The heavenly paradise Aaru is an infinitely abundant and peaceful expanse of golden reeds, much like the wide tracts and thickets of the Nile Delta; but before one could plough its fields and hunt in its marshes, before one would even be permitted to undertake the perilous journey there, one’s soul must first pass the Weighing of the Heart. To overcome these obstacles, the guidance granted by a particular religious text is essential.

Originally carved onto the stone walls of the tombs of Pharaohs (the Pyramid Texts, c. 2400 BCE), the prayers and litanies of the ancient Egyptian religion had evolved to wider distribution centuries later, when they were painted on the sides of wooden burial coffins for wealthy nobles of the realm (the Coffin Texts, c. 2000 BCE). By 1250 BCE, when the documents presented here were produced, the ancient spells were written and illustrated on rolls of papyrus buried with the deceased (the Books of the Dead, c. 1550 BCE).

These books of the dead, known also by their original title Spells of Coming Forth by Day, constitute an extensive corpus of religious texts meant to guide the souls of the deceased in the afterlife. Spells to pass the Weighing of the Heart, protect against encounters with demons and evil spirits, and ensure an abundance of air to breathe, water to drink, and food to eat in the Field of Reeds were crucial for securing a place in the afterlife.