“ Hail, holy Ament of Osiris with the mysterious names, the most holy of the gods, thou who art the most hidden of all mysteries. Hail! the royal Osiris worships thee; he addresses the great god who is within thee. Hail! he worships thee; open thy mysterious doors to him. Hail! he worships thee; (open to him) thy hidden spheres, for he has his dwelling in the heavens like Rā, and his throne is upon the earth like Seb; he is seated upon the throne of Seb, upon the seats of Horchuti; his spirit soars into the heavens, it rests there; his body descends to the earth in the midst of the gods. ”
Summary
"Egyptian Literature" is a compilation of ancient religious and funerary texts that explore themes of the underworld, divine hierarchy, and eternal existence. Centered on deities such as Osiris, Rā, and Thoth, the work features hymns, prayers, and declarations of devotion, emphasizing the interplay between earthly and celestial realms.
Through vivid references to Amentet, the afterlife, and the cosmic order, it reflects Egypt’s spiritual worldview, blending myth with ritual. The text’s structure, marked by repetitive invocations and symbolic imagery, underscores its role in guiding the soul through death and securing divine favor. Its essence lies in the fusion of theological doctrine and poetic reverence for the eternal.
Quotes from Egyptian Literature ()
“ My soul is the Souls of the souls of everlastingness, and my body is eternity. I am the divine exalted being who is the lord of the land of Tebu. ‘I am the Boy in the city and the Young man in the plain’ is my name; ‘he that never suffereth corruption’ is my name. I am the Soul, the creator of the god Nu who maketh his habitation in the underworld: my place of incubation is unseen and my egg is not cracked. I have done away with all my iniquity, and I shall see my divine Father, the lord of eventide, whose body dwelleth in Annu. ”
“ The chancellor-in-chief, Nu, triumphant, saith: “I am the god Tem, the maker of heaven, the creator of things which are, who cometh forth from the earth, who maketh to come into being the seed which is sown, the lord of things which shall be, who gave birth to the gods; [I am] the great god who made himself, the lord of life, who maketh to flourish the company of the gods. Homage to you, O ye lords of divine things (or of creation) , ye pure beings whose abodes are hidden! Homage to you, O ye everlasting lords, whose forms are hidden and whose shrines are hidden in places which are unknown! ”
