The Literature of the Ancient Egyptians

The Literature of the Ancient Egyptians is a compilation and translation of ancient Egyptian religious and funerary texts by E. A. Wallis Budge, first published in 1914. The work aims to present a broad selection of Egyptian writings in English for general readers and scholars. The book gathers material from a wide range of sources, especially funerary papyri such as the Book of the Dead, coffin texts, and pyramid inscriptions. These texts were originally written over many centuries and reflect the religious beliefs, rituals, and moral ideas of ancient Egyptian civilization. A major focus of the work is the Egyptian conception of the afterlife. Many of the translated passages describe the journey of the soul through the underworld (Duat), the judgment of the dead before Osiris, and the importance of living a morally balanced life in accordance with ma’at (cosmic order and truth). It also includes hymns to gods like Ra, Osiris, and Thoth, magical spells intended to protect the deceased, and ritual instructions meant to guide the dead safely into the afterlife. Budge presents these writings as a coherent body of religious literature expressing Egyptian views on life, death, and divine power.