History is full of books, rings, weapons, and even simple ancient rocks that people believed were imbued with supernatural powers, including the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. The romanticized nature of stories revolving around such mysterious objects, like the Book of the Dead, is a highlight in many Egypt Travel Guides and has encouraged people to continue believing in their beliefs, even with little evidence to substantiate them.
For ancient Egyptians, physical death was just the first step in a perilous journey to the afterlife. They believed that the soul lived under the care of the gods, so the deceased needed spells and instructions to navigate their way to immortality. These directions, written in nearly 200 spells in the Book of the Dead, were inscribed on papyrus sheets glued together but also appeared on walls, coffins, amulets, and even the mummy wrappings of upper-class ancient Egyptians. Such insights attract travelers to Egypt Day Tours and Egypt Travel Packages as they delve deeper into these ancient beliefs.
The spells included guides to the gates of the dark world and protection from its dangers, and some even included depictions of animals of prey such as the falcon. The art that accompanied the Book of the Dead and the texts of the spells themselves have survived on stone and papyrus, according to National Geographic. Many Egypt Shore Excursions offer glimpses into these fascinating remnants that have stood the test of time.
The Book of the Dead, written by the pharaohs during the time of the construction of the Great Pyramid, includes prayers to the gods, songs, and a description of what the souls of the dead meet in the next world of judgment, punishment, and reward, with a copy still preserved in the British Museum.
The Pharaohs built huge temples along with tombs that are no less magnificent and luxurious, as they believed in resurrection and the return of the soul, which they depicted in two close images, “Ka” or “Ba.” They also made sure to put all the deceased's personal items of food, jewelry, and everything loved in life with him in his tomb, where the soul of the deceased could eat and drink from them when it returned to the body, and before its quest for the afterlife.