An Egyptian Papyrus Fragment from the Book of the Dead, Late - Early Ptolemaic Period, ca. 350 - 300 BCE
EW2602
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This papyrus fragment preserves a portion of a funerary composition from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, written in Hieratic. The text is arranged in horizontal lines, executed in a confident black ink hand, with occasional rubrication in red, consistent with Late Period and early Ptolemaic manuscript practice. The surviving passage corresponds to a variant of Chapter 26, relating to the control and preservation of the heart in the afterlife. The partial translation reads:
“… I know … the gates of the necropolis … Osiris … east(?) … give(?) your arms … I have control over my heart … toward me. I am …”
The invocation of Osiris and the emphasis on agency over the heart reflect core theological concerns surrounding judgment and rebirth. The fragment illustrates the continued use and adaptation of earlier New Kingdom texts into later funerary traditions, often in abbreviated formats.
Medium: Papyrus
Dimensions: Fragment: Height: 2 inches (5 cm), Width: 1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm); Frame: 8 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches (21.5 x 16.5 cm)
Condition: Fragmentary with losses to all edges, as shown with clear, crisp text that remains clear and well-preserved. Mounted on an archival suede background and housed in a modern frame.
Provenance: Nora Scott (July 14, 1905 – April 4, 1994), Curator of Egyptian Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, (retired 1972), and acquired from the Metropolitan Museum of Art by deaccession. Gifted to L. Virginia Burton (1918–2009) Associate Curator of Egyptian Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (retired 1977), and then by descent.
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