A New Demotic Translation of (Excerpts of) a Chapter of the Book of the Dead*. Issue 1 (January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Quack, Joachim Friedrich
• Is Part Of: Journal of Egyptian archaeology. Volume 100:Issue 1(2014)
• Page Start: 381
• Page End: 393
• Publication Date: 2014-01
• Subjects: Egypt -- Antiquities -- Periodicals; Antiquities; Egypt; Archäologie; Ägypten; Égypte -- Antiquités -- Périodiques; 6.140; Periodicals; Zeitschrift; Online-Publikation; Electronic journals; 932.005
• DOI: 10.1177/030751331410000120
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0307-5133

Abstract

The funerary papyrus BN 149 has long been known to contain mainly a Demotic translation of the Book of the Dead, chapter 125. Recently, its first section was identified as a translation of a composition otherwise sometimes associated with the so-called 'Book of Traversing Eternity'. Still, the description of a vignette and a short text inserted into chapter 125 have, up to now, defied identification. It is shown here that the latter is a Demotic translation of chapter 128 of the Book of the Dead, with substantial omissions, which are probably the work of a redactor who wished to fit the composition better to funerary usage. Furthermore, the vignette being described is the one belonging to chapter 148 of the Book of the Dead. Some special points concerning the translation of classical Egyptian words and verbal forms are discussed.