Funerary Papryus of Ani dates probably from about 1306 B.C. and is the most richly illustrated of all known copies of the Book of the Dead. It is of great length, measuring no less than 76 feet. The Feather of Maat . Funerary Papryus of Ani was purchased for the British Museum in 1888 by Dr E. Wallis Budge, and is said to have been found at Thebes, 450 miles above Cairo. This collection of funerary chapters began to appear in Egyptian tombs. It can be thought of as the deceased's guidebook to a happy afterlife. The text was intended to be read by the deceased during their journey into the Underworld. Egyptian burial rites included the recitation of a number of spells intended to assist the dead in their life beyond the grave, to preserve them against the attacks of demons, and to secure them full enjoyment of the good things that the gods lived upon. These spells and others were ultimately inscribed about the tomb, with the idea that the dead himself would thus be enabled to recite the formula needed. It enabled the deceased to overcome obstacles and not lose their way. It did this by teaching passwords, giving clues, and revealing routes that would allow the deceased to answer questions and navigate around hazards. It would grant the help and protection of the gods while proclaiming the deceased's identity with the gods. The Papyrus of Ani is one of the finest and most complete examples of this type of Egyptian funerary text to survive.The Book of the Dead must not be confused with the funeral ritual, but in it, as throughout the funeral ceremonial, the deceased is called "The Osiris", and is generally associated to the analogy of Osiris, and by incorporation with him, the dead were supposed to attain greatness. The funeral ritual was intended as a re-enactment, for the benefit of the deceased, of what had been done to re-constitute and re-animate the body of the God-king Osiris, after he had suffered death and dismemberme...
