Egyptian Art

Went to the British Museum on Monday to see one of the most advanced and sophisticated early societies that flourished over 3,000 years ago. The average Egyptian life-span was short, usually less than 35 years old so naturally, all their thoughts and time was spent in the after-life as for most ancient Egyptians, death was not an end, it was merely the entering of a new phase of being. However, the way to eternal paradise was littered with obstacles, dangers and challenges which could only be overcome by means of magical spells. The bodies were buried with a collection of these magical spells written in what is called: the Book Of The Dead, to empower, protect and sustain him in the after-life. These books written in papyrus rolls are often beautifully illustrated, they provide a fascinating and graphic insight into the ancient Egyptian beliefs about the life after death. The Egyptians believed that through these spells the soul ( ba ) could re-enter their dead body at will. Among the known spells are those for obtaining air, food and water; for transforming the body into another form, for warding off hostile snakes and crocodiles; for preventing the heart from disclosing all your sins in a final judgement.

The Egyptians used images which were believed to serve as receptacles for supernatural power as well as magical words of a spell were chanted that would cause whatever was desired to happen. The same magical potential was also contained in the written word. When these images and words, were inscribed in the walls of a tomb or on an object placed inside it, the words perpetuated the magical effect of a spell, or gave the dead the means to use the magic for themselves. These latter texts made the dead the masters of their own destiny, freeing them from total dependency on the living to keep their spirits alive. The purpose of the spells was to ensure that the dead were fully equipped with the powers and sacred knowledge which they would need to obtain eternal life.

Spells, gave them control of every part of their being - not only the physical body but also the spirit aspects, particularly the ba, which was the Egyptians' nearest equivalent to the modern notion of the 'soul'. The ba or soul had the freedom to leave the body in the tomb and to visit other parts of the cosmos - the world of the living, the sky, before reuniting itself with he mummy each night. The texts provided details of places which the dead would come to and divine beings whom they would meet. All these encounters were rites of passage - quite literally, for the dead had to display their knowledge of sacred matters to prove to the gods that they were worthy to pass on to paradise. The ultimate test of this kind occurred in the hall of judgement where the gods examined the deceased's conduct during his life.