Egyptian Book of the Dead

[no_leaf_clover]

"...thou art the Prince of divine food in Anu."

the egyptian book of the dead goes well with sitchin's 'the stairway heaven'. probably half of the whole book focuses on the egyptians and the book of the dead. sitchin takes a few chapters to describe the pharaohs journey to the afterlife, step by step from death to arrival on the imperishable star, and compares the book of the dead with hieroglyphics found in step pyramids, etc.. if you want a good summary of the book of the dead without having to read through the whole thing, try 'the stairway to heaven'..

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0380633396/qid=1057792712/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-8269655-3282253?v=glance&s=books

[Bad Moon Rising]

Zecharia Sitchin books are online
http://www.geocities.com/elchasqui_2/ZSitchinalltitles.html

[no_leaf_clover]

Yeah, but a lot of good parts are left out. The owner of that site seems to like certain parts of certain chapters over others, and just puts those parts up on the site. I've looked for the whole versions of Sitchin's books online, including searches on Winmx, KaZaa, etc., but so far the only place I know of where you can get the fully story is the original book series.

[no_leaf_clover]

I don't think scientists really know what to make of Ancient Egyptian culture, Heph. Link probably knows much better than I do, but I guess they call him a sun god because he was associated with a disk-shaped object that was most obviously based on a celestial body. As far as what that body was, I would suppose they picked the sun for obvious reasons, but there have been Egyptian texts where two celestials bodies were depicted on the same tablets. One is clearly the sun, and the other, well, isn't so clear. I think that tablet alone is good enough evidence to show that there is more to the disk-shaped objects than we are told.

There is also the famous winged disk, which is pretty much the same celestial disk, only with two wings and often with serpents hanging down from the wings, facing outward from the sphere in the center. That form of the celestial disk was popular all over the ancient world. You can find the winged disk symbols in texts, pottery, etc., from Egypt, Sumeria, Babylon, Persia, Akkadia, Indus River Civilization, and some others I'm probably forgetting. In Sitchin's books, there are pages that are full with many variations of the celestial disk from different cultures. It is a point of Zecharia Sitchin that these disks represent not the sun, but Nibiru.

[Links Shadow]

quote:Originally posted by Hephaestus

If I remember correctly the Sun was personified as Ra, every night rituals were performed to ensure that the sun rose again the next morning because the belief was that the serpent Apophis would try and stop the sun (Ra) from rising in the morning. The ritual ensured Ra's success.

Dear Hephaestus,

I am impressed, that you knew that.  You are exactly correct.  Apophis is a name used by the Greeks in reference the Apep who is the serpent that you speak of.

Dear no_leaf_clover,

Ra also known as Re is the related to the sun because the sun is believed to be either Ra himself or his eye, commonly known as the "eye of Ra".  The "eye of Ra" is a symbol of the sun and the power of the gods.  Pharoahs are often depicted wearing a disk on there head to show that they are close to Ra, the sun, and that they are the children of the gods.  The disk was a sign that they would eventually rise up and join Ra when they died.  I could keep rambling but I don't want to waste your time so instead I will give you a link to a site with a lot of information on mythology from all over the world.

http://www.pantheon.org

I personally find Egyptian mythology just as entertaining as both the Greeks and the Romans.

Respectfully,
Link's Shadow

[no_leaf_clover]

Link, what I was getting at was that there is no way to really tell that disk represents the Sun. In fact, certain Egyptian texts show that Ancient Egypt itself disagrees with that idea. Like I said before, tablets have been discovered showing two round (celestial objects). One is clearly the Sun, with rays descending from it. The other is the common celestial disk, on the opposite side as the Sun. I'm actually looking at a sketch of such a tablet right now, as is provided in Sitchin's The Stairway to Heaven.

Sitchin explains:

quote:Recognizing that Celestial Disk, in Egyptian depictions, stood for the Celestial Abode of Ra, scholars have persisted in referring to Ra as a "Sun God" and to the Winged Disk as a "Sun Disk."...Indeed, Egyptian depictions clearly distinguished between the Celestial Disk...and the Sun. As can be seen (Fig. 49), both were shown in the heavens (represented by the arched form of the goddess Nut); clearly, then, two celestial bodies and not a single one are involved. Clearly, too, [a separate body] is shown as the celestial globe or disk-a planet; whereas the Sun is shown emitting its benevolent rays (in this instance, on the goddess Hat-Hor, "Lady of the Mines" of the Sinani Peninsula).

