"The Book of the Dead" is the name now given to a collection of religious and magical texts known to the ancient Egyptians as "The Chapters of the Coming-forth by day". Their principle aim was to secure for the deceased a satisfactory afterlife and to give them the power to leave the tomb when necessary. Copies of the book written on papyrus scrolls were placed in the tombs of important Egyptians, each roll containing a selection of chapters. Many examples have survived from antiquity, dating mostly from c.1500 BC to 250 BC. In this volume the text, translated by the late Dr R.O. Faulkner, is that found in the papyrus prepared for the scribe Ani. The vignettes are taken from the finely illustrated copies which are preserved in the collection of the British Museum.
