translation into the vernacular language of Egypt in the time of Augustus, and this is written in demotic characters. The form of this work is quite unlike that of the Book of the Dead, but the ideas remain unchanged. The same view of the world beyond the grave, and of the gods who influence the destiny of the departed, prevails to the last. The actual deification of the departed is not perpetually dwelt upon, but it is distinctly recognized. "Thou art the eldest brother among the five gods to whom thou art going" (Osiris is called in the Book of the Dead the eldest of the five gods of the family of Seb). "O thou august child of the gods and goddesses, thou king of the gods and men, who art king of the Tuat," that is, of the nether world. And there is the same disregard of consistency as in the older times, for the departed is spoken of, almost in the same sentence, as one of those who are in the service of Osiris, whom he addresses, "O my lord and father Osiris!"
One of the chief differences between the earlier and the more recent formularies is, that the latter are simply
- ↑ The authorities to be consulted on this subject are: Chabas, "Papyrus Magique Harris." Birch, "Egyptian Magical Text," in "Records of the Past," Vol. VI. p. 113. Pleyte, "Etudes Egyptologiques," and "Papyrus de Turin."