A reference is also made to a tomb at Thebes with a depiction of the goddess Nut surrounded by the twelve constellations of the Zodiac, representations of the 12 double-hours of the day, and then something interesting... There is a depiction of 12 celestial bodies: 11 disks formed around a disk in the center: the Sun. 10 of the disks represent the ten planets we know of today with the Moon included. Scholars say that the Egyptians were depicting things revolving around the Earth but had some difficulty, but rather they seem to have depicted the Sun with the 9 nine planets and the Moon, plus 1 more: Nibiru. The second body in order from right to left counterclockwise is depicted as a female celestial body (as Venus is said to be, and the only planet named after a female goddess). The one before it, Mercury, is smaller, as Mercury actually is. Earth is depicted after Venus, and this is obvious because this disk has an object to the side of it: the Moon. And the rest of the planets are likewise distinguishable with the characteristic features of size and relative location.

So, not only are scholars guessing that Ra is a "Sun God" based on the fact that his abode is represented by a flying disk and the Sun was an obvious choice, but Egyptian texts themselves show that such is not at all the case. The celestial disk was not the Sun. The Sun was depicted in texts as well, and was depicted differently from the Celestial Disk, and as I pointed out above, both objects have appeared in texts together and were obviously separate from one another, both being in the sky yet separated by lots of space. The Sun is even shown emitting rays, while the common Celestial Disk is just as it always is!

Pick up The Stairway to Heaven and read through it. While The Twelfth Planet deals mainly with Sumerian mythologies, The Stairway to Heaven deals almost exclusively with Egyptian mythologies and ends with amazing revelations on the Pyramids and tells you exactly where the ideas of the Pyramids being tombs came from. You may be surprised.

[Links Shadow]

Thank you for the info no_leaf_clover.  I will definitely pick up the book and read through it.

I see what you are getting at, but according to my discussions with my guide he was in fact the sun god, but nothing in my discussions would lead me to refute what you said about the disk itself, that it may not represent the sun.  So Sitchin could be absolutely right in saying that it is fact not symbolizing the sun.

I agree with you completely in that there is still much that we don't know, and I am not trying to claim I have all the answers because I don't, far from it.  I am just another fool [] out in the world that has an interest in Egypt's past, who has taken some ideas from famous explorers and researchers, and included some of my own beliefs that I have developed.

Respectfully,
Link's Shadow

[skymageinfinity]

Hello.

This is my first post on this wonderful site. I am looking to contributing a lot to its knowledge in the near future and putting up a few challenges for a few people I might feel are not 'genuine'.

Before I begin, I must tell you that I tend to agree with APOPHIS. The Jews were not mentioned yet the star similar to THEIR star of David is displayed with a some what Jewish or Arabic term Merkaba-Terkab in Arabic means 'to ride', and Merkeba is the object in which you 'ride'. In otherwords Merkaba basically means a means of 'transport'. I dont know what this KA and BA means??! Another thing... a symbol similar to the Dragons Eye a NON Egyptian symbol (Celtic in fact) is within the star of David. If I didnt know any better id say the image was just for decoration and the pdf was just for show and tell. Please keep reading.

I wanted to say that it is believed that tarot cards came from the "Book of Thot". If this is so, then tarot reading is nothing but reading the book of thoth which means the fortune telling side of things is just a joke (from the cards point of view). I have one of these Egyptian decks and it is not the typical deck with the 4 normal suits. In fact, the suits are really the 9 planets and the sun, each card representing a phase in life. I very rarely use them because their energy is just imense and they are very difficult to read/understand. The cards start from 1, and go all the way to 78. The planets alternating in sequence. Would anyone like to discuss this? Id like to stimulate my thinking on this matter. I find it interesting how the Egyptians knew there was 9 planets and a sun!

Speaking of sun, Ra is actually Re <-- god of light, and Amon is really Amun <--- creator of the universe. I should know its my email address Plus, its in any dictionary of Egyptian Gods.

Living in Egypt for a while and seeing the pyramids and all, the whole Egyptian thing is overated. The Egyptian people today are sure as hell not a very good representation of the Ancient Egyptians. Really, I despise human beings for being so 'I want to be cool' and 'I want to be part of the club' which is probably what "I CAN ONLY TALK IN CAPS" was trying to say- which only just demonstrates my feeling for humans. It really ticks me when people talk crap and think they know what they are talking about, especially about cultures and points of view, they will never understand in their whole life time. If a person from that culture or background himself is humble to the fact that he does not know much, how does it make sense for a foreigner to be bold enough to say "I know". This arrogance is insulting to those people.

