A unique collection of funerary texts from a wide variety of sources,
dating from the 15th to the 4th century BC
Consisting of spells, prayers and incantations, each section contains
the words of power to overcome obstacles in the afterlife. The papyruses
were often left in sarcophagi for the dead to use as passports on their
journey from burial, and were full of advice about the ferrymen, gods
and kings they would meet on the way. Offering valuable insights into
ancient Egypt, The Book of the Dead has also inspired fascination with
the occult and the afterlife in recent years.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of
classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700
titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works
throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the
series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and
notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as
up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.