The Book of the Dead, Plate 23 - 24
THE BOOK OF THE DEAD
The Papyrus of Ani
by
E. A. WALLIS BUDGE
Late keeper of Assyrian and Egyptian
Antiquities
in the British Museum
[1895]
PLATE XXIII. AND PLATE
XXIV.
The whole of Plate XXIII. and part of Plate XXIV contain
a repetition of the XVIIIth Chapter of the "Book of the Dead," which has also been
given on Plates XIII. and XIV. The arrangement of the gods in the vignette is, however,
slightly different.
PLATE XXIV. (2).
Vignette: Ani and his wife adoring three gods,
who are seated on a pylon or door-shaped pedestal.
Text [CHAPTER CXXIV.]: THE CHAPTER OF GOING UNTO
THE GODLIKE RULERS OF OSIRIS. Osiris, the scribe Ani, triumphant, saith: "My soul
hath builded for me a dwelling-place in Tattu. I have waxed strong in the town Pe.
I have ploughed [my] fields in all my forms, and my palm tree standeth therein like
unto the god Amsu. I eat not that which I abominate, I eat not that which I loathe;
that which I abominate I abominate, and I feed not upon filth. There are food offerings
and meat for those who shall not be destroyed thereby. I raise not up myself on
my two arms unto any abomination, I walk not thereupon with my shoes, because my
bread is [made] from white grain, and my ale from the red barley of the Nile. The
sektet boat and the atet boat bring them unto me, and I feed upon
them under the trees, whose beautiful branches I myself do know. How glorious do
I make the white crown [when] I lift up the ur! Hail, guardian of the door, who
givest peace unto the two lands, bring thou unto me those who make offerings! Grant
that I may lift up the earth; that the shining ones may open their arms unto me;
that the company of the gods may speak with the words of the shining ones unto Osiris
Ani; that the hearts of the gods may direct [him]; and that they may make him powerful
in heaven among the gods who have taken unto themselves visible forms. Yea, let
every god and every goddess whom he passeth make Osiris, the scribe Ani, triumphant
at the new year. He feedeth upon hearts and consumeth them when he cometh forth
from the east. He hath been judged by the forefather of Light. He is a shining one
arrayed in heaven among the mighty ones. The food of Osiris, the scribe Ani, triumphant,
is even the cakes and ale which are made for their mouths. I go in through the Disk,
I come out through the god Ahui. I speak with the followers of the gods, I speak
with the Disk, I speak with the shining ones, and the Disk granteth me to be victorious
in the blackness of night within Meh-urt near unto his forehead. Behold, I am with
Osiris, and I proclaim that which he telleth forth among the mighty ones. He speaketh
unto me the words of men, and I listen and I tell again unto him the words of the
gods. I, Osiris Ani, triumphant, come even as one who is equipped for the journey.
Thou raisest up [right and truth] for those who love them. I am a shining one clothed
in power, mightier than any other shining one."
