The pyramid texts. The pyramid texts are the oldest of the
three principal collections of Egyptian literary text. They are among the
earliest religious writings known from anywhere in the world. The texts are
divided into sections each is preceded by an Egyptian phrase meaning words to
be spoken which is very often translated to mean a spell or incantation.
These incantations
can be as short as a single sentence or contain many paragraphs. The
illustrations. No illustrations accompany the pyramid texts although the
ceilings or Royal burial chambers are usually decorated with stars. The text
themselves seem to have adapted from a variety of genres such as hymns list a
divine names and epitaphs spells from the type of magic used in daily life and
resuscitation that accompany ritual actions.
The main purpose in assembling these texts and describing
them inside pyramids was to help the body of the deceased King to escape the
horror of petrifaction and his spirit to ascend to the celestial realm where he
would take his place among the gods. Some of the tests were probably recited
during the King's funeral or part of the Mortuary cult that continued after his
death. Others may have been intended to be spoken by the deceased as he entered
the afterlife.
Roughly 200 Deities are mentioned in the pyramid texts most
are the major deities known from cult temples such as the fertility God men and
the creator goddess Neith. Others are deities such as snake gods and celestial
ferryman who inhabit a complex an intensely imagined realm of gods.
The most frequently mentioned duties are Anubis (Anpu), Atum, Geb, Horace (Heru), Isis (Auset) Nephthys, Nut, Osiris (Ausar), RA, Set, Shu and Thot (Djehuty) . These include
most of the deities who make up the Ennead of Heliopolis.
Although the pyramid texts are not a collection of narrative,
they do contain numerous allusions to myths. They take up important themes in
Egyptian mythology such as the journey of the sun God and his solar bark. The
murder of the good God of Ausar and the violent conflict between Heru and Seth.
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