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PRESERVING THE HEART
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to prosper before Nehebka. And behold me, even though I be joined to the earth in the mighty innermost parts thereof, let me remain upon the earth and let me not die in Amentet, but become a Khu therein.”


PRESERVING THE HEART

[From the Papyrus of Ani (British Museum No. 10,470, sheet 15).]

The Chapter of not letting the heart of Osiris, the scribe of the holy offerings of all the gods, Ani, triumphant, be driven from him in the underworld. He Saith:

“My heart, my mother; my heart, my mother! My heart whereby I came into being! May naught stand up to oppose me at [my] judgment; may there be no opposition to me in the presence of the sovereign princes (Tchatcha); may there be no parting of thee from me in the presence of him that keepeth the Balance! Thou art my ka, the dweller in my body; the god Khnemu who knitteth and strengtheneth my limbs. Mayest thou come forth into the place of happiness whither we go. May the Shenit (i.e., the divine officers of the court of Osiris), who form the conditions of the lives of men, not cause my name to stink. [Let it be satisfactory unto us, and let the listening be satisfactory unto us, and let there be joy of heart unto us at the weighing of words. Let not that which is false be uttered against me before the great god, the lord of Amentet. Verily how great shalt thou be when thou risest in triumph!][1]


RUBRIC

[From the Papyrus of Amen-hetep (see Naville, “Todtenbuch,” Bd. II. p. 99).]

these words are to be said over a scarab of green stone encircled with a band of refined copper and [having] a ring of silver, which shall be placed on the neck of the khu.

this chapter was found in the city of khemennu (hermopolis magna) under the feet of [the statue of] this god. [it was inscribed] upon a slab of iron of the south, in the writing of the god himself, in the time of the

  1. The words within brackets are translated from the Papyrus of Nebseni (sheet 4).