Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

The Book of the Dead – The Field of Reeds

“The Field of Reeds” from the Book of the Dead of Imhotep (MET)

This is another closeup image ๐“๐“…ฑ๐“ from Imhotep’s ๐“‡๐“…“๐“Šต๐“๐“Šช Book of the Dead (Early Ptolemaic Period) at the MET. Fun fact: Imhotep’s ๐“‡๐“…“๐“Šต๐“๐“Šช version of the Book of the Dead is mostly complete, and is over 70 ๐“Ž†๐“Ž†๐“Ž†๐“Ž†๐“Ž†๐“Ž†๐“Ž† feet long!

This page illustrates Spell 110, which gives Imhotep ๐“‡๐“…“๐“Šต๐“๐“Šช the ability to enjoy various earthly activities. This takes place in the Field of Reeds ๐“‡๐“๐“ˆ…๐“‡‹๐“„ฟ๐“‚‹๐“…ฑ๐“†ฐ๐“Š–. Spell 110 states โ€œโ€ฆbeing in control there, being a blessed one there, plowing and harvesting there, eating and drinking there, and doing everything that one was used to do on earth.โ€

Imhotep ๐“‡๐“…“๐“Šต๐“๐“Šช is actually seen doing work in the field ๐“‡๐“๐“ˆ‡ – he can be seen using a scythe to harvest grain (just like Spell 110 states)! So the things he used to do on earth, he could also accomplish in the Field of Reeds ๐“‡๐“๐“ˆ…๐“‡‹๐“„ฟ๐“‚‹๐“…ฑ๐“†ฐ๐“Š–. This is where ushabti ๐“†ท๐“„ฟ๐“ฏ๐“ƒ€๐“๐“ฎ๐“€พ figures came into play – instead of the deceased doing all of the work, the ushabti ๐“†ท๐“„ฟ๐“ฏ๐“ƒ€๐“๐“ฎ๐“€พ figures would have taken care of it all!

The Field of Reeds ๐“‡๐“๐“ˆ…๐“‡‹๐“„ฟ๐“‚‹๐“…ฑ๐“†ฐ๐“Š– was mentioned a lot on Marvelโ€™s show Moon Knight! In the show, Marc and Steven traveled through the Duat ๐“‡ผ๐“„ฟ๐“๐“‰ on a boat ๐“‚ง๐“Šช๐“๐“Šž, but in reality, this mode of transport was typically reserved just for pharaohs ๐“‰๐“‰ป๐“ฆ!

On the show, the Field of Reeds ๐“‡๐“๐“ˆ…๐“‡‹๐“„ฟ๐“‚‹๐“…ฑ๐“†ฐ๐“Š– was literally depicted as just a field ๐“‡๐“๐“ˆ‡, while in Egyptian culture it was meant to be a better version of life ๐“‹น on earth. There were many different depictions; a lush land with waterfalls, islands that could be traveled amongst by boats ๐“‚ง๐“Šช๐“๐“Šž๐“ฆ, farmland, and lots of parties! Access to the Nile ๐“‡‹๐“๐“‚‹๐“…ฑ๐“ˆ—๐“ˆ˜๐“ˆ‡๐“บ and the ability to farm were considered to be the ultimate reward for a good and truthful ๐“™๐“Œด๐“‚ฃ๐“๐“†„ life ๐“‹น!