Society of Biblical Literature 1974 Seminar Papers. One Hundred & Tenth Annual Meeting 24-27 October 1974. 2 vols

The first, complete English translation of the ancient Egyptian Netherworld Books The ancient Egyptian Netherworld Books, important compositions that decorated the New Kingdom royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings, present humanity's oldest surviving attempts to provide a scientific map of the unseen realms beyond the visible cosmos and contain imagery and annotations that represent ancient Egyptian speculation (essentially philosophical and theological) about the events of the solar journey through the twelve hours of the night. The Netherworld Books describe one of the central mysteries of Egyptian religious belief—the union of the solar god Re with the underworldly god Osiris—and provide information on aspects of Egyptian theology and cosmography not present in the now more widely read Book of the Dead. Numerous illustrations provide overview images and individual scenes from each Netherworld Book, emphasizing the unity of text and image within the compositions. The major texts translated include the Book of Adoring Re in the West (the Litany of Re), the Book of the Hidden Chamber (Amduat), the Book of Gates, the Book of Caverns, the Books of the Creation of the Solar Disk, and the Books of the Solar-Osirian Unity. Features: Accessible presentations of the main concepts of the Netherworld Books and the chief features of each text Notes and commentary address major theological themes within the texts as well as lexicographic and/or grammatical issues An overview of later uses of these compositions during the first millennium BCE The first, complete English translation of the ancient Egyptian Netherworld Books The ancient Egyptian Netherworld Books are among the most extensive religious texts from pharaonic civilization and present humanity's oldest surviving attempts to provide a scientific map of the unseen realms beyond the visible cosmos. First attested during the middle of the second millennium BCE, the Netherworld Books decorate the walls of the New Kingdom royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. The importance of these texts lies in their philosophical and theological speculations about the inner workings of the cosmos, particularly the events of the solar journey through the twelve hours of the night. These important texts describe one of the central mysteries of Egyptian religious belief, the union of the solar god Re with the underworldly god Osiris, and provide information on aspects of Egyptian theology and cosmography more thoroughly than what is presented in the more widely read Book of the Dead. Features Introduction -- Main Themes Of The Netherworld Books -- Royal Tombs Of The New Kingdom -- Development Of Tomb Architecture -- Development Of Tomb Decoration And Use Of Netherworld Books -- Netherworld Books In Temple Settings -- Function Of The Netherworld Books -- Topography Of The Netherworld Books: Conceptions Of Space And Time -- Dating The Netherworld Books -- Cryptography In The Netherworld Books -- Post-new Kingdom Uses Of The Netherworld Books -- A Note On The Translations -- Book Of Adoring Re In The West -- Book Of The Hidden Chamber -- Book Of Gates -- Book Of Caverns -- Books Of The Creation Of The Solar Disk -- Books Of The Solar-osirian Unity. John Coleman Darnell And Colleen Manassa Darnell. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 655-685). Cover 1 Contents 8 Series Editor’s Foreword 10 Preface 12 List of Figures 14 List of Plates 28 Chronological Table 32 Abbreviations 34 Explanation of Signs 38 Introduction 40 Book of Adoring Re in the West 100 Book of the Hidden Chamber 166 Book of Gates 288 Book of Caverns 376 The Books of the Creation of the Solar Disk 496 Books of the Solar-Osirian Unity 562 Plates 612 Concordance of Texts 664 Glossary 682 Bibliography 694