The enemies of the dead in the Book of the Dead
The Book of the Dead contains references to many sentient enemies who may harm the deceased. This study aims to elucidate the nature of these beings in the Book of the Dead of the New Kingdom. They fall into two basic types, apotropaic and chaotic. Chaotic beings are those who try to destroy the created world while apotropaic beings protect against this threat. The deceased has to pass tests, usually based on mythical knowledge, before the apotropaic entities will allow him to pass. Once he passes them by they protect him also. I consider the Egyptian conception of the personality as it is this which is threatened and so identifies the nature of the threat. I look at the body and heart in some detail as these were aspects which the Egyptians clearly felt were in special danger or were even potentially dangerous in themselves, as is the case with the heart. There is a further significance here for I show that the chaotic beings who threaten creation can also take on aspects of the personality. They partake of creation and threaten the Universe from within. This material reality was also their downfall because it left them exposed to the threat which they posed - destruction of the personality. In the <I>BD</I>,
Empson, C. J.
The enemies of the dead in the Book of the Dead. The Book of the Dead contains references to many sentient enemies who may harm the deceased. This study aims to elucidate the nature of these beings in the Book of the Dead of the New Kingdom. They fall into two basic types, apotropaic and chaotic. Chaotic beings are those who try to destroy the created world while apotropaic beings protect against this threat. The deceased has to pass tests, usually based on mythical knowledge, before the apotropaic entities will allow him to pass. Once he passes them by they protect him also. I consider the Egyptian conception of the personality as it is this which is threatened and so identifies the nature of the threat. I look at the body and heart in some detail as these were aspects which the Egyptians clearly felt were in special danger or were even potentially dangerous in themselves, as is the case with the heart. There is a further significance here for I show that the chaotic beings who threaten creation can also take on aspects of the personality. They partake of creation and threaten the Universe from within. This material reality was also their downfall because it left them exposed to the threat which they posed - destruction of the personality. In the <I>BD</I>,
enemy dead book dead book dead contain reference many enemy may harm decease study aim_elucidate nature being book dead new_kingdom fall_two basic type chaotic chaotic being try destroy create world being protect threat pas test usually base mythical knowledge entity allow pas pass protect also consider egyptian conception personality threaten identifies nature threat look body heart detail aspect egyptians clearly felt special danger even potentially dangerous case heart significance show chaotic being threaten creation also take aspect personality partake creation threaten universe within material reality also downfall leave exposed threat_pose destruction personality