,
whose places Anubis prepared on that day of the call Come-then-to-us
What
does it mean?
These gods the lords of the double Right
are Thoth with Isdes lord of the west.
The tribunal
Imset, Hapy, Duamutef, Qebehsenuf,
these are at the back of the Plough constellation of the northern sky
Those who spread slaughter among the evil, who are in the following of Hetepeskhus,
are the crocodiles which are in the water.
Hetepeskhus is that eye of Ra
Another
version:
It is the flame of the following of Osiris guarding from the powers of
his enemies.
All the evil attaching is his deeds among the lords of eternity since he left
the womb of his mother.
Those seven spirits are
Imset, Hapy, Duamutef, Qebehsenuf,
Maaitef, Kherbaqef, Horus-khentirty,
and they place Anubis on guard for the burial of Osiris
Another
version:
after the purification of Osiris
Another
version:
Those seven spirits are
Nedjehdjeh-slumberer, Bull-that-cannot be-given-fire, Foremost-of-his flame,
Entering-of-sight-who-is-in-his-hour, Red-eyed-of-the-following-of-the-Temple-of-Red,
Shining-faced-coming-out-backwards, Seeing-by-night-fetching-by-day.
As for the tribunal of Naref, he is great for his father Ra.
As for that day of the call 'Come-then-to-us',
it is the address by Osiris to Ra 'Come then, see me'
and Ra propelled himself from the west.
Allen Part a, Section 14
ink
bA Hry-ib sAwy.fy
ptr
rf sw
wsir aq.f r Ddw gm.n.f bA n ra im
aHa.n Hpt ky ky im
aHa.n xpr.f m bA.f-m-sAw.f
Hr pw nD Hr it.f Hna Hr-xnt-irty
ky Dd
ir bA Hry-ib sAwy.fy
bA pw n rA Hna bA pw n wsir
bA pw n Sw Hna bA pw n tfnt
bAw pw imyw Ddw
I
am the soul amid his two sons
What
does it mean?
Osiris entering Djedu when he found the soul of Ra there,
and they embraced one another
and he become 'his soul in his sons'.
Another
version:
The soul amid his two sons,
it means the soul of Ra and the soul of Osiris,
it means the soul of Shu and the soul of Tefnet,
it means the soul of those who are in Djedu
Allen Part a, Section 15
ink
miw pfy aA nty psS iSd r-gs.f m iwnw grH pfy n aHA-a
irt sAw sbiw hrw pfy n Htm xftyw nw nb-r-Dr im.f
ptr
rf sw
ir miw pfy aA nty psS iSd r-gs.f m iwnw
ra pw Ds.f Dd.tw miw r.f m Dd siA mi sw m nn ir.n.f
xpr rn.f m miw
ky Dd
wnn Sw pw Hr irt imt-pr n gb wsir
ir grt nty Hr pSt iSd r-gs.f m iwnw
wnn msw-bdS Hr mAa ir.sn
ir grH pfy n aHA-a
aq.sn pw m iAbtt nt pt
aHa.n aHA-a xpr m pt m tA r-Dr.f
I
am that great cat beside whom the ished-tree was split in Iunu on that night
of active battle,
and making the guard against the rebels on that day on which the enemies of
the Lord of All were destroyed
What
does it mean?
That great cat beside whom the ished-tree was split in Iunu
is Ra himself, called Cat when Sia said of him 'that is how he is, by what he
has done'
and his name became Cat
Another
version:
It is Shu when he was drawing up the will for Geb and Osiris.
As for the one beside whom the ished-tree was split in Iunu,
(it is) the creatures of the evil one being punished for their deeds.