Everything humans touch they ruin, even the most magical wonders and cultures of the world- whether it be from Ancient Egypt or Ancient Mexico. If you ask me, the pyramids have no power left and no magical properties. Humans have lost and wasted the true teachings of the Ancient Egyptians through commercialism, greed and fear. Pitty! Exploitation of cultures, beliefs and ways of life is only just a few things humans leave behind in their some what selfish path to 'enlightenment'. But thats ok, I understand.

Also, just because the ancient Egyptians have blocks stacked tall (because thats all they are!)... that totally does not automatically assume they know more about the truth or are more supreme over other cultures and races. Who cares if they are believed to have invent civilisation? Who says thats a good thing!?

Also, does anyone have any proof that beer and wine making methods originated from Egypt?

I will be more active on this site in 24 hours.

[Links Shadow]

quote:Originally posted by skymageinfinity

Speaking of sun, Ra is actually Re <-- god of light, and Amon is really Amun <--- creator of the universe. I should know its my email address Plus, its in any dictionary of Egyptian Gods.

You are right in that those are the commonly held spellings of the names.  But being as how heiroglyphs symbolize sounds according to popularly held beliefs, and that there are no living people who can speak ancient egyptian I don't think that it is necessary to conform with these systems.

Since our knowledge of the ancient ways changes so much over time I tend to develop my own theories based on my research instead of relying upon others.  Therefore, some things I say about the ancient egyptians might not agree with what people have read about the subject.

Respectfully,
Link's Shadow

[skymageinfinity]

And where is your research from?

I dont understand how your spirit guide can be Amun-Re...

Do you mean like how my spirit guide could be say Allah yours is Amun-Re? Through prayer, meditation, projection? How? You dont have to answer if its personal.

In the beginning God created the heavons and the earth. = Amun
...
And God said, "Let there be light" = Re

To me ancient gods resemble different processes of the creation of the universe. That being polythesim.

However the recognising of the fact that all these gods must be under one god brought about monothesim.

Im sure everyone knows this. So why is it then that people prefer to worship only a portion of God rather than all of God?

If you ask me, the joining of Amun and Re was the start of the realisation that there is (and most probably can only be) one true living God or [insert other word for god here].

Just as knowledge of ancient ways changes... so does religions. Why do you think we are here now in these very forums?

Anyway, I must go to sleep now, Ra has risen

[Links Shadow]

quote:Originally posted by skymageinfinity
And where is your research from?

Various resources around the internet and various printed publications.  Please don't take my statements as meaning I know everything or even more than those that researched the stuff first hand, I am not.  I am just another person that is intrigued enough by ancient cultures to learn as much as I can.

quote:I dont understand how your spirit guide can be Amun-Re...

Do you mean like how my spirit guide could be say Allah yours is Amun-Re? Through prayer, meditation, projection? How? You dont have to answer if its personal.

You have the right idea.  For example some people have pleadians, devas, or someone they know as their guide.  I happen to have an egyptian god as one of mine.  During my meditations and dreams he often approaches me to have a little chat if you take my meaning.

quote:Just as knowledge of ancient ways changes... so does religions. Why do you think we are here now in these very forums?

That is exactly my point, because we are continually learning you need to take information with a grain of salt because developing a firm belief in that information makes it more difficult to let go of those ideas when new information arises.  That is why I like to have a knowledge of the information but not necessarily accept it as truth.

Respectfully,
Link's Shadow

[skymageinfinity]

Arent internet websites and printed publications still the information from other peoples opinions? I dont see how anyone can form their own opinions based on things that other people write and research. Are you trying to say that they are only a guide and it is your task to read in between the lines by adding a bit of 'salt'? In that case, these forums are not a good thing, because they condition our minds to think the way others talk about. If you ask me, instead of adding a grain of salt after our 'research' we have to pour the whole jar before and then add a grain of research.

Not even the egyptians can speak ancient egyptian! Why do you think I dont believe the pyramids hold any magical value... back in those days there is nothing special about the ancient egyptians- except maybe their religion. The pharaohs themselves were just another human being with typical negative human qualities. How arrogant of them to spend their whole life watching others build a pyramid just so they can rest in there. Talk about the heirarchy of 'Im better than you'. And even worse, this attitidue has been passed down ever since that generation to a large percentage of the egyptian people I know and most other human beings to that matter. They think they own the world because of their 'grade 1 lego block design' which no one really has any idea about.

If one compares the ancient times with now, one realises that nothing has changed. We are still striving for materialistic goals and wealth. Nothing has changed from the need for an 'afterlife'. We still are chasing after those objects that one day we hope to be burried with so that we can take them into the afterlife with us. Humans are still the same species they were back then. 5000 years is merely enough to change the evolution of the mind and the way it works. All of our 'new' ideas and beliefs we think we have are not new but have always been other peoples ideas and beliefs.

