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Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · Hover to magnify, click for fullscreen
Original fileEgyptian Museum 17c
This papyrus fragment features black ink line drawings on a textured, aged tan surface. On the left, a figure in a pleated skirt and wig stands with arms raised in a gesture of adoration, facing a small altar holding an offering vessel. To the right, the scene depicts a solar barque, characterized by a curved boat structure manned by a line of figures; above the boat, a deity is depicted alongside stylized celestial imagery. Dense vertical columns of cursive hieroglyphic text frame the figures, organizing the composition into distinct registers of magical and liturgical instructions.
This fragment belongs to the Egyptian funerary tradition, specifically representing a vignette from the Book of the Dead, a collection of spells intended to assist the deceased's journey through the Duat (underworld). The solar barque motif signifies the deceased's hope to join the cycle of the sun god Ra, ensuring safe passage and eternal life.
Numerous columns of Hieratic script (cursive Egyptian) are visible throughout the frame, including horizontal registers along the top and vertical bands between figures.
Translation
The text consists of funerary spells and offerings formulae standard to the Book of the Dead, naming the deceased and invoking deities like Osiris or Ra for protection in the afterlife.
The Egyptian Book of the Dead
The image is a typical vignette from the funerary papyri used in ancient Egypt to guide the soul.
AI AI-cataloged fields generated by gemini-3.1-flash-lite-preview on April 20, 2026. Getty identifiers are AI-inferred and may require verification.