That night of active battle
means when they entered in the east of the sky,
and then active battle broke out in the entire land.
grH pfy n nsrt m xryw
di spH n isftyw r nmt.f dr bAw
ky Dd
aApp pw wnn.f m tp wa Xr mAat
ky Dd
Hr pw wnn.f m tp sn
wnn wa Xr mAat ky Xr isft
ky Dd
Hr pw xnty xm
ky Dd
DHwty pw nfr-tm pw sA bAst
DADAt pw xsf-xt r xftyw nw nb-r-Dr
nHm.tn wsir N m-a nw iryw-sTAw mnHyw spdyw
mrw Hsq iwty pr m sAw.sn imyw-xt wsir
nn sxm.sn m-a.i nn hA.i r ktwt.sn
Hr-ntt wi rx.kwi sw rx.kwi rn n mDd pfy imy.sn m pr wsir
sti m drt.f nn mAA.tw.f pXr m tA m nsrt m r.f
smi.n.f Hap nn mAA.tw.f
What
does it mean?
(it is) that night of fire-serpent with sacrifice.
The one who casts lassos against the evil, (roping them in) to his slaughter-block
that suppresses souls.
What
does it mean?
Another
version:
It is Aapep, with one head
bearing what is Right.
Another
version:
It is Horus with two heads,
one bearing what is Right,
one bearing what is Evil.
Another
version:
It is Horus foremost of Khem.
Another
version:
It is Thoth; it is Nefertem son of Bast;
it is the tribunal that prosecutes the enemies of Osiris.
May you together rescue the Osiris N from those ropemen, killers, sharp ones,
who love to behead, from whose guard none can escape, the following of Osiris.
They can have no power over me; I shall not descend into their cauldrons,
because I know him, I know the name of that one who presses, among them in the
house of Osiris,
who shoots with his hand without being seen, who circles the land with flame
in his mouth,
who has reported the Nile Flood without being seen.
ky Dd
ky Dd
DADAt nt xsf xftyw nw nb-r-Dr
im.f
ky Dd
wr swnw pw n Snyt
nn dndn.sn im
nn hA.i r kAty.sn
ptr
rf sw
nw pw Hryw axw.sn
twt pw n ra Hna twt pw n irt ra
What
does it mean?
Another
version:
Another
version:
The tribunal for punishing
Another
version:
It is the chief physician
of the entourage.
They cannot rage there,
I cannot fall into their cauldrons.
What
does it mean?
It is those masters of their braziers,
it is the image of Ra and it is the image of the eye of Ra.
ky Dd
ky Dd
bAbA rn.f ntf sAw qAb pwy
n imnt
ky Dd
What
does it mean?
Another
version:
Another
version:
his name is Baba, and it is
he who guards that bend of the west.
Another
version:
ptr
rf sw
ptr
rf sw
wD n.f HqA m nTrw
Hr pw sA wsir sHqA.n.f m st
nt it.f wsir
ir hrw pfy n smn m bAH nb-r-Dr
dmD tAwy pw qrs wsir
bA mnx m Hnn-nswt
di kAw dr isft sSm n.f wAt HH
ptr
rf sw
ra pw Ds.f
nHm.k wsir N m-a nTr pfy TA bAw nsbw HAtyw
anx m HwAw iry kkwy imy skr
snD n.f imy-gAb
ptr
rf sw
stX pw
ky Dd
ir smA Hr pw sA n gb
What
does it mean?
What
does it mean?
What
does it mean?
'He for whom rule over the
gods was decreed'
means Horus son of Osiris
when he was made ruler on the throne of his father Osiris.
'that day of confirming in
the presence of the Lord of All'
means the assembling of the two lands for the burial of Osiris.
Effective soul in Henennesut,
giving sustenance, removing evil, to whom the way of eternity leads.
What
does it mean?
It is Ra himself
May you rescue the Osiris N from that god who seizes souls, licks up hearts,
who lives on rotting, keeper of the darkness that is in Sokar,
of whom those in their weakness are afraid.
What
does it mean?
It is Seth.
