\paperw3390 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \f1 From the time of the New Kingdom onward, the mummies of rich Egyptians were buried with a book, generally written on papyrus and place
d in a special casket bearing an effigy of Osiris.\par
This was \i The\i0 \i Book of the Dead\i0 , an illustrated text containing all the religious and magical beliefs relating to the deceasedÆs journey to meet his destiny.\par
The Egyptians called it
\i The Book of Going Forth by Day\i0 and it contained phrases capable of deifying and resurrecting the dead.\par
\i The Book of the Dead\i0 often had splendid drawings and pages and pages of beautiful hieratic calligraphy and provided all the instruc
tions needed for a good life in the next world.\par
Above all it explained how the deceased could identify himself with Osiris, sing hymns to the sun, defeat his enemies and kill the crocodile and the serpent.\par
It taught how to get into the good gra
ces of the guardians of the gates of the next world and win the favor of the souls of the dead.\par
\i The\i0 \i Book of the Dead\i0 also taught how to make the \i ushabti\i0 work in place of the dead, how to hold on to the soul so that it remained i