THE PAPYRUS OF ANI

This is a high quality reproduction of a section of the Papyrus of Ani. On the left, Ani is shown wearing a white pleated linen garment and a decorative collar. He stands with his hands raised in a gesture of worship before a tall stand serving as an offering table. The table is piled with various gifts for the gods, including bread, meat, and lotus blossoms. To the right of the figure, there are fifteen vertical columns of Egyptian hieroglyphs: the formal writing system of ancient Egypt. These are written in black ink with some parts in red rubrics: red ink used to highlight titles or important sections. The papyrus background shows signs of age, tears, and a fibrous texture. Numbers 1 through 15 are printed below the columns for reference.

2. Illustrations

(a) Isis and Nephthys, the sisters of the god Osiris, are shown kneeling in adoration to the left and right of the Tat: also known as a djed pillar, a symbol of stability and the backbone of Osiris. This pillar stands upon the Solar Mount: the horizon or mountain where the sun rises. It supports the Sign of Life: the ankh symbol, which in turn holds up the Sun-disk. The ornaments on the heads of the two goddesses are the hieroglyphs used to write their names. On each side, three cynocephali: dog-headed baboons serve as the transformed openers of the eastern gates of heaven. They raise their hands in a gesture of praise.

(b) Ani and his wife stand before a table laden with offerings.

Text: An invocation to the god Osiris. original: "Invocation to Osiris"