Another
version:
As for the slaughter-bull,
it is Horus son of Geb.
ky Dd
Dt
nHm.k wsir N m-a nw pw iryw-sip
rdi.n sn nb Axw n mry sAw
xftyw.f
di.f Sad m iAty iwty pr m
sAw
nn hA.i m ds.sn
nn aq.i r nmt.sn
nn wrd.i m-Xnw n smAt.sn
nn hA.i m-Xnw nmt.sn
nn Hms.i m-Xnw n HAdw.sn
nn ir.tw n.i xt m nw bwt nTrw
Hr-ntt ink iry-pat m wsxt
aAt
wsir N swA wab Hr-ib msqt
rdy n.f msy n THnt imt Tnnt
ptr
rf sw
ir nw iryw-sip bnt pw ist pw nbt-Hwt pw
ir nw bwt nTrw Hsb pw grg pw iry
ir swA wab Hr-ib msqt inp pw iw.f m-sA bit nt Xr imy-Xt wsir
ir rdy n.f msy m THnt imt Tnnt
ky Dd
ky Dd
Another
version:
is eternity,
Rescue the Osiris N from those
keepers of the list,
to whom the lord gave powers
so that they might guard against his enemies,
causing slaughter in execution,
from whose guard none can escape.
I can never fall into their knives,
I can never enter their slaughterhouses,
I can never tire within their
cauldrons,
I can never fall into their
slaughterhouses,
I can never sit within their
fire-pits,
Offerings can never be made
for me from these abominations of the gods,
because I am the leader of
the nobles in the great broad hall,
the Osiris N, passing by in purity,
amid the place of bloodletting,
who is given the dishes of
faience that is in the earth-shrine.
What
does it mean?
Khepri amid his boat is Ra-Horakhty
himself
Those keepers of the list are the Baboon, and Isis, and Nephthys
Those abominations of the gods are dung and its lies
The one passing by in purity, amid
the place of bloodletting, is Anubis guarding the chest containing the
entrails of Osiris
The one who is given the dishes of
faience that is in the earth-shrine is Osiris
Another
version:
The one who is given the dishes of
faience that is in the earth-shrine is the sky, it is the earth
Another
version:
ky Dd
ky Dd
ptr
rf sw
ky Dd
rn n xnwt
ir mAi HD r pds tp Hnn pw n wsir
ky Dd
Hnn pw n ra
ir ptx.f Snw.f Hr.f txtx r r n wAt.f
wnn ist pw Hr StA.s
aHa.n sin.s Snw.s Hr.s
ir wADyt imy-tA irt ra pw
ir ar.sn n.i and im.sn
wnn smAyw stX pw Hr tkn im.sn
Dr-ntt tkn pw Am
rdi.tw n.f m sip n imyw Ddt
sgA bAw nw xftyw.f
Another
version:
Retreat at your arrival, Osiris.
He who guards unseen,
do not guard against the Osiris N - it is Isis.
You found him when he had dishevelled his hair over his face,
when he had disordered its parting,
Another
version:
his brow.
Conceived by Isis, whom Nephtys nurtures,
Isis has removed his wrong, Nephthys has hunted off his troubles.
Fear in front, awe in front,
Millions bend their elbows to me,
the populace petitions me.
The sacred flock dismember all enemies for me,
the elders bare their arms for me.
I am granted the scent of the sweetness
created for me by those in Kheraha, and those in Iunu.
Every god is in fear of me,
so great is dread of me, so extensive awe of me,
I have championed every god from his detractor,
I have shot at his emergence, I live by love of me,
I am Wadjyt lady of flames,
they ascend to me, the few of them.
What
does it mean?
Another
version:
the name of the vessel.
The lion, white mouthed, flat
headed is the phallus of Osiris
Another
version:
it is the phallus of Ra
As for the one who dishevelled his hair over his face,
when he had disordered its parting,
It is Isis while she is in hiding,
and then she wiped her hair on her face.
As for Wadjyt in the land of flame, it is the eye of Horus
As for those who ascend to me, the few of them.
It is the confederates of Seth when they are approaching them,
because it was a scorching approach.
It is given to him in listing for those who are in Djedet,
to extinguish the powers of his enemies.
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