We need to look into the future for our future, not into the past. And when I say future I mean another 5000 at least. By then I doubt humans would still be around and even if they were they would still be the same creatures they are now.

The main reason everyone finds Ancient Egypt facinating, is because of the mind influence of the commercialisation by people (mainly Egyptians themselves) trying to fill their pockets in an over populated 3rd world Islamic country that people visiting from a nation with an appreciated dollar wouldnt give a excrement about if it wasnt for the pyramids.

There is nothing to 'explore' in "Explore Egypt Now". Come on kids nothing to see here, move along.

[Links Shadow]

I don't know if that was meant as a personal attack or not but I don't really care.  If you think of me a just a crazed child that is fine that is your opinion but you don't know me such an opinion is hardly justified.

Does history not interest you in the least?  Learning about these ancient cultures helps us to learn about ourselves.  You said it yourself, not much has changed.  But I think that it is people like me that look at the past and learn from it that can look at our own flaws and attempt to correct them.  Based on the fact that so little has changed it would be a fair assumption to say that history repeats itself.  Just as in ancient time pharaohs got whatever they wished so to do modern monarchs.  And if history is in fact repeating itself then couldn't we learn about the future by learning from the past?

quote:Are you trying to say that they [publications] are only a guide and it is your task to read in between the lines by adding a bit of 'salt'?

That is sort of what I do.  I have taken images of the rosetta stone and developed my own translations based on my poor translation abilities.  I am not what you would call fluent in any language other than english and I have trouble learning other languages as well but I have attempted to translate the text on the rosetta stone.  Based on my translations I have developed my own descriptions of the symbols and compared them to previously translated versions of the text.  So yes I sort of used it as a guide to see I could atleast translate the greek portions.

quote:The main reason everyone finds Ancient Egypt facinating, is because of the mind influence of the commercialisation by people (mainly Egyptians themselves) trying to fill their pockets in an over populated 3rd world Islamic country that people visiting from a nation with an appreciated dollar wouldnt give a excrement about if it wasnt for the pyramids.

I have to disagree with you, I think it is our natural curiosity that provokes our interest in this ancient culture.  People love the mysterious.  If the only reason that people are interested in Egypt is because of the pyramids, then how can you explain why people are so interested in Atlantis?  There is no physical evidence that the civilization existed only textual references.

-Link's Shadow

[skymageinfinity]

No, it wasnt a personal attack. What I meant with that is ever since we were little we have been taught to believe in these 'mysteries'. One of them being Atlantis like you mentioned. Have you ever asked yourself who is in charge of teaching these mysteries and why?

And about the Rosetta... you might as well get someone elses book or something and learn from that... saves yourself the time and hassle and plus you might learn more and contribute more to the Egyptology community.

Ancient Egypt today is not about mystery, it is about $$$. They are milking it for all its worth. And like I said... if it wasnt for the pyramids, do you really think mystery adventure seeking people would give a excrement about Egypt? NO! Sure, natural curiosity is powerful and this is the reason why people are intested in things such as the book of the dead, even though they have no idea why they are interested in it.

I just beleive there are things in this life that should be respected and left alone. In otherwords some things should not be interferred with or touched by humans since they are beings of sin. This interference breaks the magical seal and allows human nature to inevitably destroy that which once was pure and powerful. Isnt the whole idea of the book of the dead to contact the dead to bring them back to life? What right does a human being (a non pure entity) have to access the key to immortality?! Please correct me if I am wrong, I dont know much about the book of the dead.

lol @ that STAR GATE comment! Classic! hehe

lol yes... mystery indeed... lets just watch it on tv? We learn more that way these days.

hah, how can you say its not commercialised?

The fact that the Egyptians have all converted from their true belief to Islam is enough to make me not want to take the whole thing too seriously. Btw, I dont originaly come from Egypt and I am not Muslim.

Really, as for atlantis... dont you think with the technology we have today, we would have found such a lost city? As much as I hate to say it, I think its just a myth.

[skymageinfinity]

oh yeah and by the way

Ancient Egyptians had electricity

[TheSeeker]

I'm having a hard time understanding your motive in this post skymageinfinity.

To some people learning about Ancient Egypt is not about money, plain and simple, you can't generalize everyone, it doesn't work.  Some people are interested by the mystery or whatever it is they're interested in.  Everyone has their own view point.

Most of what is known/speculated about Atlantis and Mu, have been from psychics.  We don't always need physical proof, if you're arguing physical proof through technology, you may be at the wrong site.

