One of the greatest aspects of the Brooklyn Museumβs Egyptian collection is The Book of the Dead ππππ»π πππ²π³πΊπΌπΊ for a man named Sobekmose, who had the title βGoldworker of Amun.β Sobekmose was buried in Memphis π ππ€πππ΄π and that is where this papyrus π πππ was found. This Book of the Dead ππππ»π πππ²π³πΊπΌπΊ dates to the 18th Dynasty (early New Kingdom 1500-1480 B.C.E.).Β
![Book of the Dead of Sobekmose](https://i0.wp.com/www.ancientegyptblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/EE9A4FE6-AC91-493E-AABD-66529625F0AB.jpeg?resize=580%2C725&ssl=1)
This Book of the Dead ππππ»π πππ²π³πΊπΌπΊ is displayed as one complete papyrus π πππ which is incredible to see! The papyrus π πππ is curved, due to either 1) being made that way or 2) getting warped over thousands of years being rolled up in a tomb ππ©ππ!
The Book of the Dead ππππ»π πππ²π³πΊπΌπΊ is interesting because it doesn’t follow a particular story.Β The spells ππππ¦ do seem to be grouped by theme, and sometimes pictures ππ ±ππ¦ can be representative of the spells ππππ¦ as well.
![Book of the Dead of Sobekmose](https://i0.wp.com/www.ancientegyptblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/AC5E0216-71B2-4C49-A29C-6BB1F017D3C0.jpeg?resize=580%2C725&ssl=1)
Hieratic is the script that this Book of the Dead ππππ»π πππ²π³πΊπΌπΊ is written in – don’t ask me to translate, because I can’t read Hieratic well at all! While Hieratic is another way to write the Middle Egyptian language, some of the symbols look VERY different and have evolved over time – it is definitely difficult to learn! Much like hieroglyphs πΉππͺ, Hieratic can be read from top to bottom, right to left or left to right.Β
![Book of the Dead of Sobekmose](https://i0.wp.com/www.ancientegyptblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/511103C7-858F-48CC-B082-5EF0C44915CB.jpeg?resize=580%2C725&ssl=1)
Some of the Hieratic is in black ππ ink while some of it is in red π§πππ . The red π§πππ ink seems to symbolize either the beginning or the end πΌππππ of a spell πππ, or it could highlight a word for a noun that was considered “bad” in Egyptian culture. However, sometimes even “offering table πππ ‘πΏπ” could have been written/drawn in red π§πππ and offering tables πππ ‘πΏπ were not bad at all! So, some of the red π§πππ ink seems kinda random.
This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost.