Book of the Dead

American  

[book uhv thuh ded] / ˈbʊk əv ðə ˈdɛd /

noun

1. a collection of ancient Egyptian papyrus books, many with elaborate illustrations, each containing prayers, hymns, incantations, and formulas for the behavior of the souls of the dead.

---

Example Sentences

Though not technically a book, these incantations are collectively known as the Book of the Dead.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 1, 2023

To understand why, look no further than the Book of the Dead of Henuttawy.

From Salon • Jan. 30, 2023

Dear Prudence's final stop in the Egyptian collection is the Book of the Dead, a collection of spells for the afterlife.

From Washington Post • Feb. 19, 2020

"I believe that all of these are spells from the Egyptian Book of the Dead," UC Berkeley Egyptologist Leonard Lesko wrote to Ferguson.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 18, 2018

Henri the painter heard for the first time the Book of the Dead and was so moved that he changed his medium.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck