+- Rogue-Nation Discussion Board (https://rogue-nation.com/mybb)
+-- Forum: History and Old Mystery (https://rogue-nation.com/mybb/forumdisplay.php?fid=109)
+--- Forum: Lost and Ancient (https://rogue-nation.com/mybb/forumdisplay.php?fid=113)
+--- Thread: The Book of Two Ways (/showthread.php?tid=2638)
The Book of Two Ways - FlickerOfLight - 03-10-2025
The "Book of Two Ways" is an ancient Egyptian funerary text considered to be the oldest known illustrated book. It served as a guide for the deceased to navigate the treacherous paths of the underworld, known as the Duat, and reach Rostau—the realm governed by the god Osiris. This text is part of the Coffin Texts, a collection of spells and illustrations inscribed on coffins during Egypt's Middle Kingdom period, around 4,000 years ago.
In 2012, archaeologists led by Harco Willems from Belgium's University of Leuven uncovered fragments of the "Book of Two Ways" on the coffin of a woman named Ankh in the Deir el-Bersha necropolis. Despite the coffin's deterioration due to fungi, the inscriptions remained visible, providing valuable insights into ancient Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife.
The "Book of Two Ways" maps out two distinct routes—one by land and one by water—that the deceased could take to reach the afterlife. These paths are depicted as being separated by a lake of fire and are filled with various obstacles, including demons and fiery barriers. The text includes incantations and spells designed to help the deceased overcome these challenges, reflecting the Egyptians' deep concern with ensuring a safe passage to the afterlife.
This discovery not only sheds light on the funerary practices of ancient Egypt but also highlights their intricate belief systems regarding life after death. The "Book of Two Ways" predates other well-known funerary texts, such as the "Book of the Dead," underscoring its significance in the evolution of Egyptian religious literature.
The unearthing of Ankh's coffin and the inscriptions of the "Book of Two Ways" within it provide a rare glimpse into the personalized nature of these texts, as they were often customized based on the individual's status and wealth. This find enriches our understanding of how ancient Egyptians perceived the journey after death and the measures they took to prepare for it.
https://allthatsinteresting.com/book-of-two-ways