I personally cannot conciously project, but I'm practicing.  Until then I don't 'know' if they exist, and I don't make myself believe or disbelieve, I just leave it at 'I don't know'.

Sorry for getting off topic, I usually don't make argumentative posts, but I don't know if you're posting for any other reason other than to argue and to try to amaze and astound everyone with your 'knowledge'.

[skymageinfinity]

Batteries make electricity.

And they had batteries similar to the "Bagdad battery" which were used for electrolysis- metal plating.

Im not saying everyone learns about Egypt because of money.

Im saying the Egyptian toursim industry (like any tourism industry) is there to make money only and uses (or exploits) the 'mystery' of the pyramids to do so. This is wrong! Only the Ancient Egyptians have the right to exploit their own culture/beliefs- not some rich boy from Saudi Arabia in other words.

[NeverKnowsEnough]

I hope you guys don't  mind me jumping into your conversation but whoever translated the book of the dead please add the other parts you left out. After reading through it i noticed that most of the Dark Magicks were missing. The Egyptian book of the dead should hold spells long saught by a group of warlocks. I have spoken with some of them but i am not one of them. The book of the dead should contain these three spells atleast. How to raise the dead. How to kill the dead that you have raised. And a spell/ritual for eternal life. Not that anyof them work but they are missing none the less. Thanks

[Anonymous]

I need some help from you Links Shadow,

I am told that I was a priest from the era of Ramsee III... I know this is not your average discussion in the local bar, but I need to prove it or disprove it.

I was told that I have been punished at the time by a painful death because I caused the death of 26 souls...including one of the Sons of Ramsee the III.

How can I find historical documentation of that era, Ramsee, his sons and priests of that era and their rituals + the eye of Ra.. which I am suppose to have..

Regards & Respectfully, NR

quote:Originally posted by Links Shadow

Dear apophis,

I am having a hard time understanding what exactly it is you are saying but I think that you said you are an egyptian channeler?  Correct me if I am wrong.  May I ask what entities it is that you connect with, are they the egyptian gods, pharoahs, or who?  I consider myself very well read on the ancient egyptian ways,  I can read hieroglyphs, in fact I translated my own meanings from the rosetta stone, but I also know the commonly held beliefs of what the symbols mean.  I have read through the entire book of the dead.  You try to make people believe you know so much which I have a gut feeling that you are not as knowledgeable as you think.

I am going to share something that I have been uncomfortable sharing until now.  One of my spirit guides is the egyptian god Ra, later known as Amon-Ra.  Through my discussions with him I have learned a great deal of how people lived back in ancient egypt.

Please share some of your profound wisdom that you claim to have.  I would be very interested to hear what you have to say.  Don't mistake this post as a personal attack on you. It is more of an inquiry from all the members on the board here who want to know what it is you think you know that we don't.

Link's Shadow

[Mgkeeper]

quote:Originally posted by Links Shadow

quote:Originally posted by Hephaestus

If I remember correctly the Sun was personified as Ra, every night rituals were performed to ensure that the sun rose again the next morning because the belief was that the serpent Apophis would try and stop the sun (Ra) from rising in the morning. The ritual ensured Ra's success.

Dear Hephaestus,

I am impressed, that you knew that.  You are exactly correct.  Apophis is a name used by the Greeks in reference the Apep who is the serpent that you speak of.

Dear no_leaf_clover,

Ra also known as Re is the related to the sun because the sun is believed to be either Ra himself or his eye, commonly known as the "eye of Ra".  The "eye of Ra" is a symbol of the sun and the power of the gods.  Pharoahs are often depicted wearing a disk on there head to show that they are close to Ra, the sun, and that they are the children of the gods.  The disk was a sign that they would eventually rise up and join Ra when they died.  I could keep rambling but I don't want to waste your time so instead I will give you a link to a site with a lot of information on mythology from all over the world.

http://www.pantheon.org

I personally find Egyptian mythology just as entertaining as both the Greeks and the Romans.

Respectfully,
Link's Shadow

Hey link, i hate to sound dumb (im a newbie to everything regarding this forum) but how do you talk to Ra?? Is it a special honor, or is it maybe something that we all can do?? I was just wondering, also im interested in Ancient Egyptian myths, culture, etc, i was wondering if you knew a good place to learn alot....thanks []

[Adrian]

Greetings everyone,

Herewith attached at the foot of this post is the Egyptian Book of the Dead in Adobe Acrobat format.

I am sure most people will have heard of the MerKaBa which is usually represented by the image below. "Ka" refers to the Spirit or Mental body and "Ba" refers to the Soul or Astral body.



Enjoy!

With best regards,

Adrian.



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